This guide will give you the easiest ways to edit newborn photos in Lightroom.
I’ve been using Adobe Lightroom for many years, and I’ve found it an indispensable part of my photography workflow.
Editing newborn photos in Lightroom helps you add a creamy, soft quality to the baby’s appearance and remove skin blemishes.
Let’s dive into the tutorial.
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How to Edit Newborn Photos in Lightroom
Have you just completed a photographer’s most challenging task, a photo session with a newborn baby?
Capturing the best side of a baby takes oodles of patience, careful planning and a lot of luck.
As the comedian W.C. Fields once said, never work with animals or children. These two types of models have incredibly distractible minds.
But when a task is challenging, the reward will be high. The beautiful newborn baby photos you capture will be treasured for many years.
When you finish the shoot, the baby photos will, most likely, require post-processing due to unexpected mishaps.
There are three factors upon which we need to focus our editing: removing skin blemishes, creating soft skin, and toning down red skin tones.
We want the baby’s skin to appear soft with no obvious blemishes. Red-toned skin and blemishes are common among newborn babies.
There are a couple of ways to achieve a creamy skin using Lightroom. The technique we will use is the Clarity slider.
We also want the atmosphere to be light and dreamy, with no distracting features. All eyes must be dedicated to the baby.
So, let’s get started and perfect your memorable baby pics before you share them with family and friends.
Step 1 – Open the Image
Head to Lightroom and open the image you wish to edit in the Develop module. Click on the image in Lightroom’s Library and click Develop in the top menu bar.
For this tutorial, we will use a cute photo of a baby with slightly red-hued skin.
It’s not unusual for newborn babies to have red, purple or even yellow skin. For the perfect image, we want milky-toned skin.
To begin editing, click on Basic in the Develop panel to the right of your canvas. The Basic panel will drop open.
Step 2 – Adjust the Clarity Slider to Remove Harsh Lines
The Clarity slider targets contrast in the image’s mid-tones. We can use the Clarity slider to soften the baby’s skin.
Moving the Clarity slider to the left will diffuse the image and soften harsh lines and details.
In the image above, the Clarity slider was moved to the left and set to -73. As you can see, this softens the harsh lines in the image.
Removing imperfections and creating soft, silky, clear skin will help emphasize the baby’s innocence.
By smoothing lines, we can create a gentle, calm scene where you can imagine a baby would be comfortable.
In the image above, we have moved the Clarity slider in the opposite direction to +69.
Outlines have been accentuated and darkened, and the baby looks ill at ease as if in a medical examination. This is a look we need to avoid.
Step 3 – Adjust the Contrast Slider to Soften the Image
We will use the Contrast slider to remove high contrast and dark areas.
High contrast can make an image look dramatic, intense, and heavy, which is not the atmosphere we wish to create.
Instead, we will lower the contrast. To do this, we move the Contrast slider to the left, decreasing the overall contrast of the photo.
Removing darker shadows on the baby’s skin and in from the background helps to lift and lighten the photo.
Step 4 – Reduce Baby’s Red Hue
Newborns are perfect but can have skin imperfections and sometimes appear slightly red, blue, yellow or even purple.
To reduce the overtly strong hue in the baby’s skin, we can use the HSL/Color editing panel.
Click on the HSL/Color bar to open the panel. The HSL/Color panel has a slider for each Hue.
Adjusting the sliders changes the color’s saturation, luminance or hue. This allows us to target and edit one specific color at a time.
To target the red hue of the skin, we use the first slider in the panel, the Red slider.
Above the red slider, there are three buttons: Hue, Saturation and Luminance.
Click on Hue to adjust the color tone, allowing you to shift the color to a different shade (e.g., turning blues into purples).
Use Saturation to control the intensity or vibrancy of the color, and Luminance to adjust the brightness of the color, making it lighter or darker while maintaining its hue.
Step 5 – Remove Skin Blemishes Using the Heal Tool
We want our baby photo to be as close to perfect as possible, so we will scan our image to see if there are any blemishes.
You might need to zoom in on the canvas to do this well.
To zoom in, use the Navigator panel on the top left-hand side of the canvas. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command and + (for Macs) or Ctrl and + (for Windows).
In our image, we have found a line, possibly a small scar or patch of hairs.
We can use the Heal tool (or the Spot Removal tool) to remove skin blemishes from the baby.
The Heal tool is similar to the Clone tool. It uses a sample area from another part of the image to replace the blemished area.
You will find the Heal tool on the right-hand side of the canvas workspace below the Histogram.
Click the band aid icon, or for the keyboard shortcut, hit Q.
Drag your cursor over the blemished area, and Lightroom’s AI will find an area of skin to replace it.
Adjust the Size, Feather and Opacity of the Heal tool by using the Heal tool’s sliders to suit the editing task.
Step 6 – Adjust the Tone Curve
To iron out some of the photo’s color balance inconsistencies, we can use the Tone Curve.
