How To Choose Your Portrait Presets

REFINED EDUCATION

The art of capturing people means far more than clicking the shutter and delivering a gallery. As with any artist, photographers approach their craft with intention, vision, and a desire to communicate something about the subject at hand.

If you’ve been taking photos for any amount of time you’ve heard the well-meaning (but frustrating) comment, “Wow! Your camera takes really beautiful photos.” This strikes a nerve because photography is so much more than the gear we choose– yet, there is truth to the sentiment. The best imagery IS created in-camera when artists take the time to masterfully compose, light, and direct a portrait.

Here at REFINED, we believe that compelling photography is created in-camera AND that portrait presets are the secret to elevating those images to a true work of art. Presets are a tool for bringing your artistic vision to life in the same way a paintbrush is a tool for a painter. Through subtle shifts in color, tone, and luminosity your imagery is infused with even more beauty than before so that your creativity is amplified. So how do you choose the perfect presets for your work? In this guide, we look at how to choose portrait presets that fit your unique aesthetic, vision, and brand.

TEC PETAJA

WHAT ARE PRESETS?

Simply put, a preset is a saved group of photo-editing settings that transforms your images with just a click of the preset. You then have the flexibility to adjust the settings that best fit the image you are editing.

Our top 3 favorite benefits of using portrait presets are:

Speed Up Your Workflow. We polled the users in our Facebook Group and over 75% of them said the presets save them 90 seconds or more per image edited. In fact, you can apply presets to all the images from a photoshoot upon importing them into Lightroom and then make minor adjustments before sending them out to your clients.
Consistency. As noted above, you can apply the same preset to all of the photos from a shoot which will lead to an elevated and polished final gallery. In order to stand out as an artist, it’s important for your body of work to feel cohesive and like it has a “signature” quality. Presets allow you to do that with minimal work on your end.
Effortless to Use. Presets are easy to use which means you’ll ditch the frustration of trying to make your photos look the way you envision once and for all.

RACHEL BOND

WHY DO YOU NEED PRESETS?

You don’t need presets, however the photographs you capture SOOC (straight out of camera) are rarely going to feel 100% in line with the imagery you envisioned. Editing is how you perfect and polish your photographs to reflect what you had imagined when you clicked the shutter.

Digital cameras are only able to capture raw data– while you can manipulate things like focus, exposure, and aperture you’ll likely never be able to capture the exact sense of awe you felt when that golden hour light illuminated your subject. Editing can help you bring that awe back into your photo by emphasizing the things that the camera didn’t quite pick up.

Even if you’re a Lightroom pro, presets can help you achieve an aesthetic you may not have been able to otherwise. In fact, premium portrait presets take over one year to develop and are painstakingly tested on a variety of camera bodies and thousands of shoots by hundreds of photographers. That means you can skip the trial-and-error of finding the right style, and borrow the best from other artists to master your own signature look.

Presets aren’t a must, but they will undoubtedly elevate your work and bring new life to your imagery.

KT MERRY

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRESETS

Choosing the right presets really comes down to what you want to communicate with your photography. Aesthetic, style, and expression is deeply personal and differs between artists.

If you’re feeling uncertain about what you want to convey, ask yourself a few questions:

What style are you naturally drawn to?
What color palettes make you feel the most inspired?
Is there a specific “mood” or “feeling” you’d like to evoke in your portfolio?
Do your clients gravitate to a specific style?
Do you enjoy imagery that is vibrant? Soft? Muted? Deep?

When you hone in on the aesthetic that you want to showcase, you’ll have a much easier time choosing presets for your editing toolkit. You’ll also be less prone to comparison and self-doubt when a photograph grabs your eye that doesn’t fit your preferred style!

If all else fails and you’re still feeling unsure about your style, put together a mood board. Study the common threads of color, tone, and light and then find presets that reflect the aesthetic that inspires you!

