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The pros and cons of using Lightroom presets

The pros and cons of using Lightroom presets

Photographers continue to be extremely divided over Lightroom presets. The number of those who appreciate the consistent feed they provide is equally matched by those who would much rather customise their photos manually. There is no clear answer as to which method is superior. As with so many other things in life, it fundamentally comes down to a question of personal preference. The purpose of this article is to address the most frequently asked questions surrounding Lightroom presets, as well as to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of using them for your photography. If you are still on the fence, this article should help you to decide if Lightroom presets suit you.

What are the PROS of using Lightroom presets

Here are my thoughts for some of the most significant advantages of using Lightroom presets:

1) Lightroom presets can save you time editing your pictures

The vast majority of professional Lightroom filters will carry out high-quality lens corrections, noise reduction, sharpening, white balance, and tone adjustments. In addition to enhancing overall image quality, these filters are therefore a great time-saver.

2) Lightroom presets can help you generate consistent Instagram feed

The variation of colour treatments available through Lightroom presets is immense, ranging all the way from split tones to high or low saturation level s, providing a degree of uniqueness to all your pictures. This provides a great deal of artistic and stylistic expression, which is especially useful for people just starting out and exploring their own personal preferences. By using certain presets on your Instagram feed consistently, you can create an aesthetic and coherent theme.

3) Lightroom presets can help you achieve high-quality images with just one click

A lot of people do not have the time to become experts with every new gadget and app, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. With Lightroom, the learning process is particularly intensive and requires a certain degree of background knowledge and experience in the field. However, by utilising filters you can produce extremely high-quality photos simply at the touch of a button.

As I myself was first starting out with photography, while I had a keen interest in editing, the photos that I tried to edit manually frankly left something to be desired. It was difficult to even understand where I had gone wrong and learn from it, but I knew I wasn't doing something right. However, if you instead apply a preset, you can instantly and clearly observe in which ways the image has been changed and how this can improve it. This means that Lightroom filters are particularly great for beginners since you can learn at your own pace without the stress of messing up constantly on your first photos.

What are the CONS of using Lightroom presets 

There is a possibility that by being too overly-reliant on presets you neglect to put as much effort into researching how to improve your editing skills and proficiency with Lightroom. If you simply wish to keep producing photos for fun, this is of course of no consequence. If you are looking into becoming a professional photographer though, it is crucial that you study the editing process in detail. In this case filters could hinder your learning.

Other facts about Lightroom presets 

Do I need to use different presets for my all of my pictures?

Yes. There is no "one-size-fits-all" preset, since every image is different. Hypothetically, if you take a photo in a well-lit area or outside at midday, very little sharpening and noise reduction will be needed. On the other hand, if your image was taken in a dimly-lit area, or outside during the evening, far more sharpening and noise reduction will likely be required. It is for this very reason that Lightroom presets typically come together as a bundle. Since the shooting and lighting conditions of your images will necessarily vary, it is important that you are able to maintain a consistent style to your work.

What should I look for in a preset?

Your selection of presets often fuels your artistic creativity further. Therefore, it is important that you find images you are passionate about and want to take more of. Choosing a suitable style is also crucial. A good example would be how for Instagram saturated and vibrant photos work best, since it allows you to show off with a flashy, eye-catching style. Conversely, this would be totally inappropriate for wedding photos, where authenticity and realism are key. Furthermore, another example of these stylistic differences is how deeper greens and darker tones suit the magazine look best. Whether it is your business or simply your own personal brand that you are representing, you should therefore take great care to find a preset which properly corresponds and complements to it.

Here one of my favorite preset packs I recently launched :-) 

Master Collection | MOBILE & DESKTOP (LINK)

Ultimate bundle created from best sellers and the newest presets!

The bundle has more than 70+ presets for any effect you’re trying to achieve! You will never have to struggle again with a long editing process for social media or for your business.

 

Tags: Photos, Presets