How to Make Photos Look Like Film

Learn how to edit your photos to look like film on the Lightroom app.

Creating a film-like look for your photos in Lightroom can add an artistic, nostalgic feel and can be ideal for storytelling. This trend is super popular among photographers right now so here’s how to achieve that vibe.

1. Add Grain and Soften Clarity
Film photos often have texture. Start by adding grain for a natural, gritty feel and reduce clarity to soften the edges.

2. Adjust Tone Curves
Use the tone curve to lift shadows slightly and lower highlights. This creates a faded effect reminiscent of old film.

3. Play with Warmth and Colors
For that vintage warmth, shift your white balance to the warmer side, and adjust hues, especially yellows and greens, to feel organic.

4. Refine with RGB Channels
Fine-tune the red, green, and blue channels separately. Add subtle tints to shadows and highlights for a retro color balance.

5. Add a Vignette
A soft vignette darkens the edges of the frame, drawing focus toward the center like classic film photos.

These five simple steps will help you turn your already beautiful photos into older-looking, film style shots!

More links for you:
Online Photography & Video Courses
Mobile Photography Tutorial: 6 Tips for Taking Engaging Photos, by @albaduque_