Retouch a Moody and Cinematic Portrait with Photoshop

[@NicolasRao]

The best part of this tutorial is the numerous sub techniques if that makes sense or rather the principles involved for a lot of your own work for different results. Great stuff. Thanks

[@johngrady7390]

This single video changed my whole approach to retouching. I use gradient maps in almost every image now and have a bunch of gradients saved for different looks. When people ask me how I got a certain look I always point them to this tutorial and tell them to experiment with gradients and different colors in their shadows. Thanks Nathaniel!

[@tutvid]

+John Grady Thanks, John! Really appreciate the kind words!

[@JaneEyreDoylePhotography]

I could say all sorts of proper fancy things, but I'll just say, I FREAKING LOVE YOU MAN! I am one of those very stubborn people who refuses to follow instructions, there for its taken me a million years to learn many things I now know, (not the best way to go about it since photography is my full time job.) In any event, I'm glad I decided to put my pride aside for a good bit, and, well, I am very grateful. Wonderful tutorial, and fantastic techniques.

[@jameseisele1345]

Imagine the hours of work you could save by just lighting it properly and selecting the correct aperture to start with. This is a great advert for the power of adjustment layers but it honestly comes across as digital masturbation. This look is easily achieved in 5-6 layers in a third of the time, and while it may be fun to play with an image for 30 minutes, try that on 300 images, that the AD needs tomorrow morning for a presentation.

[@alex0589]

James Eisele +1 for "digital masturbation"

[@EveHallows]

+James Eisele I would think this much editing is to teach you how to edit.. the image he's editing makes no difference, it's about learning at this point, not starting off at the top.

[@JayjayRobertson]

+MrZaZa3k12 The image doesn't look overworked it looks amazing😊👍 Thanks for this!!

[@dezfoto7534]

No they're not, but not all photography is for high end magazines or campaigns.

[@mickterro7972]

Don't listen to this guy, kids. If you shoot 300 images in a single day, this tutorial is not for you. This is for someone who does photography as a form of art. This may be not the absolute best tutorial out there, but it's pretty damn good. I specifically liked the grain trick. Will definitely be using it myself a lot. Many other nice tips here too.

[@wowisee]

Wow, I've looked high and low for truly professional tutorials by retouchers/editors who actually know their stuff. At my level it gets hard to learn new tricks when there are so few resources aimed at people who do this for a living. You've really impressed me, good job!

[@tutvid]

+wowisee Awesome! Glad you found it useful!

[@archkjgalvo]

the best and most complete portrait retouching tutorial I've seen. way better than the paid tutorials that I've tried on some sites. keep it up and thank you!

[@TahlaJayne]

This tutorial was fantastic, helped me more than you can imagine! Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful techniques!

[@jonathanjansen8167]

You have changed my view of editing photos. This is amazing. I typically don't touch them other than a some curves and done (which has major impact) but adding colors, dodging and burning. So many examples of editing go so badly. Thank you for this video and explaining your perspective of editing.

[@tutvid]

+Jonathan Jansen High praise! Thank you so much! I'm glad the tutorial had an impact for the good 👍 BTW, Gradients maps are awesome.

[@cespedesc]

This was SO helpful. This is obviously not for those who want to edit 300 pictures in one day -- I think they're better off using presets and actions. But for those of us who don't use presets/actions and want to develop that "fine art photography" style, this had a couple of very helpful techniques. Thanks so much!

[@LEXXdesign]

In photoshop you always learn something...the way i like your tut is that we really understand how things work so that we can adjust them for our projets and not robotic way by other tutorials. Thank you!

[@b991228]

It was flattening the contrast that made the difference.

[@radu19d]

Very happy I found your tutorial, there are lots of tools and effects you talked about, you don't really need them all in one photo usually but I did learned alot this way!

[@bobturton]

This is one of the most helpful tutorials I've worked with. Thanks man. I really learned a lot.

[@LibbiiTastic]

This is def a good way to see how adjustments actually work. I know when I was in school I wasn't really taught how to work with adjustments I was taught the pen tool five times and I hate the pen tool and never use it. I learned how to use adjustments all on my own.

[@donaldwu4168]

I thought I knew a lot about photoshop, but you are on another level. Great stuff man.

[@donaldwu4168]

True that :]

[@TheFaizParadise]

Dude you're really good at keeping me focused in the video. some videos by other people are just so plain and monotone!

