How To Get The Soft Look In Photos
With most modern camera gear, you’re pretty much guaranteed sharp and clean images. For most commercial purposes having tack sharp files is indeed preferred. However for those who like photos to have character or even emulate an old film camera look, this over sharpening can be detrimental. In this blog I will cover some techniques one can use to soften your images and give them a less digital look.
Use a vintage lens
By far the easiest way to get a softer look is to use a vintage lens. You can buy an old lens on eBay for not very much money, then grab a cheap adaptor and you’re ready to go. Of course you will have to focus manually and there might be a learning curve. However when coupled with modern sensors, vintage lenses can indeed produce some great results as you can see below. These were taken on the Fuji XH2s and the Minolta 40mm.
Shoot wide open
As many of you may know, lenses tend to be at their sharpest when roughly in the middle of the aperture range. However if you open the lens up, you will naturally get a softer look. Not just from more background blur, but even elements in focus will be a little softer. Below are some examples.
Shoot into the light
Lighting is a big topic however for the purpose of getting softer images, try to shoot into the light. In other words try to have your subject backlit. Light could either be a direct source like the sun or simply a noticeably brighter area. When you shoot into the light, there will naturally be more diffusion and an overall softer image compared to shooting with the light. See some examples below.
Use a filter (or not)
Some of you might have heard of mist filters. They are designed to bloom highlights, soften the image and create a more filming look. If you’re shooting JPEGS and do not want to do any editing, this could be a good option. However from experience I found that in many cases I want to dial the effect back, add more of it or simply apply it selectively. If you use a filter, it’s permanent and you have no control. This is why I prefer to shoot without any filters and instead focus on editing to try and emulate the same look.
Fade the blacks and whites
The first step to softening an image is to slightly fade the blacks but more importantly the whites. I try to have white appear more like off white. This overall softens the tones and removes some of the digital sharpness especially in areas that might be extremely bright. I do this in the tone curve section as pictured below.
Negative clarity
This is an easy tool to soften the image. Simply reduce clarity and add negative clarity. Don’t go crazy as it’s easy to ruin a photo. Also pay attention to the highlights. Sometimes they can have weird halos if too much negative clarity is present. A good option is to apply it selectively by using a brush.
Sharpen selectively
Many images need a little sharpening here and there. However applying global sharpening is not the best way forward. A clean blue sky does not need sharpening as there is nothing to sharpen. Equally an area with little detail does not need sharpening. By applying sharpening in these places, you’re just adding noise. Instead apply sharpening selectively to areas that need it. You can do it by either applying with a brush or better yet by using the mask feature in Lightroom. Simply hold the Option key while you are adjusting the mask to get a preview of what is being sharpened and what isn’t. I set my mask to around 80 by default and fine tune if needed.
Orton Effect
The last tool for creating a soft glow is called the Orton Effect. It has been popularised within the landscape photography genre however it can work anywhere. It is also best applied selectively and would require software such as Photoshop or Affinity Photo.
Edit the photo in Lightroom until you’re happy with it.
Export as a full size TIFF or simply open in Photoshop.
Duplicate the background layer.
Apply a gaussian blur and set it so you can work out what the photo is about but it’s all blurry.
Apply a levels adjustment and boost the black / white contrast to extreme levels (as shown below).
Merge everything into one layer and turn off the individuals adjustments. All you should have enabled is the original photo background layer and the new merged layer.
Drop the opacity of the top layer to around 10% but it depends on the photo.
If need be apply a mask and paint this effect in on the highlights or anywhere you fancy.
Export final image.
Instead of telling you how these will change your life, I would rather be practical and answer the most common questions that people tend to have when buying presets.
What are presets?
They are editing settings that are saved in a file and can be applied to any image.
Why do people buy presets?
Sometimes because they like the work of the photographer and want that style for their own photos. Mostly because they would like to see how other people edit and learn by reverse engineering the presets. Other times it’s just to support their favourite photographers, thank you!
What’s the overall style of these presets?
- Filmic
- Minimal
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
What do these presets look like?
These presets 100% reflect my current editing style. Please see examples of work below.
Do these presets get updated?
Yes, as my style changes, these presets will also be updated. Any time a new update is available, you will get a free update via email. Of course you also keep all the old presets in case you prefer the older looks. Only presets purchased from 2025 onwards will receive the updates.
What file types are these presets for?
- All RAW files
- JPEGs & TIFFs (not recommended)
What camera brands are these presets for?
These were designed around Fujifilm, Sony, and Leica sensors. With that said, they will work with all camera brands. While there might be subtle colour changes due to individual camera colour science, the overall feel of the preset will carry over.
Will these work with JPEG files?
Yes, but you will need to reduce the intensity and make further edits. I strongly recommend editing RAW files.
Are these one click edits?
95% No. You would need to do some basic adjustments as each image is different. These adjustments can include exposure, colour balance etc. In 5% of cases you can just apply and leave it alone.
Do I need to know how to edit?
You need to have a basic understanding of adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, etc. A more comprehensive editing skillset will let you get the most out of them.
How many presets are included?
15 in the main pack and 20 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits. The extras pack is random test presets, one-off looks, and looks I don’t use often.
What software do I need?
These presets will work with any of the following:
- Photoshop (adobe camera raw)
- Lightroom Classic
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Mobile
Will these presets work with free versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed for the full paid versions.
Will these presets work with very old versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed on and for the latest software.
What file type do I get?
XMP
What else do I get?
- Comprehensive PDF guide
- Short video of me editing using these presets
Can I modify these and turn them into my own?
Yes! In fact I encourage you to modify them and play around. Use these to help you get your own style.
I have more questions…. What do I do?
Make a cup of tea and drop me an email on hello@snapsbyfox.com
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying these presets is the most direct way you can support my work thus allowing me to make more videos / photos / tutorials for you.
Thank you for your support!