Is the World Better Through Rose-Colored Glass?
That’s exactly what I wanted to find out when I got my hands on the Rose FX Filter from Prism Lens FX. This filter combines a soft rose-tinted glass with the company’s popular Nostalgia Filter, which I’ve shot with before and loved. The Nostalgia Filter warms up images with a retro vibe. So I was curious: what happens when you add a rose tint on top of that?
Would this filter be more of a fun novelty, or could it actually elevate an everyday outdoor portrait session?
Why I Tested It Outdoors
A lot of Prism Lens FX filters shine in the studio, where you can really control lighting and go for dramatic effects. But I wanted to see how this one performed in natural light in the kind of conditions most photographers shoot in all the time.
So David and I headed out to the river for a super casual shoot. We worked in a grassy field, testing both even light and harsher direct light, and I made sure to shoot every setup with and without the filter so I could compare.
What I Noticed with the Rose FX Filter
Here’s what stood out right away:
- Softened Highlights & Skin Tones – The filter smoothed out blemishes, bloomed highlights, and gave skin a youthful, glowing look.
- Dreamy Color Shift – This filter really warmed things up. It added a subtle rose tint that leaned into a fairytale, dreamy vibe.
- In-Camera Color Correction – Shooting in a green field normally means I’d spend time in post pulling magenta into the image to balance things out. With the filter, that color correction basically happened in-camera.
- Better in Harsh Light – Without the filter, direct sun shots felt contrasty and rough. With the filter, highlights and shadows blended more softly, creating a more forgiving and polished look.
When I compared side-by-sides, the unfiltered shots often felt harsh and super green. The filtered versions looked closer to the edits I’d normally create just straight out of camera, but with a softer more dreamy aesthetic.
Who This Filter Is Perfect For
What I really like about the Rose FX Filter is that it’s not too extreme. It’s easy to screw on and off, so you can use it selectively throughout a shoot. And it consistently delivers a gentle, stylized look without overpowering your subject.
I think it’s especially great for:
- Weddings & engagements
- Boudoir sessions
- Mommy + me or family portraits outdoors
- Travel photography (think dreamy beach vacation shots!)
Basically, any session where a touch of softness, nostalgia, or romance feels right.
Final Thoughts
The Prism Lens FX Rose Filter is subtle but powerful. To me, it feels like giving your images a dreamy, happy-memory glow without spending as much time color-correcting in post. I wouldn’t hesitate to throw this filter in my camera bag for any outdoor portrait session.
If you want to test it out for yourself, you can grab one on the Prism Lens FX site and use code JADAANDDAVID for 15% off.
If you want to see this filter in action, check out the BTS YouTube video from the shoot! And make sure to check out this blog post where I compare 4 other Prism Lens FX Filters!
