The holidays come alive through light: glowing trees, candlelit dinners, twinkle-lit windows, and cozy moments spent by the fire. But editing those photos isn’t always simple. Between warm indoor bulbs, cool outdoor light, and the golden glow of Christmas decorations, it can be tricky to make everything feel balanced and natural.
That’s where the right Lightroom presets make all the difference. With just one click, you can warm up the glow of tree lights, soften harsh shadows, and give your photos that timeless, cozy look that defines the season.
In this guide, we’re sharing the best Lightroom presets for Christmas lights and holiday photos, designed to keep skin tones natural, lights sparkling, and your edits beautifully true to life.
(If you’re looking for a step-by-step editing tutorial, make sure to read How to Edit Christmas Light Photos in Lightroom then come back here to find your perfect preset match!)
Top Presets for Christmas Light Photos
Christmas light photos need a gentle touch: a little warmth, a little glow, and just enough contrast to make the lights shine without overpowering the scene. These Lou & Marks presets are made for exactly that.
1. Cozy Holiday Presets
Preset Style: Soft warmth and gentle glow
Best For: Living room tree photos, cozy nights in, and family portraits
Cozy Holiday is your go-to for transforming dim indoor lighting into soft, glowing warmth. It adds golden tones to your highlights while keeping whites natural and shadows rich. Perfect for tree-lit family moments or candid photos by the fireplace, this preset feels nostalgic and cinematic, like the memory itself.
Why you’ll love it: Cozy Holiday enhances brightness and color without over-exposing or over saturating reds or oranges, creating a balanced tone that flatters skin and makes Christmas lights shimmer softly in the background.
→ Shop The Cozy Holiday Presets
2. Holiday Lights Presets
Preset Style: Bright, luminous, and crisp
Best For: Christmas trees, string lights, and festive interior shots
When your camera struggles with low light, Holiday Lights steps in. It brightens your overall image, protects highlight detail, and brings back definition to glowing bulbs and ornaments. Think of it as your “clarity and sparkle” preset, keeping the photo clean, bright, and full of life.
Why you’ll love it: It’s ideal for evening scenes or low-lit living rooms where you want the twinkle of the tree to stand out without blowing out your highlights.
→ Shop The Holiday Lights Presets
3. Cozy Glow Presets
Preset Style: Creamy and balanced
Best For: Portraits by the Christmas tree or candlelight
Cozy Glow gives your images a soft focus and beautifully even tones. It’s made to flatter skin while adding that buttery, dreamy finish that looks straight out of a holiday film.
Why you’ll love it: This preset handles tricky lighting, like mixed indoor bulbs, and turns them into rich, cohesive warmth. The result? Effortless, flattering edits that feel luxurious and comforting.
4. Hot Cocoa Presets
Preset Style: Rich contrast, warm tones
Best For: Coffee moments, baking scenes, and fireside photos
If you love warmth, depth, and rich tones, Hot Cocoa is your new favorite. It deepens shadows slightly for that moody, cozy aesthetic while keeping skin and whites perfectly natural. It’s perfect for editing lifestyle or product photos, like steaming mugs, cookies, or your favorite candle collection.
Why you’ll love it: Hot Cocoa adds visual depth without losing detail, giving every image a storybook quality that feels cozy and inviting.
Warm, Festive Looks for Every Mood
Not every holiday moment involves a Christmas tree; sometimes it’s the simple, quiet ones that matter most. These next presets bring warmth and magic to everything from family breakfasts to snowy afternoon light.
5. Warm & Cozy Presets
Preset Style: Golden tones, soft skin balance
Best For: Family lifestyle sessions and everyday holiday scenes
Warm & Cozy adds an all-over golden warmth that feels natural and timeless. It works beautifully in both indoor and outdoor light, keeping your photos unified and gentle with no harsh contrast and no exaggerated tones.
Why you’ll love it: It’s an all-around classic that gives your photos a soft radiance perfect for holiday cards and home décor images alike.
→ Shop The Warm & Cozy Presets
6. Eggnog Presets
Preset Style: Creamy, soft whites
Best For: Airy interiors, minimalist decor, morning light
Eggnog is the ultimate preset for dreamy, bright photos that still feel warm. It adds a subtle glow and a hint of softness to whites, helping your holiday scenes look luminous and fresh, never dull or cold.
Why you’ll love it: It’s perfect for anyone who loves the “bright & cozy” look, like morning coffee by the window or minimalist holiday decor.
7. Espresso Presets
Preset Style: Deep, moody warmth
Best For: Rustic kitchens, candlelight, wood tones
Espresso adds depth and drama to your photos. It brings out the rich browns and warm undertones of cozy interiors, enhancing textures and creating a sense of quiet sophistication.
Why you’ll love it: This is your editorial holiday preset, perfect for food, decor, or moody family sessions lit by firelight.
