I have been passionate about photography and everything related to it for quite some time, approximately since 2019. As of today, considering the constant evolution of technologies, it’s no longer sufficient to simply take well-composed shots with an expensive camera. That’s why, prior to discovering RetouchMe, programs like Lightroom and Photoshop were my constant companions. However, with the increasing number of photos that needed manual editing, the question of speeding up this process arose. I even considered outsourcing but found it to be too costly.
When searching for an online photo editor, I was presented with numerous options. I started testing them all in search of a suitable solution. However, my disappointment in the market for such software led me to the realization that it boils down to either continuing manual processing or resorting to mundane AI-based filters, the quality of which often leaves much to be desired. Some applications indeed performed well with the tasks at hand, but the results varied from one photo to another and depending on the task. This inconsistency didn’t satisfy me, and as I tested one after another, at some point, my phone’s internal memory was simply running out. That’s when I decided to put this issue on hold until better times.
Reviews of RetouchMe photo editor and my acquaintance
After some time, I revisited this matter entirely by chance. I spend a lot of time on forums and searching for blogs on various photography topics to improve my personal skills. I accidentally came across a thread on the RetouchMe website about capturing the Northern Lights, which caught my interest. After reading it, I ended up spending about a week on the site, exploring various articles. Honestly, among the plethora of commonplace materials (no offense), I found a lot of useful information for myself, particularly regarding camera settings and the composition of shots.
While studying the website, I realized that it also offers photo editing services. I thought, well, since I’ve already downloaded around fifty non-functional apps, what difference would it make to try one more, right? Just to be sure, I decided to check the reviews of the RetouchMe app in the store, but I usually don’t trust these reviews, which is why I ultimately decided to write my own.
First experience
When I opened the app for the first time, I was quite skeptical because it seemed like many apps I had tested before: take a photo here, apply this option/filter there. However, it turned out that you’re not just applying some presets but creating an order based on the desired option. Yes! An order! This means it’s not some AI-based algorithm or preset, but your photo goes to their center, and a real person works on it. Essentially, if you recall I mentioned earlier that I wanted to outsource photo editing, but it turned out to be costly, and I had to abandon the idea. Here, it’s essentially the same, but I don’t even need to directly contact a person, negotiate, bargain, or explain what I need. Everything works through a convenient interface on my mobile phone in real time. I decided to give it a try and realized that they wanted money from me again… Well, how can it be otherwise? But luckily, the first photo is free.
Test photo
At that time, the COVID pandemic was in full swing, and I decided to conduct a test by sending a photo and requesting them to add a mask with the inscription “Stay Home” to my face. Why not, right? The result arrived relatively quickly, in about 5-7 minutes. I wasn’t particularly amazed because, in essence, manually adding a mask isn’t a complex task. However, the photo was taken casually, with the lights off, while I was at a computer. Nevertheless, the added mask looked seamlessly integrated, and the level of photorealism was impressive. Satisfied with the quality, I proceeded to inquire about the cost of such services.
Pricing
I’ve grasped that there’s a credit system, where each photo edit incurs a deduction of credits based on the selected services. I have a need to process substantial volumes of photos for various tasks. Upon reviewing the plans page, I observed that one photo costs 20 credits on average, roughly translating to $1. This seemed somewhat pricey, given that I have to edit around 200 to 500 photos monthly depending on job intensity. However, I noticed two categories: One-time refill and Monthly subscription packages. In the monthly subscription category, there’s an option for 3000 credits. Through straightforward calculations, I arrived at a figure of about 30 cents per photo, allowing me to process around 100-150 photos a month for just $50! In comparison to outsourcing, where I was quoted figures ranging from $150 to $250 for a smaller volume, I realized I found an ideal solution, almost perfect. Why don’t you have options for 5000 or 10000 credits??? Well, at least the 3k monthly sub plan covers roughly half of my monthly workload. A significant request, if developers read reviews, please expand the monthly plans to include 10000 credits!
RetouchMe and other services comparison
If we talk in terms of advantages, practically everything that the App Store can offer remains unmatched by RetouchMe. Personally, the following factors are important to me:
- Price
- Interface
- Features
- Quality
- Time
- Privacy
But, let’s discuss each of these in order.
Interface
Prices have been discussed earlier, and as I mentioned in my initial impressions, the interface is quite similar compared to other photo editing apps. However, this simplicity, coupled with the quality and pricing, appeals to me. Now, I can get the desired edits in just a couple of clicks online. But there is one drawback, which I’ll address in the paragraph dedicated to it. Moving on, I continued exploring app features, trying to understand what other processing options are offered here.
Features and options
The library of options here is huge! I found everything I needed and even more. At a glance, there are over 200 different options for what can be done with a photo, ranging from simple to complex, and everything is neatly categorized. For instance, when I need to address facial imperfections like acne, wrinkles, or red eyes, I go to the Face category where a list of facial options is provided. If I need to edit the entire photo, such as color correction, grading, etc., I head to the Photo section and find a list of options to choose from.
Quality
In terms of quality, vague doubts still haunted me because my initial thought was that the test photo would be perfected just to attract customers, and then the quality might decline. Therefore, I hesitated to purchase a monthly subscription and opted for a One-time refill at $9.99 for further testing. I selected 10 photos for retouching of varying complexity, from adding assets to simple color correction, and sent them one by one. The results turned out to be of excellent quality, instilling more trust in me. The service description states that retouching is performed by a team of professional Photoshop designers, and in essence, that’s accurate.
Time
In general, I’m satisfied with the processing speed, as indicated from 5 to 15 minutes on average.
For simpler tasks, sometimes it even takes less than 5 minutes. However, if you’re submitting something for 40 credits or more, you might wait up to 20 minutes at times. Apparently, the queue and the complexity of the task together influence the waiting time. The quality of the work is definitely worth it, no doubt.
Privacy
Following the advice of wise individuals, I’ve come to understand a fundamental truth for myself—never fully trust the internet and your computer when it comes to the privacy of your data. No matter the levels of protection, leaks happen, and it’s crucial to be able to weigh the risks. After reading the description of the RetouchMe service, I realized that all submitted photos and assets are deleted from their servers immediately after the completion of the work. It’s a matter of trusting their words, but for now, I’m cautious about processing certain types of photos due to my roughly speaking PTSD on this matter.
Suggestions and claims
- As mentioned earlier, expand plans and credits. It sounds reasonable and could enhance the usability of the application. Increasing the variety of plans could provide users with more flexibility in choosing an option that suits their needs.
- I would also like to have a batch-processing feature. For instance, if I need to retouch 100 photos with a selected preset, I want to upload them all under the chosen option at once. Currently, I have to send each photo one by one, which is time-consuming. It would also be beneficial to have the same functionality for processing photos in different categories. Ideally, there could be a section in the app for creating tasks, where I could organize my work with the application according to my needs. This might be a nitpick, but I’m accustomed to optimizing my workflow, and this option is important to me; I want to do everything in one place and at once.
- I would like to receive more detailed information about the levels of data protection for the client data that we send to you.
Final thoughts and ratings RetouchMe
In conclusion, I would say that the overall experience of using this app for 2 months is positive and I’d say that ratings are fair along with RetouchMe reviews out there. I hope my feedback will be considered for future improvements and updates because I am a sophisticated user and want everything perfect. However, up to this time, I see no actual competitor which is probably a good thing, but the challenge makes perfect.
