There's nothing quite like the perfect bokeh, haze, or layers of swirling snow to really capture the wonder of the winter season in your images. However, you may not always be able to capture this on camera. Maybe it's too early in the season or winter isn't wintering where you live. Maybe you've found that mixing practical atmosphere with little ones isn't working for your seasonal minis or you sacrificed certain details to get the needed shot! Whatever the case, we know that sometimes you just have to add it in post!
Editing in seasonal elements doesn't have to be hard! Follow along for 3 ways to add snow to your images. Stick around for #3 for a one-click method sure to please!
1. Add Snow with Photo Overlays
One traditional method for adding snow to your images involves dragging and dropping a photo overlay onto your image, blending to match, and masking or erasing certain bits to retain key subject details! This method allows for endless creativity, but is the most hands-on method for adding snow!
Before adding snow, we recommend applying your global (full-image) color edit in Lightroom or ACR! In our example below, we used Luxe Firewood & Frost action "Snow White Warm" for a lovely color base, before adding our snow overlay!
Now to add our Luxe Snow or ColorMade Snow Overlays! Simply download, unzip, drag & drop, size to fit, and blend! In Photoshop we recommend the "Screen" blend mode!
You can also add a layer mask to the overlay layer and use a soft brush (hardness at 0%) set to black to erase unwanted snow (like from your subject's face). To mix things up, use techniques like gaussian and motion blur to change the look and feel of the falling snow to match your image!:
While overlays aren't Lightroom-compatible, this method will work in any program or app that supports layering and blending images. Photoshop and Elements are our top picks! But you can also do this in Affinity Photo, Photopea (a FREE browser software), GIMP, and so many other great options!
SHOP SNOW OVERLAYS
2. Add Snow with Photoshop Actions
Photoshop users know that actions allow for quick results and maximum control with adjustable non-destructive layers! Simply click play to run your action and adjust the applied layer or layer group to taste!
Our Luxe Firewood & Frost actions for Photoshop include everything you need for corrective, colorful, and creative magic! Here we applied "Snow White Warm" for a lovely color base, before playing our "Full Snow Soft" action!
Once the snow is created, you can add a layer mask to the "Full Snow Soft" layer group and use a soft brush (hardness at 0%) set to black to erase unwanted snow (like from your subject's face).
These magical actions are available for Photoshop (CS6 & Later) and Elements (2015 and later), including all current, up-to-date versions of compatible software!
Pro tip: You can edit your images in Lightroom or ACR with presets before applying your snow action if you need the image to match other images already edited with presets.
SHOP SNOWY PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS
3. Add Snow in a tap with Lightroom Presets
Maybe you've heard about snow overlays, but you only have Lightroom, and know that layering and blending images together just isn't possible in Lightroom. You don't want to learn Photoshop or another new app, but desperately want to add some winter magic.
Have no fear - we've created hand-painted snow effects FOR Lightroom, so you can add wintery atmosphere to your images at home or on-the-go in the latest subscription versions of Lightroom!
Let it Snow! 2.0 has quickly become a winter BFF in the Luxe community of Photographers, and for good reason! We've also just released our Luxe Snow Days collection, featuring a modern subdued approach to color edits and a whole host of new snowy effects presets (including some phenomenal "Top Half Falling" options for snow that doesn't quite touch down!)
Just apply your global edit with collection presets (or your usual full image edit!), then jump into your Effects toolkit(s) to add foreground or background snow effects ranging from bokeh to blizzard!
No need to manually remove snow from subjects with our minus subject (Let it Snow! 2.0) and background (Snow Days) options!
With presets, you can layer bokeh and small snow effects to create depth and unique looks in a snap:
Love the look, but want to adjust, or subtract snow from certain zones? Just head over to masking after applying and quickly subtract with brush, radial, gradient, or person/subject masking!:
These preset collections are compatible with Creative Cloud subscription versions of: Lightroom (CC), Lightroom Classic, Photoshop ACR, and the Lightroom Mobile app (snow effects will require the Premium, or paid version of the app to function on mobile)!
SHOP SNOW EFFECTS PRESETS
We know winter can be a snow season for photography, but it doesn't have to be a no season for creating art that moves you! While we encourage rest during your down seasons, we also encourage nurturing the passion that brought you to photography in the first place! Maybe something as simple as snow can be the spark you need to kindle a renewed flame for winter portraiture!
Example image by the amazing Jess Schroeder @greyoakandsage
