My Go-To Technique For Perfect Light Control In Lightroom

Dodging and burning is one of my favorite one-two punch techniques for sculpting light in a photo. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how combining a luminosity mask with a brush gives you unmatched precision and control. You’ll see exactly how I isolate tonal regions with a luminosity mask, then fine-tune the effect with a subtle brush to draw the viewer’s eye and add dimension to the scene. This is the dodge and burn workflow I can’t live without — simple, effective, and incredibly powerful for storytelling through light and shadow.

If you enjoy this technique, be sure to check out my course Mastering Light and Shadow in Lightroom. It dives deep into the creative and technical side of light control, with practical examples that help you transform your photos into stronger visual stories.