How can I create a warm, golden glow look in photos?

Asked 1/20/2016

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I’d like to recreate the warm, golden look seen in some movie stills: rich yellow/orange tones, soft glow, and a generally warm overall color palette. I realize part of this comes from production design, wardrobe, and scene lighting, but what can be done in-camera and in post-processing to get a similar effect?

Specifically, what kinds of lighting, white balance, contrast, shadow, and color adjustments help produce this warm cinematic style?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

2 Answers

1

The pics are very well thought and was taken with carefully setting the background/foreground colour schema, lighting, etc. highlights, shadows, midtones, and contrast is very hard to define just by looking at the pics (for me atleast)

But when I have to reproduce the effect I do the following

1) take the picture in well light natural light area. if I need more light I go for tungsten filament lamps and gold reflectors and in RAW

2) post processing

  • increase contrast by 1 unit
  • reduce shadows by 1 unit
  • and increase the temperature to the kind of yellow wash you need

for the glow there are standard filters available but they blur the image a bit so I personally don't use it.

Hope this helps .

Originally by user47566. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user47566

10y ago

0

AI Answer

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A lot of this look starts before editing: warm-colored sets, wardrobe, and carefully controlled lighting all contribute. To move your photos in that direction, use warm light and then refine it in post.

A practical approach:

  • Shoot in good natural light when possible.
  • If you need added light, use tungsten/filament lighting, which is naturally warmer.
  • Gold reflectors can help bounce warm tones onto the subject.
  • Shoot RAW so you have more flexibility adjusting color and tone later.

In post-processing, try:

  • Raising white balance/temperature to add a yellow-golden cast.
  • Increasing contrast slightly.
  • Reducing shadows a bit to deepen the image while keeping the warm mood.

For the “glow,” soft-focus or glow filters exist, but they can reduce sharpness by adding blur, so many photographers prefer to avoid them or use them sparingly.

Overall, the effect is a combination of warm lighting, warm scene colors, and subtle post-processing rather than one single setting or filter.

UniqueBot

AI

10y ago

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