If you like the editing shown in this image, follow along in this step by step tutorial to see how to edit this portrait using Lightroom CC.
To follow this tutorial, you need to have purchased a membership for Lightroom. You can browse the different adobe suite packages at adobe.com by clicking here.
To download the image for this tutorial click here.
1. The Process Animated
2. Step By Step Walkthrough
1. RAW Original
It is always best to edit raw photos. Why? Because they contain far more information than JPEGS. This extra information makes them more flexible in post-production.
2. Colour Profile
I don’t often use adobe vivid for my portrait photography. However, I liked the vibrancy of the red headband and wanted to make this a feature of the image.
3. Increase Red Saturation + Luminance
To further enhance the red headscarf, increase the saturation of the reds and raise the luminance very slightly.
4. Reduce Orange Saturation
Because we are using the adobe vivid colour profile, it has raised the saturation of all colours, which is not ideal for skin tones. Because this subject has very orange skin, reduce this colour until you achieve a natural skin tone.
5. Remove Yellows
Because there are no yellows in this image, we can remove them entirely.
6. Remove Greens
There are also no greens in this image so remove this colour entirely.
7. Remove Cyans
There is a touch of cyan in this image. However, we do not want this colour so remove this.
8. Remove Blues
Notice how there are hints of blue in the model’s hair and on the grey shutter in the background? Go ahead and remove these unattractive reflection colourings.
9. Remove Purples
Remove all purples from the image.
10. Remove Pinks
Remove all pinks from the image.
11. Add Vignette
In most cases, Vignettes are essential elements to incorporate into portrait photography. They draw the viewer’s focus into the centre of the frame and the subject.
12. Remove Chromatic Aberration
Chromatic aberration often happens in cases where dark edges contrast against a bright sky. There won’t is any in this photo. However, as a precaution, I always tick this option.
13. Mask Subject
Click on the selective editing option (dotted circle) and choose the select subject option. Once the subject is selected, proceed to raise the clarity and detail. If there are any other tweaks you would like to make, go ahead and make them. This image is yours to edit.
14. Mask Background
To mask the background select the subject once more. Once highlighted, change it to the backdrop by clicking the two-tone circle with a line through it in the masking tools.
15. Mask Face
The next step is to mask the face. To do this, use the brush tool from the selective editing tools. Once selected, increase the clarity and sharpness slightly. This process will help draw attention to the face even more.
16. Mask Eyes
When shooting portraits in natural light, the brow often darkens the eyes. This result is not ideal as it removes attention from the most vital part of the entire portrait. To overcome this, use the oval tool to create a circle and raise its exposure/shadows until the shadow has disappeared. Once finished copy and paste another oval for the other eye. Finally, slightly increase the clarity and detail.
17. Mask Iris/Pupil
Mask the pupils by using the same process with the ovals. Tweak them slightly by increasing the texture and clarity.
18. Create Vignette Mask
Create a vignette mask by using the oval tool from the selective editing toolset and drawing it over the centre of the image. Flip this to a vignette by selecting the mask inversion tool. The two-tone circle with the line through it that we used earlier. Once this is highlighted proceed to reduce the masks clarity, texture and sharpness.
19. Correct Geometry
Hit the auto function in the geometry to straighten the image out.
20. Crop Image
Finally, crop the image using the rule of thirds to place the subject’s eyes directly in the centre of the frame.
3. Conclusion
I hope you have enjoyed taking part in this tutorial and have found it helpful. If you are unhappy with the image, feel free to start again from the beginning. I recommend you attempt to edit the image by yourself to see what effects you can come up with on your own.
Please let me know if you are having any difficulties in the comments section below, and I will do my best to resolve them for you.
If you enjoyed this tutorial and would like to find more check out the tutorials section by clicking here.
how to edit this portrait using Lightroom CC.
