Best Lightroom Presets for Summer Travel Photos – Lou & Marks Presets

From golden beaches to bustling markets and scenic hikes, summer travel gives us some of the most beautiful photo ops—but also some of the trickiest to edit. Harsh light, unpredictable colors, and blown-out highlights can make your vacation photos feel chaotic or flat.

That’s where Lightroom presets come in. With just one click (and a few minor tweaks), you can turn your raw travel photos into cohesive, vibrant memories that match the mood of your trip. Below are our favorite presets for editing summer travel photos like a pro—whether you're shooting on your phone or DSLR.

The Best Summer Presets by Lou & Marks

1. Summer Blues

Soft, airy, and sun-kissed—this preset smooths out harsh light and brings a clean, coastal vibe to your travel photos. Perfect for beach days, skies, and anything ocean-adjacent.

before and after summer blues Lightroom presets for summer

Great for: Beaches, poolside, family vacations
Style: Light & airy, soft whites, pastel blues
Mood: Calm, breezy, fresh

2. True Color

When you want to keep colors natural while still cleaning up your image, True Color gives you that timeless, professional finish. Ideal for maintaining realistic tones across a full travel album.

Sunset Lightroom presets before and after summer beach photo

Great for: City walks, portraits, landscapes
Style: Balanced, vibrant, true-to-life
Mood: Clean, editorial, minimal

3. Kodak Portra 400

Inspired by the iconic film stock, this preset brings soft contrast, warm shadows, and a vintage yet refined feel. Perfect for adding nostalgia to bright travel images.

Portrait before and after editing with Kodak Portra 400 film presets

Great for: Golden hour portraits, street shots
Style: Soft film grain, warm shadows, muted highlights
Mood: Romantic, timeless, vintage

4. Kodak Tri-X 400

For black-and-white lovers, Tri-X 400 gives your travel photos a gritty, editorial look that feels like a story. Works beautifully for portraits and moments where color gets in the way.

Portrait edited before and after Kodak Tri X film Presets

Great for: Architecture, shadows, moody portraits
Style: Film grain, deep blacks, sharp contrast
Mood: Storytelling, retro, artistic

5. Lemonade

Bright, dreamy, and warm without being overly yellow—Lemonade adds a creamy, nostalgic glow to your images. Ideal for family trips, backlit scenes, or sunny afternoons.

Lemonade summer presets before and after editing

Great for: Lifestyle travel, kids, sun-drenched photos
Style: Creamy highlights, warm whites
Mood: Soft, golden, dreamy

6. Camp Vibes

An earthy preset made for nature lovers. It deepens greens, softens contrast, and warms up skin tones—ideal for forest trails, cabins, or road trip stops.

Camp vibes before and after outdoor hiking photo editing

Great for: Hiking, cabins, camping, road trips
Style: Warm earthy tones, soft shadows
Mood: Outdoorsy, relaxed, lifestyle

7. Sunset

If you’re shooting during golden hour, Sunset enhances the light without making it look fake. It enriches warm tones and softens the sky for a cinematic finish.

Sunset lightroom presets before and after editing summer photo

Great for: Sunsets, portraits, silhouettes
Style: Rich warmth, glowing highlights
Mood: Romantic, radiant, soft

8. Foodie

No travel photo dump is complete without food shots. Foodie keeps colors true while giving your meals a bright, clean edit. Use it for flat lays, cafes, or food carts on the go.

foodie Lightroom presets before and after editing food photography

Great for: Restaurant shots, markets, flat-lays
Style: Crisp whites, vibrant but balanced color
Mood: Clean, curated, delicious

Final Thoughts

Summer travel is chaotic, beautiful, and fast. Editing your photos shouldn't be. These presets help bring clarity, warmth, and style to your adventures—so you can relive the moments exactly how they felt.

Want them all? They’re available individually or inside the All Access Bundle