[@tutvid]

+Bass Boosts Thanks! Means a ton. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@TheFaizParadise]

:)

[@SeamusHarper1234]

I just watched the video for the 3rd time, while playing along on my own pic. This tutorial is just so much more! The exact oposit of "how to change your eye color in photoshop". Artistic, with a deep understandig... Love it.

[@ManicMaximus]

I really appreciated this tutorial. I like your method for dodging and burning!

[@tutvid]

Sure thing! Thanks for the kind words!

[@danielbeebee]

YES! You're back! That's great news. More please!!

[@avishaiankri]

Wow, just wow... How did I not notice your channel before.. This tutorial is one of the best around.. I still have to put a lot of work on my editing (as always) but its great to see how you bring all those tools into the mixture.. Great work and thank you, a must share

[@tutvid]

Thank you so much, man! Really appreciate the kind words!

[@1adam]

i think the photo looked great after the dodge and burn layers, beyond that felt like overkill (especially grain). good tutorial though

[@atziluth12]

Randomly found this tutorial, very good material. Tons of stuff to learn! Thanks a bunch mate!

[@AllanLange]

Awesome video Nathaniel, good to see you're back to doing tutorials. You really make me want to buy a camera and start shooting some pictures.

[@tutvid]

More and more and more tutorials on their way too!

[@alioliya]

did you notice how many times you killed the contrast and then introduced the contrast back in?!

[@Gex9z]

+Ali Oliya No, he reduced contrast then _selectively_ added it in. It's a way to vary levels of contrast in different parts of the image.

[@manuelpuente7336]

i remember doing this tutorial years ago, it didnt make too much sense back then ... now i totaly get what he is doing

[@NeilSnapePhotography]

Really good, with many variations of ways of doing things.

[@pkbreeze08]

Welcome back mate. Thanks for this tut, it was awesome.

[@tutvid]

Thanks for checking it out!!

[@sardororipov1302]

great tutorial!D&B, tonning, sharping all in one!Thank you vrey much!Subscribed

[@ThePmkamb]

Nice work my friend, thanks for sharing. I used it in street portraits and the result was amazing.

[@tutvid]

So cool! Glad you enjoyed the video! 🍻

[@spelunkerd]

Best photoshop channel on youtube, welcome back.

[@tutvid]

Thanks, man!

[@sinisamajetic]

Looks like sharpening affects grain too much, so it might be better to sharpen before introducing the grain...

[@GHG11215]

Fantastic tutorial, this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much!

[@photographedemode]

you're back, great!

[@openbardi]

This is really cool man, love the pace and delivering!

[@BehzadRad]

you are avery nice teacher when work tell every thing you do and remind us what is that, what is this, how is this, and your speed . totally prefect . we seemany tutorial in youtube but yours is so nice and helpfull

[@Diaaearts]

Wonderful Tuto especially dodge n burn techniques

[@tutvid]

You know it!

[@massari187]

amazing tutorial ! looks like the "Mona Lisa" Look

[@FilmFactry]

Nice, clear presentation!

[@elisacoulthurst4369]

Great video. Really helpful and insightful tutorial! Thanks.

[@aiquelindo]

Great job. That's a really hot picture.

[@26ymcmb86]

Looks truly amazing man.

[@tutvid]

+David C Thanks, David! Appreciate the comment.

[@ProcessingHelp]

Really good tutorial - thank you!

[@Vodkaman68]

The best is back....Very Nice..

[@tutvid]

Thanks, Tom. (o')

[@cassonian]

I really loved this tut, thank you

[@alexisdamiangm]

I learned so much on this tut, thanks!

[@BrandyReneePhotographyTV]

I love this look! Thanks!

[@EddyTorta23]

Awesome dude! Very sincere and articulate.

[@tutvid]

Thank you so much!

[@FoCal000]

Great vid, and welcome back!

[@johnp6475]

WOW If I had to do all that to one photograph I would give photography up. this video realy is 10% photo 90% post production.

[@cweb1988]

Incredible shot.

[@tutvid]

Thanks! It was raining and nasty out the day we shot this photo.

[@5763vivek]

brilliant tuts brother.....thank you so much

[@MohsinAbbaas]

Brilliant stuff mate !

[@449new]

Dude you're amazing! Thank you so much!!

[@tutvid]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@aksisoylenemez]

That was a great lesson. Thanks buddy.

[@RaffiQueer]

SUPER GOOD! Thank you!

[@CBSuper]

Great tutorial.

[@EtiennePlaneix]

JEEEEE HES BACK!!!! NICE MAN!

