Big Brands, Subtle Touches – Retouching for ABSA Bank with Indie Village

 

A library bookshelf serves as a backdrop for someone excitedly laughing while holding books.

Every so often, a project comes along that reminds you just how much detail goes into creating clean, powerful advertising. Working with the talented team at Indie Village—a top-tier production company here in South Africa—I had the opportunity to contribute behind the scenes to one of ABSA Bank’s national campaigns.


My role? Retouching. And lots of it.


From removing branding and signage in busy urban settings, to polishing skin and decluttering backgrounds, each image needed to be fine-tuned for clarity, consistency, and versatility. These visuals weren’t just meant to look good—they needed to feel polished and professional across billboards, websites, and social campaigns.


It was a fast-paced and collaborative process, with high expectations and strict brand guidelines. But I thrive in that kind of environment—where the editing is invisible, but essential.


It was an honour to work alongside Indie Village on such a large-scale production, and to know my work would be seen by thousands (if not millions) as part of ABSA’s public-facing campaigns.


Retouching for brands like this is always a good reminder: the magic is in the details.

Indie Village
Baker in a pink sweater kneads and prepares fresh bread dough in a bright, organized home kitchen.
Business advertisement shows woman in kitchen preparing food with text about applying for Absa Revolving Credit Loan.
A family celebrates a graduation in a garden setting on a cloudy day, standing together on the grass.
A graduation photo session outdoors with family members in formal attire on a grassy lawn with trees in the background.
A person in a bright red jumpsuit poses playfully in the middle of an urban street with tall buildings in the background.
A person in a vibrant red jumpsuit strikes a pose on an urban street with tall buildings in the background.
A group of graduates wearing blue caps and gowns pose for photos in front of classical stone columns.
A graduate in cap and gown celebrates with raised arm while standing between classical stone columns.
Two people chatting in a lobby area next to luggage and decorative plants.
Professional meeting scene in modern office hallway with luggage and people in business attire.
Shopper with bags walks past retail stores in a mall corridor with green tiled pillars and yellow caution sign.
Shopper walks through a sunlit modern shopping mall corridor with green tiled pillars and polished floor tiles.