Editing portraits isn’t just about fixing mistakes—it’s about bringing out what’s already great. With the right tools and techniques in Lightroom, you can refine lighting, color, and detail to make your subject stand out.
Coming to you from Gareth Evans with Park Cameras, this detailed video tutorial breaks down portrait editing into manageable steps. Evans begins by emphasizing the importance of getting as much as possible right in camera. When lighting, focus, and framing are solid, the editing process becomes faster and more effective. For this example, Evans works with a studio portrait featuring a red background. He starts by addressing distractions on the edges of the frame, showing how cropping or generative AI tools can seamlessly remove unwanted elements.
The video transitions into color and exposure adjustments. Evans demonstrates techniques like lowering highlights to soften harsh light on the subject's skin and adjusting contrast to add depth. He tweaks specific colors using the Hue sliders, shifting the red tones slightly toward orange for a more balanced look. These adjustments subtly refine the photo without overpowering its natural qualities.
Advanced masking techniques take center stage in the later part of the video. Lightroom's People Mask tool allows Evans to isolate different parts of the subject, including facial skin, body skin, eyes, and lips. By creating separate masks for these areas, he makes precise edits. For the skin, he reduces texture to achieve a smooth, polished appearance while maintaining natural details. When enhancing the eyes, Evans increases brightness, clarity, and micro-contrast to draw attention without overdoing it.
Shaping light within the portrait is another key focus. Using radial and linear gradient masks, Evans adds subtle vignettes and light direction to emphasize the subject. He carefully adjusts the exposure and dehaze settings to brighten or darken areas selectively, ensuring the subject remains the brightest and most prominent part of the image. These small adjustments guide the viewer’s eye and enhance the overall composition. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Evans.