CAROLINE TRAN

Different Styles Of Portrait Presets

Just as there are countless styles of photography- there are also a wide variety of portrait presets to choose from. Once you have decided on the style you would like to pursue, become acquainted with the different preset styles you can play with.

Light and Airy

A light and airy preset pack is ideal for creating a delicate glow without diminishing the colors in your work. If you want to infuse your imagery with luminosity, you’ll love a light and airy aesthetic– many wedding, engagement, and portrait photographers gravitate towards the light and airy look because of its flattering tones and dreamy quality.

KT MERRY

Cinematic

Think bold colors, golden hues, and crisp detail. A cinematic preset will elevate your portraits with vibrancy and boldness worthy of the big screen. If you love the light and airy look, but want a little more punch– consider a cinematic preset that increases contrast, emphasizes color, and brings out the authentic beauty of your subjects.

TEC PETAJA

Dark and Moody

Dark and moody presets will enhance the deeper tones of a portrait and slightly flatten lighter colors to make them appear more ethereal. If you want to infuse your photos with warmer skin tones, earthy hues, and moody colors, this style is a good fit for you. It’s important to note that professional preset collections will be able to seamlessly range from a light and airy look to a more dark and moody aesthetic with a few simple tweaks.

TEC PETAJA

Film Emulation

Beautiful color palettes, creamy skin tones, and luminosity are hallmarks of the film aesthetic as well as grain, softness, and a nostalgic quality that is hard to pinpoint. Film is a medium that has captivated the modern photography industry and influenced the portraiture of countless professionals– with film presets on your side you can achieve the film look while still reaping the benefits of digital photography.

KT MERRY

Black and White

Black and white presets are timeless, distinctive, and elegant. By removing color from an image, you instantly draw the viewer’s eye to the emotion and mood within a frame. Many photographers choose certain photos to deliver to their clients in both color and black and white to present a dynamic collection of imagery. At REFINED, we believe that all photographers should have a solid black and white preset pack in their editing toolkit for when that striking photo presents itself.

KT MERRY

Can You Make Your Own Presets?

At REFINED Co, our presets and editing tools amplify what makes your creativity unique to consistently produce the elevated look you want. Each of our collections can work with both desktop and mobile apps, so whether you’re an on-the-go editor or prefer to work at your computer, we’ve got something for you. Here are a few of our favorite preset packs:

REFINED x KT Merry

One of our best presets for wedding portraits is easily the REFINED x KT Merry Collection. This is a masterful preset pack with an editorial aesthetic, luminous skin tones, and rich colors that will bring your portfolio to new heights. Be sure to check out the complimentary REFINED x KT Merry BW Presets– with beautiful film grains and striking contrast, you’ll love the elegance it infuses into your imagery.

REFINED x Tec Petaja

The Tec Petaja Collection delivers bold colors, travel-inspired palettes, and authentic edits. If you’re looking for a supremely well-rounded collection marked by contrast, grain, and depth this one is for you!

REFINED I

When you simply can’t decide, reach for REFINED I. This gorgeous preset pack ranges from light and airy to dark and moody so that you can effortlessly match the mood of your photographs. No matter if you photograph weddings, portraits, events, editorials, or lifestyle– REFINED showcases a clean film aesthetic that will surely compliment your work.

REFINED II

Developed at the request of our REFINED Co Community, Refined II showcases an even cleaner and purer color palette than our beloved Refined I Collection. Perfect for a wide variety of genres and styles, Refined II maintains beautiful, rich colors, luminous skin tones, crisp whites, and pure blacks. If you love the light and airy look but aren’t looking to emulate film, this will be your go-to preset pack.

LAINEY MUREN

The Art Of Editing With REFINED Co

Compelling photography is created in-camera but portrait presets are truly the secret to transforming your images to a work of art. They will help you streamline your workflow, save you time, and reduce stress– but more importantly, they will help you take that vision in your head and turn it into reality.

If you are ready to elevate your portfolio, find your “signature style”, and bring more timeless beauty into your art, REFINED Co has reimagined editing with your style in mind.