Want That Vibey Lifestyle Look? It Might Just Be One Overlay Away.

How One Overlay Can Totally Change the Vibe of a Photo

What difference could one overlay possibly make to a photo?

A big one, if I do say so myself.

I get asked all the time about my style and how to get that “vibey” look in my images. And while part of it comes down to shooting with a Pro Mist filter (yes, I’m that person), the real cherry on top is a well-placed, subtle overlay. One or two. Okay, sometimes three. Don’t judge me.

Especially for lifestyle shots and portraits, I often reach for overlays from our ATMOS III (glass elements), ATMOS IV (light hits), or Anamorphic Pro (lens flares) collections. Why? Because they just work. Every time. It’s like Photoshop seasoning. Just the right amount makes everything better.

As always, I don’t go overboard. I like to keep things clean, cinematic, and grounded in reality. No sci-fi sunbeams or magical floating orbs. The goal is to enhance the photo, not make it look like an energy drink ad from 2006.

When I use light hits or glass elements, the first thing I do is check where the actual light source is in the photo. Then I place the overlay accordingly. Never smack in the middle, never covering someone’s face, and definitely not just to hide something awkward in the background (you know who you are).

Once it’s placed, I tweak the color and brightness to blend it in naturally. That’s key. No overlay should scream “Hi! I’m an overlay!”

In the example below, I added a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to the glass overlay to tone down the cool blue hues and warm it up slightly so it matched the rest of the image. It’s a small touch but it pulls the whole photo together.

Overlay Tips:

• Check the light source and match your overlay accordingly
• Don’t cover important details (like, say, a human face)
• Use color grading to make the overlay feel like it belongs
• Subtle > Sloppy
• One good overlay > five fighting for attention

 

Products used:  ATMOS Bundle  Anamorphic Pro