(AD | GIFTED) There are 2 types of people when it comes to editing your pictures professionally. The first kind, are those that edit their pictures all on their own, amending each little detail like the professional they are. The second type of people are like me, the ones that need presets to create a cohesive and beautiful Instagram theme. I use Mobile Lightroom presets to edit my pictures professionally as they make my life easier. I just apply the preset and then adjust some of the settings to adapt to my style. Read on to see how this all works.

Full Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which means that when you click on these links and buy something, I may earn a little commission but it does not affect you in any way. I only recommend products I myself love, know about and/or have purchased before. Some of the items have been gifted to me as part of a collaboration to review but please note that all of the opinions are 100% my own 😊

How To Edit Your Pictures Professionally with Lightroom Presets

Let’s start from the beginning. 123presets very kindly gifted me a collection of presets to try, use and review. My gosh, I enjoyed them so much. They are all lovely, cute and make your pictures look very professional. Scroll down to see the presets I tried and if you like them and want to use them with your pictures, you can use code STYLINGLIFETODAY, for an extra 30% off from any existing discount on their website.

What are Lightroom presets?

Adobe Lightroom Presets are advanced filters that can be used with one-click to transform your pictures from mundane, dark and gloomy, into professional pictures. They act like a saved combination of effects allowing you to get the desired picture effect. Once you have the correct combination of effects set up (as a base), they can be saved for later use on other images allowing you to customise and batch edit all of your pictures.

What is the difference between Mobile and Desktop Lightroom Presets?

Mobile presets are used on a free version of the Lightroom mobile app both on Apple and Android. Mobile presets are easy to use and allow you to edit your pictures professionally. Desktop presets require a paid Lightroom subscription which is usually used by professional photographers who are looking for a more sophisticated way of working with their images.

How do you install Lightroom presets?

Here is a step by step guide from 123presets to help you. I have also provided the Youtube link for their video guide on installing the presets correctly.

How do you customise the presets using Lightroom?

I usually apply the preset to my chosen picture and if it looks exactly how I expected and wanted then I just save to camera roll and upload to Instagram. If the picture doesn’t quite look how I would like then I go back and adjust settings such as exposure, whites, shadows and colours. You need to be careful on adjusting these settings as the slightest adjustment (usually to exposure – i.e. to brighten the picture) will change the look completely. I usually just go for adjustment of the colours. For example, if I want the grass greener or my jeans bluer then I select the relevant colour(s) I want to enhance and move the slider left or right on the Saturation, Hue and Luminance.

Each of these changes elements changes different aspects of the picture. Saturation changes the intensity of the colour i.e. making the blues stronger or lighter. Hue changes the relevant colours such as red, green or blue to a different colour value. Luminance changes the brightness or darkness of the colour. For example, making the reds brighter or pinker. You can enhance separate colours on different parts of the picture, or you can slide these effects so that the whole picture changes i.e. make it pinker or bluer.

I will be putting together a separate post on how to create the perfect Instagram picture. So sign up to my blog updates below and watch this space.

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This is how I have edited my pictures professionally using Lightroom presets

Bright & Airy

This is a great preset if you are looking for a warm, clean and bright Instagram theme for your feed. It really brightens up your pictures and makes it seem like they were professionally taken. It works well for adding subtle bright, brown and white airy feels to your pictures.

Dark & Moody

This preset collection is for those looking for a darker type theme on your feed. If you like the moody, chic, and iconic then this is the collection for you. Focused on deep tones, well defined black colour and red elements that pop. They’re good for product photography and fashion shots. It creates beautifully tanned skin (not orange pumpkin skin).

Fall Vibes

Come autumn, Halloween and all things orange, you can use this preset to create golden autumn tones that are bright and rich in colour. It creates a warm and cosy feel in your pictures.

Let It Snow

If you love taking amazing Christmas fairytale-style pictures, then this preset will add the right mood to your winter shots. This preset focuses on making your pictures warm and festive, with deep wine and aqua colours popping right out of the picture.

Miami

For all you travel bloggers and lovers of all things outdoor, lifestyle, wedding and travel, this preset is for you. It works great for beautifully tanned skin & amazing aqua ocean colour. The presets create the perfect beach look.