This happened to me just last month in Maui on a client shoot for Saxx swim shorts. We were on a strenuous hike in the Hana rainforest and the moment we arrived to see the prize at the end, a huge waterfall, it started to pour. It was the perfect sort of scene every photographer hopes to stumble upon… the only problem was I couldn’t find any cover.
With the camera and drone still packed up in my waterproof bag, I decided to go for a swim to pass the time. Eventually, things let up enough to take a few shots with the product but I knew I’d have some editing work ahead of me to recreate that original surreal moment.

A few tips to keep in mind:
1) Stick with shots that would naturally have rain present. Make sure your subject, surroundings, and effects all work together to create a cohesive scene (your viewer will feel that something is off if the pavement is dry or the sky is clear).
2) Add the effect first and then edit the colors of the image. This will also help to blend everything more cleanly.
To show you this idea in action, we’ve gathered three samples from community members and photographers Nathan Tecson, Sam Ciurdar, and Jonathan Zoeteman. We also had them share a bit of their process.
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– Nathan Tecson @bringoutthegold


-Sam Ciurdar @samciurdar


– Jonathan Zoeteman @jonathanzoeteman

Check out Rain for Photoshop or our free mobile app to start experimenting with rain effects.
Remember the best effects are hiding in plain

Paul Tellefsen
Community Lead