Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

My apologies if this is posted in the wrong section. I am somewhat new to digital photography and post processing. However, I do have 40+ years of film photography behind me. I have a senior shoot in the near future, and I am curious as to how I soften skin tones, etc, in Lightroom? In the past with film, I would just slap a mild diffusion filter on my lens. Is there a simple tool or technique for that in Lightroom, do I just use a softening filter on my lens again?

Thanks

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Lr offers several blur options. My suggestion would be to get as sharp an image in the original capture and then modify it in processing. This presents a more controllable approach.
--Bob

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

YouTube.com has several Lightroom video tutorials for skin softening and retouching. Here are two:

https://youtu.be/OSpQ8l124R0

https://youtu.be/1-0tvsmEzW0

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R.G. Loc: Scotland

Be very selective about where you apply sharpening. Only put it where it's needed. If it's the skin colours that you're asking about, that's what the Vibrance slider was invented for.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

For skin softening, I like to use a noise reduction filter applied with a soft brush used as a mask just to the areas needed. The strength of the filter can be adjusted so that it's undetectable. I'll typically use only the luminance adjustment. Use the live version of the filter so that you can adjust it again after it's applied.
There are YouTube videos on using this filter.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

You could try Portrait Pro. Used sparingly, it is excellent.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

If you have Lightroom, you have Photoshop. The opportunities for that are endless.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Not necessarily. If the OP has Lightroom 6 or earlier version, they would have had to purchase Photoshop separately.

But you are correct if the OP is subscribing to the current version of Lightroom Classic. It's only offered in bundle with Photoshop, so they have already paid for bot and it would just be a matter of downloading and installing it.

However, there's a pretty steep learning curve with Photoshop. So the OP may feel uncomfortable using it.

Someone else mentioned Portrait Pro, which automates a lot of the selective processing by retaining sharpness where needed and smoothing things out elsewhere. It's easy to overdo, but fully user adjustable.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

This may seem like a radical idea in the digital age of photography but perhaps you may like to consider this technique.

The best soft focus result is obtained by addressing the softening effect at the camera rather than in post-processing. There are some classic prime lenses that produce the effect, however, a certain kind of high-quality diffusions filter will replicate the classic effect. My favourite filter for this usage is the Zeiss SOFTER. They come in 3 levels of diffusion. The number 1 is subtle but highly effective.

Most processg blur effects are somewhat decent but simply blur the image as the name indicates. The Softer superimposes a soft image over a hard or normal image and subtly blends the highlight in the shadows. The effect is flattering but natural and comes close to the effect of the classic Imagon and Taylor, Hobsonsione & Cooke soft focus portrat lenses.

If you decide to stay with a post processg method, I would recommend the Portrat Pro Software. This kind of software is not, strictly speaking, diffusion or optical softening, it is RETOUCHING to correct harsh lines and minimize unwanted wrinkles and blemishes. This software has many presets that do not requre high skill levels and experience in portrat retouching .Fulllly manual retouchg methods can not be mastered overnight. Not only is it a matterof HOW to retouch but WAHT to retouch and want NOT to retouch on a person's face to maintain a flattering but realistic likeness. The automated software works well if applied subtly.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

"However, there's a pretty steep learning curve with Photoshop. So the OP may feel uncomfortable using it."

You are absolutely right. Learning all of Photoshop is daunting. But, it is dumb to do that. Figure out the thing you want to do. Look up the instructions or watch a YouTube. Then do it! Forget the rest. An example might be objectionable object removal. Nothing does it better and, if you stay focused on that one procedure, it is very easy.

Softening skins on old people might be a little harder, but mostly because there might be a lot of choices. As an elderly person myself, I have lots of opportunities to do skin softening. My favorite is in Lightroom. I use a brush with a lot of negative "DeHaze".