What are Photography Presets and Why are they Useful?

Photography is a skill and an art form that takes some time to master if you want photo competition-worthy shots. The right gear and learning the ins and outs of controlling your camera is the best way to develop a great photography portfolio in the long run, but if you want to capture photographs with great character, we have some good news - you can get started right away. Whether available in your phone or camera, or added to your photo in post-production, photography presets help you produce images with lasting appeal, with a style and aesthetic of your choosing. Let’s find out more about photography presets.

If you have ever seen a photography style that you wish to emulate, whether it is a moody black and white portrait, or a landscape image with vibrant, saturated colours, but you have no idea where to start to create this look, photography Presets are your friend. With photography presets you can dial in your desired style with a single action, so you don't need to understand the ins and outs of each look to achieve success.

Photography presets can be used to automatically increase or decrease contrast in images, adjust the intensity of colours and even add effects such as vignetting and lens flare. While for maximum control you should learn to manually adjust these factors, the ability to apply them all instantly is a game changer when developing your photographic portfolio.

Photography presets can be applied to your chosen photographs in post-production, which means after the image has been captured, using editing programs such as Lightroom. This method offers a great deal of flexibility, as you can click around trying out different presets and seeing which one is the best fit for your photograph. And you will always have your original image to refer back to, so the changes you make are not permanent.

Another example of photography presets is the filters and simulations found In-Camera in modern digital cameras, which are similar to the filters of your smartphone.

While most modern cameras offer some degree of preset or filter options, there are a few camera ranges which are notable in this field.

Fujifilm X-series mirrorless camera offer their excellent range of film simulations, with as many as 12 different simulations available on their latest models, which actually mimic the look of some of their classic film stocks, including Velvia and Provia, and these are very simple to apply in-camera - in certain cameras, such as the user-friendly Fujifilm X-M5, there is a dedicated film dial to recall your favourite preset in an instant.

Similarly, the Nikon Z50II includes a picture control dial, which gives users quick and easy access to Nikon’s excellent Imaging Recipes. The opportunities here are limitless, with the ability to utilise imaging recipes that have been designed by your favourite content creator - this is your ticket to create images that look exactly like the ones that inspire you!

Are you excited to delve into the world of photography presets in order to develop a body of work that you can be proud of, with minimal fuss? Here are some tips to get the most success with using photography presets and filters.

• Explore photography presets using non-destructive processes: What we mean by this, is to always keep a basic copy of your original file. If you are applying photography filters in post production this is easy, while if you are working In-Camera, look into if your camera allows you to record two files, one unedited, and one with the filter applied.

• Make your tweaks to the presets: In some instances, you may enjoy the general look of a preset, but not be completely satisfied. Sometimes you can perfect it to your liking by making small adjustments to brightness, saturation or other key editing techniques.

• Explore various presets with every image: Even if you like a photo as it is, don't settle before exploring other options. You never know when you are going to stumble upon a look that makes a photo pop.