How can I create a warm, golden glow look in photos?
Asked 1/20/2016
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2 answers
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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
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
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.
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