Finding retouching work. Some Do's and Don'ts

I occasionally get emails asking for advice or work experience from young, hopeful retouchers. The are often so badly written that I can't imagine them every getting a reply.

Here are a few tips that might turn your emails into jobs:

1) Do some research about each person you contact; at least look at their website. Address the email to them personally, and not to a company.

2) In the first sentence, tell them something you admire about their work, or website, etc.

3) Be very brief. Your email is likely to be junked anyway, so get to the point.

4) Include a link to your own website so they can view your work if they are interested. If you don't have a website then get one, with your own URL. 

Having your own website means that you are in the business and understand more than just Photoshop. If you use a Mac, Shutterbug is an excellent WYSIWYG application for creating websites.

5) Never, ever, send jpegs, pdfs, in the email, or links to upload sites - it looks unprofessional. 

Unsolicited emails with megabytes of attachments will be junked immediately by anybody with a business to run.

6) Use a subject line that might attract curiosity, such as: "You advice would be greatly appreciated ..."

7) Show before and after examples of your retouching work so that they can see how good you are. 


If they are incredibly busy then they will probably need creative retouching as well as bog standard stuff. You will need to be fairly at proficient retouching to get any work because most of the people you approach can do simple retouching themselves. 

Unfortunately I don't farm out work, or give work experience but I hope you find these tips helpful, and I wish you the best of luck.

9) Here's an example of what might work:

Hi ****.

My name is ***** and I admire the quality and variety of work on your website.

I would appreciate your advice: I am developing my retouching career and would like to gain work experience, find more clients, and make more contacts.

I studied ***** for two years in the **** School of *****. I am dedicated, motivated and always concerned to meet deadlines while producing work to the highest standards.

Of course it would be a privilege working with you in any capacity.

Regards,

Your Name,

T   landline number

M  mobile number

www.myname.com