The International Photography Awards (IPA) is one of the most prestigious competitions in the photography world, celebrating exceptional talent across various genres. In 2024, the Advertising/ Beauty Photography category saw breathtaking submissions, with Rodolphe Debyser securing 2nd Prize for his striking portrait beauty work.
In this article, we’ll analyze his winning image, explore the key elements of beauty photography, and reveal how you can achieve similar results using advanced retouching tools like Evoto AI Photo Editor.
Portrait Beauty Photographer Spotlight: Rodolphe Debyser
Rodolphe Debyser is a renowned beauty and fashion photographer known for his ability to capture elegance and emotion. His work has been recognized in prestigious competitions like the IPA Photography Awards, where his mastery of lighting, composition, and retouching sets him apart. His winning image exemplifies the perfect blend of technical skill and artistic vision, making it a standout in fine art portrait photography.
Key Elements That Made the Portrait Beauty Award-Winning
Debyser’s winning photograph is a masterclass in beauty photography. Let’s break down the techniques that earned him the Photographer of the Year Award distinction:
1. Lighting & Composition
The image features soft yet dimensional lighting, enhancing the subject’s facial structure without harsh shadows. This technique is crucial in beauty portrait photography as it creates a flattering, ethereal glow.
2. Skin Retouching
Unlike over-airbrushed images, Debyser’s work preserves natural skin texture, ensuring a realistic yet polished look. After the skin retoucing, this balance is a hallmark of award-winning pictures.
3. Color Grading
The warm, elegant tones contribute to the image’s timeless appeal, a signature of fine art portraits. Proper color grading can elevate a simple portrait into a best photo of the year contender.
4. Emotion & Storytelling
A compelling expression transforms a standard beauty photoshoot into a captivating narrative. The subject’s gaze and subtle expression add depth, making it more than just a woman beautiful portrait — it’s a story.
Essential Retouching Techniques for a Professional Look
To replicate the portrait beauty seen in IPA Photography Awards winners, mastering retouching is essential. Here are the key techniques:
- Skin Smoothing (Preserving Texture)
To keep skin looking natural, avoid heavy blurring. Instead, use frequency separation to fix uneven tones while keeping pores and fine details intact. Work softly on the low-frequency layer with tools like the Healing Brush or Clone Stamp. This way, the skin stays smooth but real—perfect for beauty and portrait shots.
- Dodge & Burn for Depth
Dodge & Burn adds dimension by subtly lightening and darkening areas of the face. Use a soft brush at low opacity (5-10%) on a 50% gray layer to shape shadows and highlights. This technique enhances the facial structure without looking fake, ideal for boudoir and fine art photography. Done right, it creates a soft, sculpted look.
Read More: Boudoir Photography: How to Elevate Your Shots with Expert Dodge & Burn Retouching
- Color Correction & Grading
First, balance skin tones so they look natural in any light. Then, use color grading to set the mood—warm for portraits, cool for fashion. Matching colors between skin, clothes, and background make the image feel polished. This attention to color harmony is what makes award-winning photos stand out.
Evoto AI Retoucher: Revolutionizing Portrait Beauty
In the competitive world of beauty photography, achieving flawless yet natural-looking results requires hours of meticulous retouching. However, Evoto AI is transforming the industry by automating complex editing processes while preserving artistic control.
Evoto AI Photo Editor – Faster Edits, Finer Control
This powerful tool is designed for photographers who want to streamline their workflow without sacrificing quality—making it a favorite among professionals who compete in prestigious contests like the IPA Photography Awards and Fine Art Photo Awards.
How Evoto Enhances Portrait Beauty
- AI-Powered Skin Retouching
Unlike traditional methods that often result in over-smoothed, plastic-looking skin, Evoto’s AI Skin Retouch intelligently detects and refines imperfections while maintaining natural texture for portrait retouching.
- Advanced Tone & Color Adjustment
Achieving the perfect color balance is key in award-winning pictures. Evoto’s Advanced Tone Adjustment allows for precise color grading, helping photographers replicate the warm, elegant tones seen in fine art boudoir and high-end beauty portrait work.
- Portrait Enhancer for Lighting & Facial Optimization
Poor lighting can ruin an otherwise stunning woman beautiful portrait. Evoto’s Portrait Enhancer analyzes facial structure and applies subtle Dodge & Burn techniques to enhance depth and dimension.
- One-Click Professional Edits
For photographers on tight deadlines, Evoto offers preset styles inspired by the best pictures of the year, allowing for instant enhancements with a single click.
Step-by-Step Tutorial: Achieve Portrait Beauty Look
Follow this workflow to create an award-worthy beauty portrait:
Step 1: Import the Image
Download and install Evoto. Then, create a new project and import your photo into Evoto.
Evoto AI Photo Editor – Faster Edits, Finer Control
Step 2: Apply AI Skin Smoothing
Go to “Portrait Retouching” > “Skin Retouching”. Use the “Textured Smoothing” and “Skin Softening” tools to even out tones while preserving texture, mimicking the best photography of the world. Adjust the effect with the slider.
Step 3: Use Dodge & Burn for Depth
Navigate to “Facial Skin” > “Even (Dodge & Burn)”. Then, use the slider to enhance facial structure subtly, ensuring a three-dimensional effect like the best pictures of the year.
Step 4: Adjust Color Grading for Warmth
Click “Color Adjustment”. Then scroll down and find “Color Grading”. Use the slider to apply warm tones for an elegant, timeless feel, similar to fine art photo aesthetics.
Step 5: Final Polish (Sharpness & Clarity)
Polish other flaws with Evoto to boost details slightly for a crisp finish, ensuring your image stands out in any photography winners gallery. Here is a portrait beauty result image by Evoto:
Who Should Use Evoto?
- Professional Photographers – Speed up post-production for beauty portrait sessions while maintaining high-end retouching standards.
- Aspiring Photographers – Learn retouching techniques used in photography winners without advanced Photoshop skills.
- Retouchers & Studios – Handle bulk edits efficiently, perfect for fine art photo awards submissions.
Why Evoto Is a Game-Changer in Portrait Retouching
The photography industry is evolving, and AI tools like Evoto AI Retoucher are leading the charge. Here’s why it stands out:
1. Saves Time Without Compromising Quality
Traditional retouching can take hours per image, but Evoto delivers professional-grade results in minutes.
2. Natural, High-End Results (No Over-Processing)
Many AI tools over-smooth skin or distort facial features, but Evoto prioritizes natural-looking beauty portraits—essential for fine art portrait photography.
3. Full Customization for Creative Control
Unlike rigid presets, Evoto allows adjustments at every step—whether refining skin texture, tweaking color grading, or enhancing shadows.
4. Affordable Alternative to Manual Retouching
Hiring a professional retoucher can be expensive, but Evoto provides studio-quality edits at a fraction of the cost.
5. Perfect for All Beauty Photography Styles
Whether editing fine art boudoir, beauty in art photography, wedding photography, or commercial campaigns, Evoto’s tools adapt seamlessly.
Evoto AI Photo Editor – Faster Edits, Finer Control
Final Thoughts
As beauty photography continues to evolve, tools like Evoto AI Retoucher are redefining what’s possible. By combining AI efficiency with artistic precision, photographers can now achieve the best photo of the year quality without spending endless hours in post-production.Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an emerging talent, integrating Evoto into your workflow can elevate your beauty portrait game—helping you create stunning, competition-ready images with ease. Ready to transform your retouching process? Try the AI Photo Editor today and experience the future of portrait beauty editing!
