Color Theory for Photographers: Using Lightroom Classic & Photoshop - Pasadena

Color plays a major role in how an image is seen. Understanding how hues interact and influence visual balance helps you make stronger choices in composition and subject matter. In editing, color theory also guides what the viewer notices by shaping hue, saturation, and luminance. With these principles in hand, Natasha Calzatti will help you approach mood, focus, and overall impact with more confidence.

Understanding and Editing Color in Lightroom Classic

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• Overview of Color Theory in Photography:
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• The Color Wheel, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Colors
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• Color Harmonies: Complementary, Analogous, Triadic
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• Warm vs. Cool Colors and Their Emotional Impact
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• Quick White Balance and Color Temperature Adjustments in Lightroom
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• Color Editing Techniques in Lightroom:
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• HSL/Color Panel: Adjusting Hue, Saturation, and Luminance
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• Split Toning: Adding mood through highlights and shadows
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• Color Grading: Fine-tuning the overall color balance
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• Practical Exercise:
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• Participants will adjust the color in a photo using the HSL, Split Toning, and Color Grading Panels in Lightroom.
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• Focus on enhancing colors and creating mood through adjustments.
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Advanced Color Techniques in Photoshop and Creative Applications

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• Advanced Color Techniques in Photoshop:
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• Adjustment Layers: Using Hue/Saturation, Selective Color, and Color Balance for precision edits
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• Layer Masks & Blending Modes: Targeting color changes to specific areas of the image
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• Curves & Levels: Fine-tuning color balance
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• Creative Color Applications:
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• Using color for storytelling (monochrome, duotone, and contrast).
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• Applying color grading for consistent looks across images or series.
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• Final Practical Exercise:
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• Participants will apply Photoshop color techniques to their image, creating a cohesive color style or correcting/adjusting for mood.
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What to bring:

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• You may use the iMacs provided in our computer lab, or bring your own laptop with Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop installed.
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• Bring your own photos on an external hard drive formatted for Mac if you plan to use the lab iMacs.
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• Natasha will also provide demo images if needed.
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*Note: Lightroom and or Photoshop software basic beginner knowledge is suggested and this workshop is targeted to beginner to intermediate photographers.

Cancellation Policy: Refund requests must be made in writing at least 30 days prior to the event. No refunds or credits will be given with less than 30 days’ notice.

Instructor Bio:

Natasha Calzatti is a photographer, educator and a consultant based in Los Angeles. She has shot award-winning work for THE NEW YORK TIMES, NEWSWEEK, PEOPLE and VIBE, and has been syndicated internationally.

Presently, she was a speaker at AdobeMax conference, she is an adjunct professor at Santa Monica College teaching both Photoshop and Lightroom, instructor at Samy’s Photo School and has been a guest lecturer at the International School of Film and TV (EICTV) Cuba and Brooks Institute. Natasha has been featured in DIGITAL PHOTO PRO magazine and invited to The Getty Center to share her behind the camera experiences of Cuba as she presented an in-gallery exploration of A Revolutionary Project: Cuba from Walker Evans to Now. Natasha divides her time between shooting assignments and lecturing on digital imaging both in the U.S and abroad. You can see her current work at www.calzattifoto.com.

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