Every new year brings a fresh wave of editing styles, but the biggest trend for 2026 is simple: photos that feel real, romantic, and intentional. Creators are moving away from harsh filters and overdone effects and leaning into subtle film tones, natural skin, warm nostalgia, and clean, timeless edits.
Whether you are shooting on your phone, working with clients, or building a brand on Instagram, the right editing style can turn everyday images into a cohesive, memorable body of work. In this guide, we will walk through the top editing trends for 2026 and how you can use them in your own photos.
From soft film looks inspired by Kodak and Fuji to warm vintage black and whites and creator friendly workflows, these are the styles photographers and creators will love this year. If you're new to presets, our beginner-friendly guide What Are Presets? explains how they work and why they’re a powerful editing tool.
1. Subtle Film Looks Inspired by Kodak and Fuji
Film looks are not going anywhere in 2026. Instead, they are becoming softer, cleaner, and more intentional. Rather than heavy grain and extreme color shifts, photographers are gravitating toward film inspired palettes that feel gentle and nostalgic, but still polished.
Think of tones inspired by Kodak Portra, Kodak Gold, Kodak 800, and Fuji 400. These looks often include:
- Soft, warm midtones with a touch of golden light
- Muted but not dull colors, especially in greens and blues
- Creamy highlights and gentle contrast
- Fine, subtle grain that adds texture without hiding detail
Why this matters: Subtle film tones add emotion without overpowering your photo. They create a soft, cinematic look that keeps skin tones natural and flattering, which is why photographers and creators use them for portraits, lifestyle sessions, and storytelling.
These edits are perfect for portraits, travel photos, everyday lifestyle images, and brand work that needs to look both current and timeless. They feel romantic without being overly stylized, which is why they are so popular with creators and photographers who want their edits to age well.
If you love film inspired editing, explore the growing Film Lightroom Preset Collections for soft, cinematic tones that fit this 2026 trend.
2. Clean, Natural, True-to-Life Editing
Alongside film inspired edits, clean and natural styles will continue to dominate in 2026. These edits focus on enhancing what is already there instead of transforming the image into something completely different.
Clean edits often include:
- Balanced white balance that looks true to the scene
- Natural skin tones without strong color casts
- Soft contrast and gentle clarity adjustments
- Simple color grading that feels timeless
Why this matters: Clean natural edits age beautifully. They work in every lighting situation, keep colors consistent, and make your overall feed feel bright and polished. This is one of the most versatile editing styles for everyday creators.
This style is especially popular with lifestyle bloggers, moms, content creators, and small business owners who want their feeds to feel bright, approachable, and easy to recognize. The goal is to make the images look polished, but still like real life.
For creators who love this approach, the Natural Lightroom Preset Collections is designed for clean, soft, and true-to-life edits that will stay in style long after trends shift.
3. Problem Solving Presets and Utility Editing
In 2026, photographers and creators are not just looking for “aesthetic” presets. They are also looking for practical tools that solve specific problems quickly. Utility presets are becoming part of everyday workflows as creators look for ways to edit faster without sacrificing quality.
These utility tools focus on:
- Fixing skin tones when they turn too red, orange, green, or dull
- Correcting white balance in tricky lighting conditions
- Reducing noise from low light or high ISO images
- Sharpening slightly soft photos without making them harsh
- Removing color casts from artificial or mixed lighting
Why this matters: Even great photos need small corrections depending on the lighting or camera. Utility presets fix issues quickly so your edits stay consistent from image to image. They make your workflow faster, more reliable, and more professional.
Instead of building a completely new look, these presets are used as finishing steps on top of the main preset. This makes it easier for creators to keep a consistent style while still correcting issues that appear in real world shooting situations. You can shop our Photo Fix Editing Kits.
As more photographers add tools like Skin Fix, White Balance Fix, Sharpening, Noise Reduction, and Color Cast Fix into their editing routine, workflows become faster, more flexible, and more reliable across different shoots and lighting conditions.
