Ever looked at a still image and thought, that feels like a film scene? There’s a reason certain photos carry that cinematic quality—they’ve been deliberately styled to evoke emotion through colour, contrast, and tone. One of the best ways to achieve this is with Lightroom’s colour grading tools.
Over the years, I’ve used colour grading not just to tweak colours, but to completely change the atmosphere of an image.
Whether you’re editing street photography, portraits, or travel shots, this technique can give your work a polished, filmic look that’s far more than a simple filter.
What is Colour Grading?
Colour grading is the process of adjusting the colours in your photo to create a specific mood or visual style. It’s not about correcting colours—that’s colour correction. Grading is a creative choice, often used to add warmth, coolness, contrast or a cinematic feel.
In Lightroom, the Colour Grading Panel lets you independently adjust tones in the shadows, midtones and highlights using hue, saturation, and luminance controls. This gives you far more precision than the older Split Toning feature.
Why the Cinematic Look Works So Well
Cinematic photography mimics the look of film—think moody shadows, teal-and-orange colour palettes, or muted highlights. It works because it helps viewers feel something. You’re not just showing them what you saw; you’re showing them how it felt.
Cinematographers use colour to set the tone in movies, and we can do the same in still photography. The best part? Lightroom makes it accessible with just a few simple tools.
💡 TIP: A little goes a long way—keep saturation below 30 when colour grading to avoid cartoonish results.
Step-by-Step: Creating a Cinematic Edit in Lightroom
Here’s how I typically create a cinematic look in Lightroom Classic or Lightroom CC:
1. Basic Adjustments First
Before grading, fix exposure, white balance, contrast and clarity. This is your foundation.
2. Open the Colour Grading Panel
Find it in the Develop module beneath the Tone Curve and HSL panels.
3. Adjust Shadows
Click on the “Shadows” wheel.
Try adding deep blues or teals (hue 200–220) with moderate saturation. This sets a cool tone in darker areas.
4. Adjust Highlights
Move to the “Highlights” wheel.
Warm tones (hue 40–60) like soft orange or amber help emulate golden hour light.
5. Add Midtones (Optional)
Use the midtone wheel sparingly—this can neutralise extremes or balance the image.
6. Fine-Tune Blending and Balance
Use the Blending slider to control how the tones mix across your image.
The Balance slider lets you shift the influence more toward shadows or highlights.
7. Final Adjustments
Add some gentle vignetting, lift the blacks slightly, and maybe reduce saturation in the HSL panel to avoid oversaturation.
💡 TIP: Teal shadows and orange highlights flatter most skin tones—no wonder it’s a film industry favourite.
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Cinematic Colour Palettes to Try
- Teal & Orange: Classic Hollywood look. Cool shadows, warm skin tones.
- Desaturated Greens & Warm Highlights: Popular in travel or editorial styles.
- Muted Blues & Purples: Gives a melancholic, moody feel for quiet scenes.
When in doubt, start subtle. It’s easier to build up a look gradually than to try and rescue an over-graded photo.
Things to Watch Out For
- Don’t overdo saturation – Cinematic looks are often about mood, not intensity.
- Be careful with skin tones – Watch that your shadow and highlight colours don’t make people look unnatural.
- Work on calibrated monitors – Colours can shift wildly between screens, so try to work on a properly adjusted display.
💡 TIP: Try combining colour grading with split toning or tone curves for even more cinematic depth.
Lightroom vs Lightroom Mobile
The colour grading panel exists on both Lightroom Classic and the mobile version, though the interface is simpler on mobile. Still, it’s a great way to experiment with grading while editing on the go.
If you’re using Lightroom Mobile, tap on the “Colour” section and then “Grading”. You’ll find the same three wheels and blending sliders, just arranged vertically.
Lightroom Cinematic Grading – Micro FAQ
Q: What’s the difference between colour grading and colour correction?
A: Correction fixes tones; grading adds mood and style.
Q: Do I need to use all three grading wheels?
A: No—start with shadows and highlights, then fine-tune midtones if needed.
Q: Can I use LUTs instead?
A: Yes, but grading in Lightroom offers more control and nuance.
Final Thoughts
Achieving a cinematic look in Lightroom isn’t about following a strict formula. It’s about using colour to communicate feeling.
Once you’ve mastered the basics of colour grading, you’ll start to develop your own visual style—one that enhances your storytelling and gives your photography that extra edge.
So next time you edit a photo, try thinking like a filmmaker. Pick a mood, shift those tones, and let your colours tell the story.
