As of 2015, there were approximately 42 million photographers in the United States alone. That includes amateur photographers, seasoned photographers, and just about everything between the two. Photography is used and praised as art, entertainment, and science, and allows us to see things that we normally couldn’t. It connects all parts of the world through visuals.

It’s for exactly this reason that photography holds so much power. It can show you parts of the world that you never dreamed of seeing, it can show you history, and it can show you what you want to become. Recently, photo retouching has been under fire for shaping bodies in ways that make them seem virtually flawless, which in reality, isn’t possible. Photography has such power that it can set up nearly impossible expectations, and that can be dangerous. While photography is an amazing form of art, it should be used to enhance the beauty of reality, not alter it completely. So why are photo retouching services still relevant despite all of the negative press surrounding them?

Believe it or not, photography touch up services are more important than you may think. When you hear the word “retouching,” you’re probably thinking about magazine covers and impossibly skinny models, but professional photo editing can be used for so much more. One of the most important aspects of any form of photography is lighting. Without good lighting, there are no good photographs. While you’re not going to use photography touch up services to make drastic changes, you can have photos of your home lightened to give a better impression of the space.

When it comes down to it, good photography and editing services could mean the difference between selling your house and letting it sit on the market. Real estate photography is an important service, and can decrease the amount of time that your house sits on the market. In fact, 64% of homes photographed with a DSLR camera were sold within six months of being put up for sale. Good photography is more than magazine covers, and the real estate market can prove it. So the next time you come across a magazine cover and scoff, don’t forget that the same editing services could help you sell your own home!