I have recently photographed a wedding and I wanted to create a soft, dreamlike effect to some of the images. After much experimentation and reading, I came up with the following technique which I think works effectively.

Before I begin explaining the technique, let me show you the before and after images – maybe the improvement might make you want to read on:

The process involves opening the original image in Photoshop and carrying out the following steps:

1. Turn the image to monochrome (I will cover this in another article) and doing all the regular fixes (I tend to give it a little shapness and manually fixing levels).
2. Once the above are done go to the Layers palette (Windows–>Layers) and clik on the drop down arrow in the top right hand corner and select “Duplicate Layer“. Name the layer “Blur“.
3. Go to Filter–>Blur–>Lens Blur and select “Octagon” for shape and 50 for Radius – leave all other settings as 0 and click OK.
4. Add a layer mask (from the bottom of the Layers palette) – you will now see a rectangle next to the Blur layer thumbnail. Now select 50% for opacity of that (the Blur) layer.
5. Select the foreground colour to Black and pick the brush from the toolbox (select soft-edged 40px brush and 100% opacity), zoom in 100% and paint over the pupils and whites of the eyes as can be seen in the bride’s right eye below:
   
6. Now lower the opacity to 75% and do the eyelashes and eyelids as well as jaw lines and cheeks.
7. Change the opacity to 50% and do the mouth. Reduce the opacity to 40% and do the eyebrows
8. Finally reduce to 30% and do the front fringe of her hair.
9. Finish by increasing the opacity to around 65% for the dreamy effect seen below:
   

The overall opacity can be toned down a little for a more natural effect. Hope this has been useful.

Alexis