Photo editing. It’s one of those necessary “evils” you have to learn as a blogger. It can be really overwhelming, but it seems everyone has a “cohesive” or “aesthetically pleasing” Insta feed these days. There are SO many editing apps out there. VSCO, Afterlight, Lightroom, Photoshop, and the list goes on. So how the heck do they do it? Lightroom Presets!
That’s how I felt when I first started getting serious about editing my photos. It took me forever to finally get the courage to sit down and figure it out. After trying out countless editing apps, it seemed like Lightroom was the way to go. So I took a deep breath, got comfy, and became besties with YouTube. I watched so many editing videos. And even after that, it took me a minute to find my groove. But when I did, it was one of the most exciting, rewarding moments of my blogging career. And now? I LOVE editing photos. It’s probably my favorite part of the whole blogging process. Now I want to be able to share that love with you while also hopefully making your life a little bit easier with my presets and editing tips. Introducing my labor of love: Lightroom Presets by Hayley!
A Sneak Peak at How I Edit My Photos
The settings you will focus on most when editing from Lightroom Mobile include Light, Color, Effects, and Detail. You may also need to use the crop or heal option on occasion. (If you want to get crazy and try out other things like the brush tool, go for it, but I’m just focusing on the basics!) Within those 4 main categories are subcategories, and this is where the magic happens. For me personally, when I edit there are a few settings that I almost ALWAYS adjust.
Those settings include:
- Light>Exposure, Highlights, & Shadows
- Color>Temperature, Yellows, & Greens
- Effects>Clarity & Dehaze
- Detail>Sharpening & Noise Reduction
Before You Begin Working with Presets
There are some pretty important things to note up front. When it comes to Lightroom, and especially presets, there is not a one-size (or one preset) fits all formula. There are many factors that effect how difficult your photo is to edit or how a preset looks on your photo. Even if you thought you’d found the most perfect preset ever created, you’re still going to have to tweak the settings to make it work for your photo. Two of the main factors include lighting and camera/phone camera quality. I say all of that to say this: When you first apply a preset, you’re probably not going to love the results. But don’t give up yet. All it takes is a few tweaks to the settings to get the edit you’ve always dreamed of!
Before you jump in to editing, get to know your settings. The very first thing I did was play with each and every one of the settings (Light, Color, Effects, and Detail). Drag each slider all the way to the left, then all the way to the right. This is the best way to see how each setting effects the photo. Reset each to 0 before moving on to the next.
Note: The tips I share are things learned from my own experiences. Feel free to take what you learn here and make it your own!
What You’ll Get with My Lightroom Presets
You’ll receive the 4 mobile presets that I use interchangeably to keep my Instagram feed looking edgy, fun, and cohesive: Crushed Ice, Sea Salt, Storm Cloud, and Sunkissed.
I’ve also included a bonus: My Editing Tips and Tricks for Lightroom! This is a $10 value, and if you purchase my complete preset pack, you’ll get it for free! Woooh freebies! This editing guide will be essential to helping you navigate your way around Lightroom. No two photos are alike, which means the presets you apply will rarely look the same on every photo. My guide will help you know exactly what to do to tweak your photo to get the look you’re going for. You will also receive a User Guide with directions on how to install your mobile presets.
Individual Presets:
You can also choose to purchase my presets individually. With individual presets, you will receive the preset of your choice + my User Guide on how to install your preset.
Last but not least, if you’re simply curious about how I edit my photos down to the exposure, you can purchase my Lightroom Editing Tips and Tricks. This downloadable guide will help you learn the ins and outs of Lightroom Mobile and have you well on your way to creating your very own presets!
I’m so excited these products are finally live for you guys. I hope you love them as much as I do, and if you have any questions at all before or after purchasing, just head over to my contact page or send me a message on Instagram!
