How to Create Custom Lightroom Presets to Elevate Your Photography

As a photographer, establishing a consistent editing style is key to making your work recognizable and uniquely yours. But tweaking the same settings on every single photo can be tedious and time-consuming. That‘s where Lightroom presets come in.

Presets are simply pre-defined "recipes" of editing settings that can be applied to a photo with one click. Using presets allows you to achieve a cohesive look across your images in a fraction of the time. And while you can certainly use presets made by others, the real magic happens when you create your own custom presets tailored to your aesthetic preferences.

In this guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to make Lightroom presets from scratch. I‘ll also share my top tips for crafting your own presets effectively. By the end, you‘ll be equipped to drastically speed up your editing workflow while taking your signature style to new heights.

The Power of Presets

Before we dive into the step-by-step of preset creation, let‘s talk about why they are such a game-changer. Presets are hands-down one of the most powerful tools Lightroom has to offer for a few key reasons:

1. Efficiency
Imagine you‘ve taken 100 photos at a wedding or on a travel adventure. Editing each one individually would likely take hours. But with a click of a preset, you can apply your foundational adjustments to the entire batch in mere minutes. You may still make small tweaks to each image, but your editing time will be drastically reduced.

2. Consistency
Using the same preset as a starting point for a group of photos shot in similar lighting conditions will result in beautifully cohesive edits. Your style becomes more recognizable and you avoid the mistake of ending up with a set of images that look like they were shot by different photographers.

3. Creativity
Having go-to preset recipes frees up brain space to get more creative with your edits. Instead of agonizing over basic adjustments, you can spend your time adding artistic touches. Presets provide a solid foundation so you can focus on the fun stuff.

4. Flexibility
The best part about making your own presets? You can create as many variations as you want for different lighting scenarios, color palettes, and moods. Having a toolkit of your favorite presets on hand will prepare you to edit any type of photo quickly.

The Step-by-Step of Preset Creation

Now that you understand the importance of presets, let‘s get into how you actually make them. The process is surprisingly simple.

Step 1: Perform Edits on a Single Photo

Start by pulling up a well-exposed, typical photo for the lighting situation you want to create a preset for in the Develop module. This will serve as your baseline for the preset.

Adjust all the settings just as you would if you were editing it individually. Take your time getting the white balance, exposure, contrast, colors, and other tweaks just right. You may make adjustments in the Basic panel, HSL panel, Split Toning, etc.

Remember, the settings you choose will become the foundation for an entire batch of photos, so be intentional. I recommend creating presets that aren‘t too heavy-handed. You want your preset to do the heavy lifting but still leave room for individual tweaks.

Step 2: Create a New Preset

Once you‘re happy with how your photo looks, it‘s time to create your preset. Here‘s how:

1. Click the plus (+) button on the left side of the Presets panel
2. Select "Create Preset"
3. A dialog box will appear where you can specify which settings to include
4. Check only the settings you adjusted for this specific look
5. Give your preset a descriptive name
6. Click the Group drop-down menu to choose a Preset Group to put it in (or create a new group)
7. Click "Create"

And voila! Your new preset will now appear in the group you selected and you can apply it to other photos with one click.

Step 3: Test Your Preset

To see your preset in action, select a series of similar photos, perhaps from the same shoot, and apply your preset to them. Evaluate how the edit looks on a variety of images.

Likely, you‘ll still need to make small adjustments to each photo, like exposure or white balance. But your preset will give you a huge head start and ensure the overall look is consistent.

If you find your preset is too strong or too weak, simply make adjustments to one of the photos. Then right click on your preset and choose "Update with Current Settings." This will change the baseline settings to your new adjustments.

Step 4: Organize Your Presets

As you create more and more presets, it‘s important to keep them organized. I recommend making a different preset group for each type of lighting situation (harsh light, flat light, golden hour, etc). You can also create groups for different editing styles like "Light & Airy" or "Dark & Moody."

To move a preset into a new group, simply drag and drop it into place. You can also rename presets by right clicking and selecting "Rename."

Having a tidy preset library will make it so much easier to find the one you need in any given scenario. Trust me, your future self will thank you!

Tips for Crafting Effective Presets

Now that you know how to actually make a preset, let‘s discuss some tips for creating presets that will truly enhance your editing process.

1. Start with a base preset
If you‘re new to preset creation, don‘t feel like you have to start completely from scratch. Beginning with a Lightroom default preset or even a preset from another photographer can be a great jumping off point. You can then make tweaks to personalize it into your own look.

2. Consider your go-to adjustments
Think about the edits you find yourself making on almost every photo. Do you always add contrast or decrease highlights? Maybe you tend to favor warmer white balances. Pay attention to your common adjustments and be sure to include them in your presets.

3. Utilize the HSL and Calibration panels
It‘s easy to focus on the main sliders in the Basic panel and forget about the rest. But some of Lightroom‘s most powerful tools for controlling color are hiding in the HSL and Calibration panels. Adjusting individual colors and using the Calibration sliders can make a huge impact in creating a unique look.

4. Err on the side of subtlety
When creating your own presets, avoid the temptation to go overboard with the adjustments. An overly strong preset will be less versatile and may look jarring on some photos. Stick to a light hand – you can always amp things up more on individual photos as needed.

5. Adjust for different lighting
The settings for a golden hour photo will be quite different than a photo taken in flat, overcast light. For the most flexibility, I suggest making a different preset for each of the common lighting scenarios you shoot in. That way, you‘ll always have an appropriate base to start with.

Presets Are Not a Replacement for Editing Skills

Before we wrap up, I want to address one common misconception about presets. Using a preset does not mean you can forgo learning editing skills altogether.

While presets are incredibly helpful, they are not a magic wand. A preset applied to a poorly composed, badly exposed photo isn‘t going to make it look amazing. Presets work best as a companion to your existing editing knowledge.

Think of presets as a way to make your editing workflow more efficient and give you a strong foundation. They are a starting point, not the whole journey. Knowing how to make individual tweaks, use local adjustments, and fix issues will still be important.

So don‘t let presets become a crutch. Continue learning, practicing, and expanding your editing skills. Your presets combined with your expertise will be a powerful combination.

Embrace the Power of Presets

Making your own custom Lightroom presets is a fairly simple process that can have a profound impact on your editing. Not only will you save time, but you‘ll be able to produce more consistent work and free up your creativity.

Remember these key steps for preset creation:

1. Perform edits on a single photo that will act as your baseline
2. Click the plus sign in the Presets panel and specify the settings to include
3. Give your preset a descriptive name and group
4. Apply your new preset to a batch of similar photos and make small tweaks as needed
5. Organize your presets into categories to keep your library tidy

Put these tips into practice and you‘ll soon have a customized toolkit of go-to edits. Your unique editing aesthetic will shine through effortlessly!

Let Your Style Shine

At the end of the day, presets are a tool to help you bring your creative vision to life more easily. Making your own presets is a worthwhile investment in your growth as an artist.

So go forth and make some presets! Experiment, have fun, and watch your photography transform. With custom Lightroom presets in your back pocket, you‘ll be unstoppable.