How to get this dreamy look?

[katylaramie]

I love this photographer's way of editing and I've tried several ways to try and figure it out but I can't. Can anyone give me some ideas as how to come up with the effects shown in these pictures? Whimzy Photography - Photos | Facebook
Thank you so much!

 

[tirediron]

You mean the mis-focused dreamy look, the poorly exposed dreamy look, or the badly cropped dreamy look?

 

[SabrinaO]

I love this photographer's way of editing and I've tried several ways to try and figure it out but I can't. Can anyone give me some ideas as how to come up with the effects shown in these pictures? Whimzy Photography - Photos | Facebook
Thank you so much!

Desaturation, color overlays and hazes, dodging and burning...

 

[gsgary]

Facebook is not the place to see good photography like the examples you gave use

 

[g-fi]

It's probably an action, but there's a better way to do it. Shooting backlit is a good way to get a haze in camera, and picking a later time of day so that the sun is closer to the horizon and your light is more horizontal than vertical can catch a lot of the dust in the air and give you that look. Alternately, if you live in an area blessed with morning fog, you can get some spectacular effects if you head out early enough to get it before it burns off. There's a field close to my house that you would never know is right in the middle of a residential neighborhood around 6am when the fog is heavy, it's gorgeous!

 

[PhotoWrangler]

The easiest way is to add a white layer, then reduce opacity. Add a little white balance shift, some curves adjustments, dodging and burning and voila.

 

[adrianakyan]

Is called actions...

 

[katylaramie]

Thank you to those of you that actually replied with a nice, helpful response. Yes, obviously they used actions, I was hoping someone could help with what kind. Um, facebook has a ton of good photographers on it. I kind of think anyone who's not on it is wasting a useful resource. Anyway, thank you to those of you that helped!

 

[katylaramie]

Thank you ChristpherCoy!! I just tried it and it really helped! I only have photoshop elements, so I don't think I can do any curves adjustments? Do you think they used some kind of texture?

 

[SabrinaO]

Thank you to those of you that actually replied with a nice, helpful response. Yes, obviously they used actions, I was hoping someone could help with what kind. Um, facebook has a ton of good photographers on it. I kind of think anyone who's not on it is wasting a useful resource. Anyway, thank you to those of you that helped!

My thoughts exactly. Don't tell that to g-fi though...
Anyways just a tip... the layer doesn't always have to be white. It could be any color you want. Play around with the opacities, and the blending modes. Overlay, Soft Light, and Screen all work well in creating a hazy dreamy effect.

 

[adrianakyan]

I use a light creamy yellow.. i like it more than white..

 

[Gaerek]

My thoughts exactly. Don't tell that to g-fi though...

Not 10 minutes ago, you said you're not here for the drama, then you post this, referencing a completely different thread? All I have to say is:

LIES

 

[SabrinaO]

My thoughts exactly. Don't tell that to g-fi though...

Not 10 minutes ago, you said you're not here for the drama, then you post this, referencing a completely different thread? All I have to say is:

LIES

Oh FFS!!! Why are you here? I never seen you help ONCE... you just ***** about the work of other photographers when you have no right to judge. Why don't you just go take some more lame pics of ocean bouys and quit stalking my posts. Really, its just creepy how much you are into what I do.

Anyways.. OP: Elements doesn't have a curves feature? Im sure they do? I dont use it, but ill check my version to see if they have it. If not maybe you can use the contrast feature or just burn the darks and dodge the lights..
Just remember... when adding a white/color overlay, you don't want the darks to look washed out or milky.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

Thank you ChristpherCoy!! I just tried it and it really helped! I only have photoshop elements, so I don't think I can do any curves adjustments? Do you think they used some kind of texture?

You should be able to adjust your curves. All it is is lightening the shadows, or lowering the contrast.

 

[SabrinaO]

Thank you ChristpherCoy!! I just tried it and it really helped! I only have photoshop elements, so I don't think I can do any curves adjustments? Do you think they used some kind of texture?

You should be able to adjust your curves. All it is is lightening the shadows, or lowering the contrast.

in most instances... shouldn't you want to do the opposite?