with negative dehaze + warmth around the subject for a glowing light source.
Shift Yellow Hues toward orange and Green Hues toward yellow. This creates a warm, golden-hour vibe. Drop the Saturation of greens significantly (-30 to -50) to stop foliage from overpowering the image.
Dropping the dehaze slider slightly adds a subtle, atmospheric mist to the frame.
This is the secret ingredient. Lowering the clarity slider softens hard edges and creates a signature glowing halo around light sources.
| Advantages | Disadvantages | | :--- | :--- | | Reduces the need for manual retouching by lowering clarity. | Loss of Detail: Lowering clarity and raising shadows can introduce digital noise. | | Mood Creation: Instantly conveys a specific emotional narrative. | Generic Look: Overuse can make a portfolio look identical to thousands of others. | | Trend Relevance: Highly popular on social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. | Dynamic Range Issues: Images can look "muddy" or washed out if the original lighting was too harsh. | lightroom preset soft and dreamy
A is more than a filter; it is a storytelling device. Whether you are a wedding photographer trying to evoke tears of nostalgia, or a mom photographing a sleeping baby, this tool bridges the gap between reality and emotion.
Decrease to -20 to retain details in bright areas like skin or skies.
Once you are happy with the adjustments on your test image, it is time to save your work.
: Lower significantly (-20 to -40) to retain detail in bright areas. with negative dehaze + warmth around the subject
Allowing the brightest parts of the image to bleed slightly into the midtones. Why Use Presets for This Aesthetic?
Desaturated greens and blues paired with warm, creamy skin tones.
If the image looks too blurry or muddy, increase the clarity slider closer to zero to regain structural details.
Use the to add a "halo" effect to specific areas: Drop the Saturation of greens significantly (-30 to
Shift the hue slightly toward aqua and reduce saturation to keep skies soft and non-intrusive. Color Grading
For those looking to push their editing further, these advanced techniques can take your soft, dreamy photos to the next level.
| Works Well | Avoid | |------------|-------| | Golden hour portraits | High-contrast studio light | | Soft window light | Harsh midday sun | | Florals, nature, wedding | Very dark/underexposed | | Pastel or muted backgrounds | Neon colors |