Lightroom Desktop and Mobile Presets With Tips and Tricks

Madara Moroza
Sep 14, 2021
4 min read

Updated: Jan 6, 2022

A big part of making a great photo happens during the shoot, yet no photographer can avoid post-processing, such as adjusting the colors, shadows, contrasts, etc. It's no secret that the pictures that you see on my Instagram page (@madara.magicaflowers) are all edited (by two main tools - Lightroom and Photoshop).

When uploading your work on Instagram, feel free to use my hashtag # madaramagicalpresets to be featured on my IG story in the wall of fame! :))

I also want you to understand and learn that every picture will look different depending on your taken photo. And this is why I would like you to read my tips and tricks on how you can use my presets for the best results.

1. Shoot in RAW

First and foremost, I can't stress this enough - shoot in RAW! Why? You probably have heard this so many times and read so many articles about it. Let me tell you if you want to achieve the best results and have much more control over your editing, shooting in RAW over JPEG is the key! That's it! :))

2. Presets will look different depending on your photo

Remember, if your photo already looks amazing, chances are the presets will double the effect, especially if you had great lighting, composition, etc. Sometimes it can take you seconds, just once click, from RAW state to completely processed and finished look.

However, use presets as a base but not as at the endpoint. Most of the time it's just minor adjustments that I do and I'm so happy to save time when I use my own presets to represent my style on Instagram.

Nevertheless, if you're new to presets - I strongly suggest spending some quality time, familiarizing yourself with the presets you use and you'll become way more efficient every time you use them. Because who doesn't love to be efficient and optimize their workflow in Lightroom? Saving time is always worthwhile.

So utilize these tips and tricks that you can find through this article and all your photos will look simply stunning. Happy editing!

3. Preset - Moody Pop - Play with the white balance

Before&After with the Moody Pop preset

You have downloaded my presets, you add them on your photo, and you're like - wow, ok, that...that doesn't look good at all...

And most of the time, you'll be right! But this can be easily fixed by adjusting the white balance, which will make editing the rest of the photo much easier later on.

If we take the same picture as an example, add the preset, try to change the settings! Add a little bit more exposure, lower the contrast, take away the shadows - experiment. This applies to all of your photos - see what looks the best for you and your style.

You're free to use my presets as a base or a starting point to find your own look. It will become a great learning experience and you'll become more and more comfortable with using presets - it's a lot of fun!

Adjusting shadows, exposure, etc. for the end result you prefer

Colors are a big part of how your photo will look after using a preset. Lightroom offers you so many options and freedom - don't ignore them!

A preset can work as a great starting point/base for your photography, but you can always change the settings for your liking. If you want to create colder tones, slide the temperature more to the left side, toward blue. You can also adjust any green or magenta tones right below. An easy way to color correct an image after you’ve applied your preset and are going for a specific look.

Adjusting the colors for your liking and needs

Adjusting the colors, shadows, exposure, and many others things can lead to different outcomes. This is why, don't be scared to experiment, try something new and change the current preset you're using for your own art of work.

Adjusting settings for your own liking can create different results

4. Preset - Burning Red

Before&After with the Burning Red preset

If you want to make those red pop, this is a great preset to do so. When applying this preset you most likely will need to increase or decrease the exposure for your liking. Of course, you can change any other setting.

As we can see in the example below, I copy and paste the preset to the original photo. The overall look is pretty dark and unattractive, this is why you always adjust accordingly.

The outcome of using the preset might not look nice but a few clicks can change that

In order to make those colors pop - red and blue, we simply increase the exposure. And whoala - the result is already much better.

Simply changing one setting can make a difference

5. Preset - Cherry Blues

Before&After with the Cherry Blues preset

This preset gives your photo an overall brown/pink/purple mix. Somehow reminds me of the colors of vintage style. Yet the outcome of this preset is mainly because of the original settings of my RAW photo, and there are not so many colors in this photo to start with.

If you once again adjust the white balance and exposure etc., your end results might look different.

Adjusting settings for your own liking can create different results

Let's add this preset to another photo with more colors in the RAW. It gives off the vintage vibe once again, however with more colors. As I mentioned before, the outcome of your end result when using a preset very much depends on your RAW photo, on the data it already has in it, and how you will adjust it.

The preset reacts differently to every photo

The outcome of this photo can be drastically changed by simply changing the white balance settings. We can create a beautiful contrast result when we add cool by sliding the blue/yellow slider (color temperature) toward blue. Let's increase the vibrance and it's more intense in colors.