Lightroom can seem like a complex tool for beginners, especially with so many sliders, tools, and settings to get used to. But don’t worry—using Lightroom presets is one of the easiest ways to streamline your editing process. Presets help you enhance your photos quickly without the need to learn all the ins and outs of the software.

We're sharing 5 beginner-friendly Lightroom presets that will help you get stunning results with minimal effort. Whether you're editing portraits, wedding photos, landscapes, or lifestyle photos, these presets are designed to make your editing process simple, fast, and cohesive. Let’s dive into the top presets for beginners!

1. Light & Airy Preset

The Light and Airy Preset is perfect for those who love a soft, bright, and natural aesthetic in their photos. This preset works wonders for portraits, outdoor images, and any photo where you want to create a dreamy, luminous look. It lightens shadows, adds a little contrast, and creates a crisp yet authentic feel in your images.

Why it's great for beginners:

• It’s perfect for giving your photos a light, professional finish with little effort.
• It automatically brightens your images, enhancing whites and softening color tones.
• Works best with natural light, giving you that airy, natural vibe.

How to use it:

1. Apply the preset to your image with just one click.
2. Adjust the opacity slider to adjust the amount of preset being applied to your image.
3. Adjust the exposure slightly if needed — you’ll find that it often works beautifully in just one click.

2. Moody Tones Preset

For those who want to add some depth and mood to their photos, the Moody Tones Preset is a great choice. It’s perfect for creating rich, moody, and impactful images. Whether you’re shooting portraits, weddings, or landscapes, this preset brings out the richness in your photos with deep shadows and subdued highlights.

Why it's great for beginners:

• Adds instant depth and mood to your photos with minimal effort.
• Great for portraits or any photo that benefits from a darker, more artistic look.
• Simple adjustments are all you’ll need after applying it, making it easy for beginners to use.

How to use it:

1. Apply the preset to bring depth and mood to your image.
2. Tweak the shadows or exposure if needed (you might not need much adjustment).
3. For a more dramatic look, you can adjust the opacity slider to increase the amount of preset being applied.

3. Kodak Portra Film Preset

The Kodak Portra Film Preset is perfect for giving your photos that classic film-like aesthetic. This preset mimics the beautiful colors and tones found in the iconic Kodak Portra 400 film, known for its soft yet vibrant colors and natural skin tones. Whether you're shooting portraits or nature, this preset offers a timeless, refined look.

Why it's great for beginners:

• Adds a nostalgic, film-inspired aesthetic with just one click.
• Perfect for portraits, wedding photography, or lifestyle images where you want natural-looking color.
• Easy to use, with minimal adjustments required to achieve a classic and clean look.

How to use it:

1. Apply the preset for a clean, film-like edit.
2. If needed, adjust the exposure or white balance to perfect the tone.
3. The preset does most of the work, so you’ll have beautifully enhanced photos.

4. Creamy Moody Preset

For those who love deep, creamy tones combined with a smooth, rich finish, the Creamy Moody Preset is a perfect choice. This preset enhances shadows while softening highlights, giving your images a professional edit. It's perfect for portraits, fine art photography, and any subject where you want a bit of elegance and mood.

Why it's great for beginners:

• It offers a rich, creamy look that works well on a variety of images, especially portraits.
• The preset provides a smooth, balanced edit, minimizing the need for manual tweaking.
• Perfect for those looking to create moodier tones without complicated editing.

How to use it:

1. Apply the preset to add depth and a professional finish to your photos.
2. Adjust the opacity slider to increase or decrease the edit.
3. Adjust exposure or highlights slightly if necessary to fine-tune the light balance.

5. Natural Light Preset

The Natural Light Preset is a great go-to for beginners who want to enhance their photos without over-editing. This preset is all about emphasizing natural light, brightening up your images, and making them feel fresh and authentic. It’s perfect for outdoor photography, lifestyle shots, and portraits where you want to retain the natural color tones.

Why it's great for beginners:

• Helps make your photos look brighter, natural, and more authentic with very little editing.
• Works wonderfully with photos taken in natural light, enhancing colors and reducing harsh shadows.
• Perfect for beginners who want a simple, no-fuss preset.

How to use it:

1. Apply the preset to immediately brighten your image and enhance the natural light and tones.
2. Adjust exposure or contrast if needed for optimal lighting.
3. The preset does most of the work, leaving you with beautiful, natural results.

Editing Made Easy With Lightroom Presets

As a beginner, the idea of editing your photos in Lightroom can be daunting. But with these simple and effective Lightroom presets, you can create stunning results with minimal effort. Whether you’re looking for a bright, airy feel or a dark, moody look, these presets are designed to make editing easy.

Don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust these presets to match your style! With just a few simple tweaks, you’ll be able to personalize the look of your photos.

Want to discover more versatile presets? Check out our full collection of Lightroom presets to take your photo editing to the next level!

By sticking to simple presets that are beginner-friendly and versatile, you’ll be able to enhance your photos without getting bogged down in complex edits. With practice, you’ll get even better at customizing presets to fit your unique style! Happy editing!

You can shop our full collection of beginner friendly Lightroom Presets.

All of our presets are fully compatible with Adobe Lightroom Mobile & Desktop & Adobe Photoshop.

If you would like guided to help to pick our the best presets for your photography style and editing goals, fill out our contact form and we will be happy to help!