Lightroom Presets: FAQs

Over the last 8 years of editing I have found what works for me and what settings give me that exact look I want to achieve in my photos. Let’s take a look at what Lightroom presets are and what they can do for your photos.

What are Presets?

Presets are a collection of editing settings bundled together in one group and set to be applied together in one click when editing your photo.

Why use presets?

I love presets because they speed up your work flow! This allows me to be much quicker and much more efficient when I am editing. As a new photographer they also allowed me to try different editing styles.

Do I need to be a professional photographer to use Lightroom Presets?

No, anyone can use Lightroom Presets. However, you do need the Lightroom program, either the desktop version or Creative Cloud. Presets do not work with Photoshop. Photoshop has it’s own version of presets called “actions” and are created specifically for that program.

Can I edit photos on my mobile device with Presets?

You can! Again, you will need the Lightroom app to do this. (Although there are other editing apps; some have more features than others.) Also, presets from Lightroom mobile and presets from Lightroom Desktop/CC are not automatically in communication with each other. Meaning even if you own both you won’t automatically have the same presets in both places. You will have to do some transferring to make that happen.

Are all presets created the same?

No they are not. Each preset in going to give your photo a different look. Some of that depends on the photo you took and some of that depends on the settings of the preset. Preset creators will design presets with an overall desired outcome; maybe something light and airy, maybe something with more contrast and moody, maybe something with lots of warmth, or even with different film effects.

Can presets fix a photo?

Presets are amazing, and when you find one you love it can feel like magic! However they cannot always fix a photo. So much of editing depends on getting your photo right in camera so you have a great base to build on. Sometimes presets can be one click and done, and sometimes you’ll do a little tweaking to get it just the way you like it.

I love the style of your photos. Do you sell presets?

I do! I found my editing style early in my photography path and have perfected getting there! My style is very bold, with lots of contrast, vibrant colors, and it’s so important to me to keep colors natural and true to life. In my black and white photos I love depth and contrast, so that is how I create my presets to work.

How many presets do you have?

I currently have two preset collections and another that will be released this year!

Monochrome Life: I am known for my black and white photography. I have a signature style that is bold, contrasty, and a little moody. I created this is a collection of 23 presets exclusively in black and white. Each preset stays in that style but each with a different feel and working with different lighting situations.

Essential Presets: This collection is all about bringing my bold, natural colors with true to life tones. I need my presets to work for my outdoor clients, my in-home clients, my portrait work, my boudoir work, and in a variety of lighting situations. This is a collection of 26 presets (18 color and 8 bw) that are essential to my work and offer the variety to work in so many situations!