How We Designed Our Best-Selling Lightroom Presets
Updated on November 13, 2025
At Lou & Marks Presets, every preset we create is carefully crafted with intention, artistry, and a deep understanding of what creators truly need. Our best-selling presets, like the All Access Collection, didn’t just happen by accident. They were built from real-world experience, feedback from thousands of photographers and creators, and our own years of testing across lighting, skin tones, and styles.
Here’s how we designed our top-selling presets and why they’ve helped so many photographers, influencers, and everyday editors fall in love with their edits.
1. Built for Real Editing Workflows
We started by asking what slows people down when editing. Whether you're shooting a wedding, creating content for your brand, or posting to Instagram, speed and consistency matter. Our most popular presets are designed to deliver stunning results in seconds with minimal tweaking.
The Starter Bundle, for example, it includes a full spectrum of styles, from bright and airy to warm and rich, so you can find the right look for every session without switching between collections.
2. Tested on Diverse Skin Tones and Lighting Conditions
Presets shouldn’t only work in perfect light or on one skin tone. We made it our mission to build collections that enhance a wide range of tones without creating harsh shadows, orange casts, or unnatural highlights.
Each best-seller is tested on thousands of real photos, including portraits, interiors, golden hour shots, cloudy skies, and more, so the result is always flattering no matter the lighting or subject.
3. Designed with Creators in Mind
We’ve spent years working alongside photographers, bloggers, and influencers—and we’ve taken their feedback seriously. Our best-sellers reflect real creative needs:
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Presets that elevate your brand aesthetic
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Edits that feel consistent across an entire feed
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Styles that enhance natural beauty instead of masking it
Whether you're editing a dreamy wedding, moody film-style portraits, or clean lifestyle content, there’s a preset that fits your voice.
4. Inspired by Film, Light, and Emotion
Many of our collections draw from analog film tones, natural light, and emotional storytelling. The Magical Bundle, for example, captures warm nostalgia, soft contrast, and glow—all designed to evoke feeling.
These presets aren’t just “filters.” They’re rooted in visual storytelling—each one designed to support your creative vision, not override it.
5. Why They Work So Well
Our customers often say our presets just work—and here’s why:
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Smart tonal balance: We’ve fine-tuned contrast, color grading, and tone curves for a natural, flattering result
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Minimal adjustments needed: Our presets are meant to be one-click edits, with only exposure and white balance tweaks if needed
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Broad compatibility: Whether you’re shooting with a phone, DSLR, or mirrorless camera, our presets work beautifully on mobile and desktop
What Customers Are Saying
Kenneth, Anna, Natasha, Kendall
“I was really against using presets because it didn't feel like it was my work. I had a wedding of photos to go through and color grade and it was no way I could get through the photos by individually toning. These presets saved me at least 5 days of work. They also perfectly matched the colors of the wedding.” – Kenneth
“These presets are beautiful and so easy to use! Great experience! Love how the pictures turned out.” – Anna
“These presets make photos look so dreamy!” – Natasha
“Love the way the colorful clean presets make my photos look! So bright, summery, and clean.” – Kendall
Want Results Like These?
Explore the Starter Bundle or All Access Collection and transform your workflow, just like Kenneth, Anna, and thousands of others have.
The Takeaway: Designed for You
The success of our best-selling presets isn’t just about technical design, it’s about helping you express your creative vision with confidence. Whether you're just starting your editing journey or are a seasoned pro, we built these presets to support you, save you time, and bring your work to life.
If you’re new to Lightroom presets and want to learn the basics, our Presets 101 guide is a great starting point. It walks you through how presets work, how to pick the ones that fit your photography style, and how to install and start using them to edit with confidence.
FAQ — How We Designed Our Best-Selling Lightroom Presets
1. What makes Lou & Marks presets different from other Lightroom presets?
Lou & Marks presets are built from real-world testing across thousands of photos, lighting conditions, skin tones, and camera types. Every preset is crafted to be truly one-click friendly, with clean color, natural skin tones, and styles that work universally on iPhone, DSLR, mirrorless, and RAW files. Unlike many preset shops, each collection is designed with professional workflows in mind so your edits stay consistent from start to finish.
2. How did you test your best-selling presets before releasing them?
Every preset goes through a multi-stage testing process—including indoor light, harsh sun, shade, golden hour, mixed lighting, and nighttime scenarios. We test on diverse skin tones, different locations, and multiple camera sources to ensure the preset performs beautifully in real-life conditions. Creators, photographers, and everyday users also test each collection so we can refine color, softness, grain, and balance before launch.
3. Are Lou & Marks presets good for beginners?
Yes. Our presets are intentionally designed to be accessible for beginners while still meeting the needs of professional photographers. Most edits require only small adjustments to exposure or white balance. If you're new to presets, we recommend starting with True Color, Light & Airy, or our Starter Preset Bundle—and reading our Lightroom Presets 101 Guide for a simple walkthrough on how presets work.
4. What styles inspired your best-selling preset collections?
Our top presets were inspired by real editing trends—timeless film tones, clean neutrals, warm moody colors, soft editorial styles, and natural everyday light. Collections like Golden Boho, Kodak Portra 400, Moody Tones, and Light & Airy were designed to reflect the styles photographers and creators request most: warm, emotional, consistent edits that feel professional but effortless.
5. How do Lou & Marks presets create natural, flattering skin tones?
Skin tones are at the center of every collection we design. We build presets with balanced hue shifts, controlled warmth, and gentle contrast so skin looks clean, luminous, and true to life. We also avoid harsh oranges, muddy shadows, or overly stylized color shifts—which keeps portraits, lifestyle photos, and family images feeling natural and polished.
6. What’s the best way to choose a preset collection for my style?
Start with your lighting and aesthetic.
– If you want clean, true-to-life color: True Color
– Soft, bright daily edits: Light & Airy or Clean Film
– Film-inspired tones: Kodak Portra 400, Fuji Film, Moody Film
– Warm moody edits: Golden Boho or Moody Tones
– All-in-one editing across every style: All Access Preset Bundle
If you're unsure, our Starter Bundle is the perfect introduction—it includes a mix of our most universal presets so you can find your style with confidence.
