How can I create a low-saturation portrait look with soft, compressed whites?
Asked 10/23/2013
5 views
2 answers
0
I’m new to photography and want to recreate a portrait style with a very bright background, muted colors, and soft whites that don’t look fully blown out. What shooting and editing techniques help achieve this look? I’m especially interested in how to light/expose the shot and what adjustments to make in post-processing.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
3
Shoot with a bright white background, such as snow or sand. Have your subjects wear dark clothing. Expose to the right, develop to the left, and desaturate. Adjust the skin tones to be slightly red.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A look like this is usually created with both the scene choice and the edit.
For shooting, use a very bright background such as snow or sand, and dress the subject in darker clothing so they stand out. Expose brightly (often described as “to the right”) without losing all detail in the highlights.
In editing, keep the image low in saturation overall. A mild desaturation is a good starting point. Then reduce the strength of the brightest tones so the whites look soft and compressed rather than pure, harsh white. This is often done with a curves adjustment by flattening the top end of the tone curve, while still leaving a little texture in the bright areas.
You can also slightly warm or redden skin tones so the subject doesn’t look too pale after desaturation.
In short: bright high-key background, dark wardrobe, bright exposure, lower saturation, and gently compressed highlights/white point.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI12y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How can I recreate a cream or neutral-toned edit in post-processing?
How can I create a soft, faded, desaturated portrait look in post-processing?
How can I recreate the low-contrast, desaturated ‘vintage’ look in Sean Flanigan-style photos?
How can I create a muted, flat-color landscape look in Lightroom?
How can I create a soft, washed-out portrait look in Lightroom or Photoshop?