Although modern day cameras are advanced tools, still using only them to convey your messages and feelings can prove difficult. Cameras don’t always see the same things that we do, which is why the results might not be what you expected when you uploaded them to your computer.
Luckily, photo editing software exists. But there’s a catch; Image editing can take hours. This is where presets come in handy.
In this article, we are going to discuss the best Adobe Lightroom presets that every photographer needs.
What are Lightroom Presets?
A Lightroom preset is a filter that you can add to your images in Classic or Creative Cloud. They are like tools that preset the settings of one or several effects, and using them, it will automatically tweak the sliders and settings. You can make further manual adjustments if necessary.
When choosing presets for Lightroom, it is important to take into account the style of the image. For example, a filter designed for the night sky in the arctic won’t look good when you’re editing a photo of a sunny forest.
You can create Lightroom presets yourself. However, if you’re new to using the software, you might want to start with one of the ready-made presets first. They can be used on desktop, or you can add them as Lightroom Mobile presets.
Let us discuss the best Lightroom presets for professional photographers and hobbyists alike.
1. Chris Hough’s Free Sample Pack
Chris Hough is a Canadian photographer and YouTuber with over 500,000 subscribers. A lot of the content they share pertains to improving workflow and ranges from gear reviews to reducing screen time. Along with this, he also shows people behind the scenes of his photoshoot.
While Hou sells a number of presets on its website, you can download this sample pack for free. You’ll find a selection of filters that work with many different styles and aesthetics—though they’re especially useful if you enjoy outdoor photography.
To download the sample pack, you’ll need to subscribe to Hau’s newsletter. Once you do this, you will receive an email from where you can start the download. These are just a few examples of Lightroom presets that you can download for any occasion.
2. Vintage Presets by That Icelandic Guy
That Icelandic guy on YouTube goes by his real, first name, Arnulfur, and he’s—as you might have guessed—from Iceland. Although now living in Sweden, he is clearly inspired by the dramatic and breathtaking landscapes of his homeland – and you can see that in the work he does.
Like Chris Hau, he sells a lot of Lightroom presets, and lucky for us, there’s a selection available for free download. One bundle worth checking out is its Vintage preset pack, which helps you create a sense of nostalgia in your photos.
After you confirm your order (you’ll need to put $0 in the total amount), you’ll receive seven free filters to try. You’ll find these filters especially useful for outdoor photography on cloudy days, and they’re also great if you want to try portrait photography.
3. Architecture Presets by Kohaki Yamaguchi
Kohaki Yamaguchi is a photographer and filmmaker with an impressive portfolio. It is located in Tokyo, arguably the most architecturally interesting city on the planet. As such, we are not surprised that he has ventured into the world of architectural photography.
Yamaguchi has a selection of free Lightroom presets that he created in collaboration with Adobe and are available for download on the Adobe Creative Cloud website. These cover a range of scenarios, from when you want to overhaul the colors in your pictures and—on the flip side—make only minor changes.
After downloading, you will get access to eight filters.
4. Scenic Presets by Creative Tacos
Creative Tacos is a vast online resource base for creatives in many fields including photography and graphic design. And if you’re looking for good Lightroom presets, you’ll find more options here than you know what to do with.
One of our favorite preset packages is Scenic from Creative Tacos. While many of our choices on the list so far have focused on creating moody images, these Lightroom presets will help you create vibrant and happy images.
They work especially well if you haven’t underexposed your images. However, if you’ve overexposed them, you may want to opt for one of the above options instead.
5. Clean Face by Presets Love
Have you ever had a photoshoot with a model that you thought was photogenic, only for the camera to find that she wasn’t? Before you throw away those images, don’t worry; You can still do something about it.
Clean Face is an easy-to-add preset that brings out the beauty of the people in your images and brings their expressions to the fore.