
I decreased it by -.60 to deepen the shadows and keep the face properly exposed.Īdjust the basic panel sliders for more contrast Since I want to add even more contrast to this photo, I also adjusted the exposure. Sometimes presets can do a good job editing in 1-click, and other times, they need a bit more attention. I like to start my photo editing by applying a preset and then working off of that.

Now that the general rules of adding contrast have been laid out, we can move on to the fun part! So, having more light doesn’t disqualify your photo, but the lack of shadows and natural contrast does. On the other hand, this photo makes a better candidate.Įven those there is a lot of light present, there are also some natural shadows that can be brought out in editing.

While some contrast could be added, this type of photo isn’t a good candidate to adding a lot – it would just look unnatural. The photo was taken in a very bright location with not very many natural shadows falling on the subjects. If there isn’t a lot of natural contrast to the photo, it’s not necessarily a good fit for adding it in your editing. Nothing can look more unnatural than a photo with high contrast that doesn’t have high contrast light to begin with.Īdding contrast in your editing generally works well with moody light, or light with more shadows. Work with the natural light of your photo

It’s very easy to add too much and make a photo look overdone, so be mindful of your application. In fact, it’s one of my main rules for beginners learning how to edit photos more professionally. Don’t overdo the editingĮasier said than done, but it’s always worth keeping a light hand when you’re adding contrast to your photos. So, adding contrast in Lightroom is a simple and easy way to help your photos stand out and become beautiful works of art.īut, there are a few things to keep in mind when editing in high contrast. Secondly, adding contrast to your portraits can also add depth and visual interest to your work. Adding contrast to photos in Lightroom can be done for a few reasons.įirst, adding contrast can help a dull, RAW photo stand out and have more color and pop.