[@yunisaziz1616]

Damn !!!!! you are the best... nice job Bro

[@mcgotes]

Great tutorial. How did you get that options you used in gradient map? I don't have the same effects as you do

[@perdapro]

Great tutorial, Sir!

[@olivierpuraye]

Yeah you are back :)

[@spongita84]

Awesome tut, thanks:)

[@kommeht00]

Welcome back!!!

[@chrischarlescook]

Awesome video, thanks!

[@MatinDadib]

Awesome tutorial!!!

[@chachawei6450]

Welcome back!

[@441greenleaf]

firstly i like how you speak, fast and understandable, not boring ) it makes me watch this tutorial till the end )) but just a question, why you shot at 1.8f ? photo looks so out of focus and blurry, wouldnt be better to shot f4-5 since you have 50mm, it will be still a nice depth of the field and bookeh. i am just curious , not critisising ) everyone has their own style, just wanna get info about your style)

[@alioliya]

+Eren Alkan you would never get that large bokeh with f4.5!! that's what large apertures are for.

[@criticaltinker]

subscribed... thanks for the tutorial.

[@hakamsoufan]

always great work ...

[@dmz_videos]

Nice video! it's Canon F 1 (point) 4, and you shot that at F 1 (point) 6

[@josephlolin9658]

I love this tutorial,,thank you so much!!!

[@tutvid]

Thanks for the comment!

[@Bondemitch]

you know how to menage layers man!!!...but you could do it simple and get the same resoult. thanx anyway for your time and for making a free tutorials

[@Manal87]

Great tutorial. Can we apply the same technique to a landscape photo?

[@scottnimtz4649]

Awesome post work. Do you mind sharing the two colors used in the gradient map?

[@MockyRock]

damn scott you just got told

[@predator-20244]

professional , thank you very much

[@MirRom14]

Cool

[@FBTV95]

"Right over here is the image out of the camera" Only If I could click a photo like that 🤣

[@keeganlanyon608]

So helpful , thanks!

[@tutvid]

Glad you enjoyed it, Keegan!

[@husseinalalousie3377]

Greetings to you from Iraq , my brother ♥

[@tutvid]

Would love to visit Iraq someday! Thanks for watching!

[@iTsMalTe]

Love it, thanks a lot

[@TheHarishgowtham]

adjusting two much of or killing two much contrast will it bring clarity to the picture??

[@arpitpatel8213]

Fab Video \m/ Great job :) Thanks a lot :)

[@artyushinanton]

Thank you so much!

[@jos7068]

can you give the exact colors of the gradient pleaseeee !

[@holiastos]

good stuff. cheers

[@Danielism]

Is it my computer or does the video get really pixelated?

[@tutvid]

Yeah you're not the only one seeing that. Still adjusting a new screen recorder. :D

[@egornekr]

Thx for tut!! What lens did You used?

this is a nice tuto, thank you very much :-) A little bit too much but instructive ;-) Jean-François

[@tutvid]

Thank you! I can try to make the videos shorter next time too.

[@benjaminwu5465]

Awesome.

[@putra910]

awesome!

[@carlosyampufe2783]

Excelente !!

[@Biketherapy113]

That was a great tutorial but a bit overwhelming. I'll have to get a good portrait and try to skip around on this one again.

[@tutvid]

+John McConnell Good soft light source close to your subject. Shallow depth of field. Use an ND filter to get shallow depth of field with an off-camera flash. 👍

[@bukhrin]

Thank you for the video

[@tutvid]

Thanks for the comment!

[@dezfoto7534]

Seems like you overly complicated the process to me, but it's still good to see all the techniques in action.

[@penabrand]

thank you brother!

[@tutvid]

+Luis Pena Thank you, Luis!

[@SeamusHarper1234]

How did you get that crazy flare with the "holes" in it?? On a side note: Did KZbin do something with the video compression? I get a lot of artifacts on the bits of the video that are faster moving...

[@Gex9z]

+SeamusHarper1234 He must've used a one-pass encode with a low bitrate. For videos with lots of non-moving parts and sudden movement (like this one), a two-pass encode is recommended, no matter how high a bitrate you're using. On the other hand YT might be the one to blame.

[@BrianDesimone]

killer, thanks

[@suemcarthur105]

wonderful thank you

[@tutvid]

+Sue McArthur Thanks, Sue!

[@MarcMateos]

Trully amazing

[@tutvid]

Thank you so much, Marc!

[@gabriellearchambault2233]

You are a GOD