Shadow and Vignetting in portraits
There are images that speak volumes through a single gaze. But often, to let that gaze truly shine, we need to help it stand out. In this short tutorial, I’ll show you a simple yet powerful technique: how to add shadow and vignetting to a portrait to draw attention, create atmosphere, and add emotional depth to the image.
After years of working with portraits, I’ve learned that it’s not just about capturing a face — it’s about telling something more: a mood, a story, a connection. Vignetting — when used subtly — can wrap the subject in a kind of visual silence, as if the rest of the world fades away to leave only what matters. And shadows, when placed with care, don’t darken — they reveal.
In this tutorial, I share my personal approach to applying these effects, not as a technical formula, but as an expressive tool. It’s not about manipulating the image, but about helping it say what’s already there, waiting to be seen.
I hope it’s helpful, that it inspires you to experiment, and that in the process, you find your own way of seeing.
Add shadows and vignettes to your portraits
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Take a look at the before and after retouching applying the tutorial you just saw. Move the center bar with your mouse to scroll the effect. (Photos should appear below, otherwise refresh the page -F5)
