Scan in a print photo if necessary. Save the photo to your hard drive. This will convert the print photo to a digital file.
Launch photoshop. Click the icon or filename to start the program.
Open the photo file in Photoshop. Click "File" and then "Open". Click the filename of the the photo. The photo will then appear in the Photoshop workspace.
Make a copy of the background layer, which is the only layer and it is the one that shows your photo. Press Cmd + Alt + J on a Mac and Ctrl + Alt + J on a PC.
Name the new layer. Click the layer in the layers window on the right side of the workspace. Enter your chosen name in the text field. Press "Enter" on your keyboard.
Choose "Screen" for the blend mode of your new layer. Select "Blend" from the drop down menu about the layers. This will add a sharp light to your image.
Add a Gaussian Blur to the image. Select "Filter" then "Blur" then "Gaussian" blur. Choose "5px" from the menu and press "Enter" on your keyboard. This will soften the effect of the previous step.
Lower the opacity of the second layer. Click the second layer once to select it. Move the opacity slide-bar to 50 percent or type "50" in the Opacity text field just above the layers. This will dull the light and the Gaussian Blur.
Change the original background layer to Overlay Blend mode. Click the original background layer to select it and choose "Overlay Blend" from the drop down menu just above the layers.
Add a Gaussian Blur to the original layer. Click "Filter" then "Blur" then "Gaussian Blur". Select 3.5px from the menu. Press "Enter" on your keyboard.
Change the opacity of the original background layer to 40 percent. Move the slide-bar to 40 percent or type "40" in the opacity text field.
Click the "Overlay" layer, located in the layers box list. Hold the mouse button down and drag the layer to the top of all the other layers. This will slightly lighten the glow of the photo and finalize the filmic look.