How to Make Photos Look Like Film in Lightroom Classic

The nostalgic charm of film photography has captivated generations of photographers. While I shoot digitally at MELOURRA, my editing style embraces the atmospheric, cinematic aesthetics of film. Creating this film-inspired look is all about embracing imperfections and evoking emotion over technical precision. Here’s how you can replicate the magic of film using Lightroom Classic.

1. Embrace Grain

Grain is a hallmark of film photography, lending texture and authenticity.

Navigate to the Effects Panel and increase the grain amount.
Adjust size and roughness to mimic your favorite film stocks, whether fine-grained or gritty.

2. Play with Focus

Perfect focus isn’t always the goal. Experiment with:

Manual Focus: Let your subject fall slightly out of focus for dreamy, imperfect results.
Background Focus: Highlight unexpected elements, like a blurry subject against a sharp backdrop.

3. Master the Curve Tool

The curve tool is your secret weapon for film-inspired edits.

Create an S-curve in the tone curve panel to adjust contrast.
Crush the highlights and shadows by pulling down the top-right corner and lifting the bottom-left corner. This softens the photo and gives it that vintage, washed-out feel.

4. Reduce Contrast for a Flatter Look

Film photos often feel less crisp and more subdued. To achieve this:

Increase the shadows and reduce the whites in the Light panel.
Keep the image flatter but retain subtle depth.

5. Color Grading for Film Tones

The colors in film photography are warm and moody, with an emphasis on blues and yellows.

In the Color Grading Panel, shift shadows towards red or orange for warmth.
Add green-blue tones to mid-tones for vibrancy in natural elements like trees and water.
Fine-tune the highlights to enhance golden sunlight or a soft vintage glow.

6. Keep It Real

Film is all about imperfection. Photos don’t need to be billboard-perfect to resonate. Capture emotions, movement, and fleeting moments that feel authentic.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Your Signature Film Look Awaits

By combining these tips in Lightroom, you can create digital images with the heart and soul of film. The beauty of this process lies in experimentation—tailor these techniques to your vision and watch your photos come alive with a timeless, nostalgic quality.

Ready to create? Let’s turn your photos into cinematic masterpieces.