The Curated Lab

About the Lab

Inside access to high-end fashion and beauty imagery,
from the first light to the final retouch.

The Lab
Our mission
Behind the scenes
Per explaining a set, live

The craft behind high-end fashion and beauty imagery is rarely taught.

Most of it is picked up over years on set and in post, and rarely shared openly. We learned it the long way, over more than a decade of shooting and retouching for brands like Vogue, Prada and Chanel.

The Curated Lab puts it in one place. Our mission: open access to the world of high-end fashion, beauty and commercial imagery.

  1. 01

    Proven where it counts

    Every setup, style and workflow in the Lab comes from our own client work and editorials.

  2. 02

    From real productions

    The lighting, color and retouching behind published editorials and campaigns, explained step by step.

  3. 03

    Shared with a community

    Photographers and retouchers in 70+ countries, sharing their work, their questions and their progress.

The founders
Meet Per & Jan

The people behind the Lab

One shoots the image, one finishes it. Together they built the Lab they wish they’d had.

Per Appelgren
Founder & Lead Photographer

Per Appelgren

From the world’s sets to yours

Per Appelgren is a German-Swedish fashion and beauty photographer based between Paris and Berlin, with over a decade of experience shooting for leading international brands and editorials.

  • Based between Paris and Berlin
  • 10+ years shooting for international brands and editorials
  • Prada, Juun J, Casablanca Paris, Vogue, Numéro, Nike
I built The Curated Lab to give ambitious creatives the same backstage access I have on high-end shoots and elevate their careers.
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Starting out as a self-taught creative, Per refined his craft as an assistant and later through years of mentorship with industry-leading photographers in Berlin, Paris and London. Before pursuing photography full-time, he earned a degree in Business Administration and International Politics. However, the desire to express himself and his artistic vision behind the lens led him to follow his heart and explore the world of photography.

His work blurs between the lines of fashion and beauty, defined by a bold use of colour, striking angles and expressions. Beyond aesthetics, his imagery creates a stage for individuality. Celebrating diversity and giving talent the freedom to express themselves without boundaries.

Per’s vision has attracted collaborations with clients such as Prada, Juun J, Casablanca Paris, Vogue, Numero, Nike and many more. Through his photography, he seeks to capture beauty and to inspire, challenge and move audiences across cultures.

Jan Wischermann
Co-Founder & Lead Retouch Artist

Jan Wischermann

From craft to vision

Jan Wischermann is a German high-end retouch artist and visual engineer with over two decades of experience in the international creative industry.

  • 20+ years in the international creative industry
  • Vogue, Numéro, TUSH · Armani Beauty, Henkel, Louis Vuitton, Schwarzkopf
  • Brand partner of Wacom, Capture One and EIZO · Adobe Community Expert
I co-founded The Curated Lab to create a place where craft, experience and curiosity meet, offering creatives confidence and long-term value.
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His work appears in leading publications such as Vogue, Numero and TUSH, as well as in international campaigns and packaging for long-term clients including Armani Beauty, Henkel, Louis Vuitton & Schwarzkopf among others. He is also an integral part of large scale projects such as Women & Cinema at the Cannes Film Festival.

After years working as an art director, Jan shifted his focus fully to retouching, transforming technical craft into a refined visual language built on balance, restraint and intention. His work lives at the intersection of expertise, craft and technology, shaping imagery beyond what camera or AI alone can deliver.

Working closely with international photographers, agencies and brands, Jan develops innovative workflows that bring clarity and peace of mind to complex productions, allowing clients to focus on their creative and strategic priorities.

He is a long-term brand partner of Wacom, Capture One and EIZO, a member of the Adobe Community Experts program, and regularly delivers webinars, keynotes and workshops worldwide. Through his educational work, global network and as an experienced podcast host since 2017, Jan brings valuable insight, perspective and expert access into The Curated Lab.

The Curated Lab

Step inside

For photographers, retouchers, and creatives

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