If you're new to editing or want extra tools for your workflow, explore our growing library of Free Lightroom Presets designed for skin tone, grain, noise, sharpening, and color correction.
4. Vintage and Retro Film Aesthetics
Vintage and retro inspired edits continue to grow in popularity, especially for creators who want their photos to feel nostalgic, playful, or cinematic. In 2026, these looks lean into warmth, character, and emotion.
Key traits of the vintage film trend:
- Warm color casts that feel like aged prints or old film
- Soft contrast with slightly lifted blacks
- Muted greens and rich, warm reds
- Subtle grain, dust, or texture for character
- Occasional light leaks or glow, used sparingly
Why this matters: Vintage edits add instant personality and warmth. They turn ordinary photos into memory-rich images with character and emotion. This trend is popular because it gives digital photos a nostalgic, storybook quality.
This style works beautifully for holiday photos, city scenes, cozy indoor moments, family memories, and creative storytelling. It gives digital photography the feeling of a favorite old album or a still frame from a retro movie.
If you love creating nostalgic, story rich images, explore the Vintage Lightroom Preset Collections for warm, retro inspired looks that bring this trend to life.
5. Warm Vintage Black and White
Black and white edits are also evolving. Instead of pure neutral or high contrast black and white styles, 2026 is embracing warm, film inspired monochrome. These edits often include gentle brown, cream, or charcoal undertones that make the images feel softer and more nostalgic.
Warm black and white film inspired edits often feature:
- Soft contrast with smooth midtones
- Subtle warmth in the highlights or shadows
- Fine grain for gentle texture
- A moody, emotional feel that stays refined
Why this matters: Warm black and white tones create emotional depth without feeling harsh. The subtle warmth makes portraits softer and more expressive while still keeping the timeless feel of classic film.
These edits are perfect for portraits, documentary style work, weddings, and creative storytelling where emotion matters more than color. They feel timeless, yet more inviting than very cold or harsh monochrome.
To experiment with this look, take a look at the Black & White Lightroom Preset Collections, which focuses on classic, film inspired monochrome with character and depth.
6. Moody Natural Tones Instead of Heavy Moody Edits
“Dark and moody” edits had a strong moment in previous years, but in 2026 the trend is shifting toward moody natural tones. The goal is to keep depth and emotion, but soften the extremes.
Moody natural edits often include:
- Rich shadows that still preserve detail
- Warm browns, soft neutrals, and muted greens
- Golden or soft atmospheric light
- Gentle grain or subtle texture for a film like finish
Why this matters: Moody natural tones give your photos drama and depth without losing skin detail or clarity. This style feels cinematic but still realistic, making it a favorite for golden hour, couples shoots, and seasonal storytelling. You can shop all our Moody Tones Presets Collections.
These edits are popular for golden hour sessions, couples shoots, fall and winter portraits, and storytelling content. They feel cinematic without becoming overly dark or stylized, which makes them more versatile across different scenes and seasons.
7. Creator Friendly Workflows and Stackable Presets
As more people create content at scale, from daily Reels to client galleries, editing workflows are becoming just as important as individual looks. In 2026, creators are building editing systems they can rely on.
That often means:
- Choosing a primary preset collection as a base style
- Using utility presets as stackable finishing tools
- Batch editing multiple images quickly
- Saving time with AI assisted corrections where available
- Using similar looks across photo and video for consistency
Instead of treating presets as one click solutions, more photographers are treating them as part of a toolkit. They start with a base preset that sets the mood and color, then use stackable tools for skin tone, white balance, sharpening, and noise reduction. This approach makes it easier to stay consistent across different lighting conditions and cameras.
If you are building a more intentional editing system, the Photo Fix and Editing Kits Collection is designed to support workflows that need flexibility and control, especially for creators and working photographers.
How to Choose the Right 2026 Editing Trend for Your Style
Not every trend will fit every photographer, and that is a good thing. The key to choosing the right editing direction is understanding what you want your work to say and how you want it to feel.
