Want photos that feel like a warm memory, a gentle breeze, or a lucid dream? The "soft and dreamy" aesthetic is beloved for weddings, portraits, fine art, and lifestyle photography. The goal is low contrast, muted tones, and a glowing, ethereal feel.
Below is a step-by-step recipe to create your own preset, plus tips on where to find the best ones.
To understand how these presets function, it is essential to look at the specific adjustments made in the Lightroom Develop module.
| Setting | Value | |---------|-------| | Texture | -10 | | Clarity | (already set) | | Dehaze | (already set) | | Grain | 15–25 / Size 25 / Roughness 40 | | Post-Crop Vignetting | Amount -15 / Midpoint 50 / Roundness +30 / Feather 70 |
A Lightroom preset soft and dreamy is more than a filter; it is a storytelling device. Whether you are a wedding photographer trying to evoke tears of nostalgia, or a mom photographing a sleeping baby, this tool bridges the gap between reality and emotion.
Remember the golden rule: Presets are starting points, not endpoints. Download the recommended packs, learn the DIY method, but always trust your eye. If the image feels romantic, if the light looks like honey, and if the shadows whisper rather than shout—you have achieved the dream. lightroom preset soft and dreamy
Ready to transform your portfolio? Download one of the recommended packs above, or open Lightroom right now and try the DIY recipe. Your photography will never look flat again.
Have a favorite soft preset we missed? Let us know in the comments below. For more Lightroom tutorials, subscribe to our newsletter.
To create a soft and dreamy Lightroom preset, you primarily work within the Develop Module
to lower midtone definition and manipulate the light for a glowing, "faded" effect 1. Essential Basic Adjustments
The "dreamy" look is defined by reduced harshness and increased luminance. Decrease this significantly (try -20 to -50 ) to soften the midtones and create a fuzzy glow. Use a negative value to add a hazy, foggy appearance. Exposure & Contrast: The Ultimate Guide to Soft & Dreamy Lightroom
Slightly increase exposure while decreasing contrast (around ) to flatten the lighting and make it "airy". Shadows & Blacks:
Raise these to brighten dark areas and remove heavy shadows. 2. The Faded Tone Curve To achieve a "matte" or film-like look, use the Point Curve Lift the Blacks:
Drag the bottom-left point slightly upward to turn deep blacks into soft grays. Drop the Whites:
Drag the top-right point down slightly to mute harsh highlights. Soft S-Curve:
Add points in the shadows and midtones for a gentle "S" shape to maintain just enough depth so the image doesn't look flat. 3. Color Grading for Mood Product Photography: You never want your client's product
Dreamy aesthetics often use "pastel" or warm color palettes.
Here’s a complete guide and preset recipe for creating a Soft & Dreamy look in Lightroom (Classic and CC/Mobile).
You can either build this manually or use the recipe as a preset template.
| Wheel | Setting | |-------|---------| | Shadows | Slight teal/blue (Hue ~210, Sat ~10) | | Midtones | Slight warm peach (Hue ~35, Sat ~8) | | Highlights | Very light warm (Hue ~45, Sat ~5) | | Blending | 60–70 | | Balance | +10 (towards highlights) |
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