Click on Tone Curve to open the Tone Curve editing panel.
At the top of the panel are four circle icons. Click the first grey circle icon to activate the Point Curve.
To lighten the photo’s tonal range, lift the curve upwards. To darken, drag the curve downwards.
You can add up to 16 points on the Point Curve. To create new points along the curve, click down on the curve, drag it into position, and then release.
For this edit, we only needed to add one point to the curve, lightening the luminance and lifting the saturation of the photo.
Step 7 – Adjust the Temp
Post-processing is almost complete. The ambiance is softer, the skin smoother, and the red hue has been toned down.
However, the photo still seems a little cool and slightly harsh on the eye. Baby photos look better when they have a warmer tone.
You will find the Temp slider at the very top of the Basic editing panel.
The Temp slider edits the yellow-blue axis, often referred to as warm and cool color tones.
To add warmth to the image, we will reduce the image’s blue tone by sliding the Temp slider to the right.
As you can see in the image above, the baby photo now has a delightful creamy golden glow.
Sometimes, a green hue will sneak into the photo when the yellow-blue axis is adjusted.
If a green hue becomes evident in your image, use the Tint slider to remove it. Sliding the Tint slider to the right will remove green hues.
Step 8 – Before and After
At any time during the editing process, you can check how your edited image compares to the original.
This helps give us perspective so we have an idea of whether we need to re-edit.
To view your image in Before and After mode, click on the Before and After button, the YY icon under the canvas.
Click the rectangle icon when you want to return to the full-screen view.
Final adjustments can now be made using the editing options in the Basics panel.
Viola, we have an image that will make even the toughest, meanest hearts melt.
Step 9 – Final Image
When you’re happy with the final image, you can save it, share it or send it to print.
How cute is this baby? A cute baby photo is the perfect remedy to ease the pain of a parent’s sleepless nights.
Or alternatively, it will make an adorable gift for a doting grandparent.
Now, you’re armed with all the editing tricks you need to create soft, silky skin and a gentle vibe to celebrate the little bundle of joy.
Black and White or Monochrome
Sometimes, the composition of the baby photo is exceptional.
You managed, against all odds, to capture the first smile or a special tender moment between mother and baby.
But there’s one hitch: the background is bright, clashing, or distracting, and try as you might, it’s almost impossible to tone down the hues.
There’s a great cheat solution we can use post-production: converting the image to black and white or a softer monochrome, such as sepia. You choose, you have full artistic license.
As you can see in the image below, the background blanket dominates the scene, distracting the viewer’s eye from the baby.
Use the Black & White button in the Basics panel to convert the image to black and white.
This successfully removes the overbearing colors, helping to soften the image.
Next, we will reduce overtly harsh, hard lines by toning down the contrast.
As you can see in the image above, the baby is now central to the composition, and the ambiance of the photo is softer.
Here are a couple of professional photographers’ tips for shooting baby photos for superior results and to make post-processing easier.
Tip number one: always shoot in raw. This is true for many photography jobs, but it is particularly important when shooting challenging subjects.
Photos saved in raw files retain all the image data, allowing you free reign and editing control when you get stuck into post-processing.
If you can’t shoot raw, some photographers swear by the advantages of shooting baby photos slightly overexposed.
Slightly overexposed images will help hide any mis-coloring or blotches on a newborn’s skin. However, be careful not to overdo it; you don’t want to blow out the entire image.
Capturing the innocence and beauty of a baby might be one of the most challenging jobs, but it is also one of the most rewarding.
The aim of the game is to add an extra clucky factor to the already adorable baby photos.
If you liked this tutorial, make sure to check out – How to Create a Vintage Look in Lightroom.
Have fun editing!
FAQ
How to edit newborn baby photos in Lightroom?
To edit newborn photos in Lightroom, open the image in the Develop module and use the sliders in Basic editing mode.
The Clarity slider can be used to decrease hard edges and create soft, creamy skin.
Use the Contrast slider to reduce dark shadows and overbearing contrast.
The Exposure slider can be used to lighten the image and create a dreamy atmosphere.
How to edit a newborn baby photo?
The best way to edit newborn baby photos is using a photo editing software program like Lightroom or Photoshop.
To create adorable baby photos a simple trick is to soften the baby’s skin and lighten the image exposure.
How to smooth baby skin in Lightroom?
Use the Clarity slider to create beautiful, soft baby skin in Lightroom.
Open the image in Lightroom’s Develop module. You will find the Clarity slider in the Basic editing panel.
Slide the Clarity slider to the left to soften the baby’s skin.
What is the best editing software for baby photos?
The best editing software for baby photos depends on the editing task. Lightroom is best for batch processing, color correction, and other minor edits.
When you have numerous photos to edit, Lightroom is king. You can quickly edit without the hassle of opening and closing.
Photoshop is the best for editing newborn photos that require more intricate or complex edits.