8. Gingerbread Presets
Preset Style: Golden-brown warmth with nostalgic glow
Best For: Kitchen scenes, baking, wrapping gifts, or intimate family photos
Gingerbread adds that familiar warmth that makes your images feel soft and timeless. It infuses gentle browns and caramels into your photo while protecting natural skin tones, creating a cozy, vintage-holiday feel that’s impossible to fake.
Why you’ll love it: Every photo feels instantly more inviting, like it belongs in a handmade Christmas album.
→ Shop The Gingerbread Presets
9. The Lou & Marks Christmas Preset Bundle
When you want the full holiday experience, the Christmas Preset Bundle gives you everything you need to edit photos from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
Each collection has been fine-tuned for real-world lighting, from candlelight warmth to snowy outdoor scenes. Whether you’re shooting on a phone or DSLR, these presets are crafted to work seamlessly across all types of holiday light.
Includes: Eggnog • Evergreen • Farmhouse • Gingerbread • Hot Cocoa • Salted Caramel • Snowflake • Sugar & Spice • Vibrant Christmas • Winter Mint
- Evergreen: balanced greens and bright whites for tree photography
- Salted Caramel: soft, neutral warmth for modern holiday edits
- Vibrant Christmas: brighter tones with crisp whites and rich reds
- Winter Mint: cool and clean, perfect for snowy outdoor photos
- Sugar & Spice: warm neutrals with playful contrast for cozy storytelling
From sparkling lights to quiet winter mornings, this bundle has everything you need to capture the beauty and warmth of the season.
Preset Style: Warm, glowing, and versatile
Includes: 10 complete collections
Compatibility: Lightroom Mobile, Desktop & Photoshop (ACR)
Skill Level: Beginner to professional, one-click editing made easy
→ Shop The Christmas Preset Bundle
Why These Presets Work for Christmas Light Photography
When shooting around twinkle lights or candles, your camera often struggles with color temperature and contrast. The Lou & Marks presets are built to balance those tones automatically, keeping whites bright, skin tones clean, and lights softly luminous.
Instead of harsh editing, these presets create depth through warmth and glow. Think of them as your one-click solution for:
- Fixing overly orange or yellow lighting
- Softening harsh shadows without flattening the image
- Making your lights sparkle naturally
- Keeping skin tones flattering in mixed indoor light
Every preset is crafted to help your holiday photos look professional while still feeling real and heartfelt.
Editing Tips
Use your preset as a base, then make small adjustments for the scene. For indoor photos, slightly increase Exposure and lower Highlights to preserve glow. For snowy outdoor shots, reduce Blues in the Color Mixer to keep whites clean.
If you love a soft cinematic look, lift the bottom point on the Tone Curve just a touch; it adds that subtle matte finish that makes Christmas lights feel dreamy.
The Takeaway
Editing Christmas light photos should feel joyful, not technical. The right preset saves you time while helping your images capture the emotion of the moment, whether it’s a child holding cocoa by the tree, a snowy porch glowing with lights, or a quiet morning before the festivities begin.
With the Lou & Marks Holiday Presets, your photos stay true to life yet magically enhanced — warm, cozy, and full of the season’s spirit.
Shop the all our Christmas Lights Presets to bring your holiday images to life, or explore individual presets like Cozy Holiday, Hot Cocoa, and Eggnog for your perfect match.
Holiday Presets FAQ
Do these presets work on the free Lightroom Mobile app?
Yes. Every collection includes DNG files for Lightroom Mobile on iPhone and Android, plus XMP files for Lightroom Desktop and Photoshop Camera Raw.
Will these presets keep skin tones natural around Christmas lights?
Yes. The presets are tuned to protect skin while balancing warm bulbs and cool ambient light. Adjust White Balance and Exposure after applying for best results.
Can I use these presets on JPEGs from my phone?
Absolutely. They work on both JPEG and RAW files. For phone images, start with a small Exposure bump, then fine-tune Whites and Shadows.
What if my indoor photos look too yellow or orange?
Lower the Temperature slightly, reduce Saturation in the orange and yellow channels, and drop Highlights a bit. The presets are designed to respond well to these quick tweaks.
How do I keep tree lights bright without blowing out highlights?
Apply the preset, reduce Highlights, and increase Whites slightly. If needed, use a Radial Mask over the tree to lift exposure locally while keeping the glow controlled.
Can I get a softer, film-like finish?
Yes. Lift the bottom point of the Tone Curve a touch and lower Clarity slightly. Add a small amount of Grain for subtle texture.
Learn More About Lightroom
If you’re new to editing or want to dive deeper into Lightroom tools, you can explore more directly from Adobe. Visit Adobe Lightroom to learn about features, tutorials, and creative tips for making the most of your presets.