Ask yourself:
- Do you want your photos to feel modern and clean, or nostalgic and dreamy?
- Are you drawn to film inspired tones, or do you prefer true to life color?
- Do you shoot mostly indoors, outdoors, with families, brands, or travel?
- How important is speed and efficiency in your workflow?
You may find that a blend of trends fits you best. For example, you might use a clean, natural base edit for most of your work, then add subtle film grain or warm black and white for select images. Or you may love fully leaning into vintage film for personal or creative projects while keeping client work more timeless and neutral.
Bringing 2026 Editing Trends Into Your Own Workflow
The most important part of any trend is making it your own. Use these 2026 editing directions as inspiration, not rules.
- Start with a film inspired preset, then soften the contrast for a subtle approach
- Apply a clean, natural preset, then use utility tools to fix skin tones or white balance
- Convert a favorite image to warm black and white for a timeless, emotional version
- Experiment with vintage tones on holiday or memory rich images for nostalgia and character
The more you edit with intention, the more your own signature style will emerge, even as trends evolve.
FAQ: 2026 Photo Editing Trends
1. What editing style will be most popular in 2026?
Subtle film inspired edits, especially tones similar to Kodak Portra, Kodak 800, and Fuji 400, are expected to dominate in 2026. Creators are choosing warm, soft, nostalgic looks that feel emotional but still polished.
2. Are clean and natural edits still trending?
Yes. Clean, true to life editing remains one of the most timeless styles. Balanced color, natural skin tones, and subtle contrast will continue to be popular across lifestyle, portrait, and brand photography.
3. What are utility presets, and why are they important?
Utility presets are simple, problem solving tools like skin tone correction, white balance fixes, sharpening, and noise reduction. They help photographers edit faster while keeping their style consistent, which is why they are essential in 2026 workflows.
4. Is vintage or retro editing coming back?
Yes. Warm vintage film, retro colors, and nostalgic tones are rising quickly—especially edits that feel like old prints, 90s photos, or soft retro film. These styles add emotion and storytelling to everyday images.
5. What kind of black and white edits are trending?
Warm black and white edits with soft contrast are becoming more popular than harsh monochrome. These styles often include gentle brown or cream undertones and fine grain for a film inspired finish.
6. How do I choose the right editing trend for my style?
Look at the mood you want your photos to have. If you want romantic, nostalgic images, choose film inspired or vintage tones. If you prefer timeless, polished images, choose clean and natural edits. Many photographers blend trends to create their own signature style.
Preset Collections That Fit 2026 Editing Trends
If you want to start using these 2026 editing styles in your own workflow, here are a few Lou & Marks collections that align perfectly with the trends featured in this guide. Each one is designed to help you create soft film tones, warm nostalgia, clean natural edits, or a complete professional workflow.
Vintage Film Lightroom Presets
Warm, nostalgic tones inspired by classic analog film. Perfect for storytellers, lifestyle creators, and anyone who loves retro color and texture. Shop Vintage Film Presets
Kodak Portra 400 Lightroom Preset
A soft, natural film look inspired by one of the most iconic color films ever made. Beautiful for portraits, weddings, travel, and everyday storytelling. Shop Kodak Portra 400 Preset
Vintage Black & White Lightroom Presets
Timeless monochrome with warm undertones and film-inspired texture. Ideal for portraits, documentary photography, and emotional storytelling. Shop B&W Film Presets
The Starter Bundle
A beginner-friendly collection with clean, natural edits designed for creators, moms, photographers, and everyday lifestyle shooting. Shop The Starter Bundle
The Film Bundle
A curated set of Lou & Marks film-inspired presets for soft, nostalgic, and cinematic color. Perfect if you love 2026’s subtle film trend. Shop The Film Bundle
The All Access Bundle
Every preset Lou & Marks has ever created — all in one complete collection. Ideal for creators who want endless variety and a unified editing style. Shop The All Access Bundle
