10 Free Lightroom Presets for Stunning Photo Edits

Published on 21 June 2023 6 min read

Are you looking for the perfect way to enhance your photos without spending a dime? Look no further! We've compiled a list of 10 free Lightroom presets that will take your photography to the next level. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, these presets are sure to transform your pictures into stunning masterpieces.

1. Warm Wanderlust

The Warm Wanderlust preset is perfect for those who love capturing the essence of their travel adventures. This free Lightroom preset will:

Boost warm tones to give your photos a cozy and inviting feel
Enhance saturation and contrast to make colors pop and add depth
Improve clarity and sharpness, ensuring your photos look crisp and detailed

With Warm Wanderlust, you can easily evoke the feeling of exploring new places and create a beautiful, cohesive aesthetic for your travel photography. This preset is perfect for outdoor shots, landscapes, and even portraits. Give it a try and watch your memories come to life!

2. Urban Contrast

For those who love the hustle and bustle of city life, the Urban Contrast preset is a must-have. This free Lightroom preset is designed to bring out the best in your urban photography by:

Increasing contrast to make your photos pop and create a dynamic visual impact
Adjusting shadows and highlights to emphasize the architectural details and textures of cityscapes
Enhancing clarity and sharpness, making every element of your photo crisp and well-defined

Urban Contrast is perfect for street photography, cityscapes, and architectural shots. This preset will help you capture the essence of city life in a striking and visually captivating way. Whether you're photographing skyscrapers, busy streets, or hidden urban gems, Urban Contrast will make your photos stand out from the crowd.

3. Vintage Vibes

Are you a fan of nostalgia and timeless aesthetics? Look no further — the Vintage Vibes preset is here to help you achieve that classic look in your photos. This free Lightroom preset is perfect for adding a touch of old-school charm to your images by:

Applying a warm, sepia-toned color palette that evokes memories of yesteryear
Softening sharp edges to create a dreamy, slightly blurred effect reminiscent of film photography
Adding grain and texture, for an authentic vintage feel

Vintage Vibes is a versatile preset that works well with a variety of subjects, from portraits and landscapes to still life and candid moments. With this free Lightroom preset, you can transport your viewers back in time and create images that evoke a sense of nostalgia and wonder.

4. Black and White Essentials

Do you love the simplicity and timeless elegance of black and white photography? Then the Black and White Essentials free Lightroom preset is just what you need. This preset will help you effortlessly create stunning monochrome images by:

Converting your photos to grayscale, eliminating any distracting colors and focusing on the essential elements of your image
Enhancing contrast and tonal range to bring out the rich details, textures, and patterns in your subject
Adjusting the brightness and shadows, ensuring that your image has a balanced exposure and is easy on the eyes

Black and White Essentials is perfect for photographers who want to create dramatic, eye-catching images that stand the test of time. Whether you're shooting portraits, landscapes, or street scenes, this free Lightroom preset will help you craft beautifully evocative black and white photographs.

5. Golden Hour Glow

The Golden Hour is a magical time of day when the sunlight bathes everything in a warm, golden hue. With the Golden Hour Glow free Lightroom preset, you can recreate this enchanting effect in your photos, even if they weren't taken during that coveted time of day. This preset works wonders by:

Warming up the colors in your image, giving your photos that sought-after, sun-kissed look
Enhancing the saturation and vibrancy of colors, making them pop and creating a visually stunning result
Adjusting the shadows and highlights to create a balanced, well-exposed image that captures the essence of the Golden Hour

Golden Hour Glow is an excellent choice for landscape, portrait, and travel photographers who want to infuse their images with the warm, inviting ambiance of the Golden Hour. Use this free Lightroom preset to transform your photos into breathtaking, sun-drenched masterpieces.

6. Bold and Vibrant

Are your photos lacking that extra punch of color and energy? Don't worry, the Bold and Vibrant free Lightroom preset is here to save the day! This dynamic preset is designed to bring out the brilliance and intensity of colors in your images, making them truly eye-catching. The Bold and Vibrant preset achieves this by:

Boosting the saturation of colors, making them more vivid and lively
Enhancing the contrast between light and dark areas, adding depth to your images
Refining the overall exposure, ensuring every detail in your photo is properly visible

Perfect for landscape, cityscape, and street photography, the Bold and Vibrant preset can add a splash of excitement to any photo. Give your images a striking, memorable appearance with this free Lightroom preset, and watch as your photos come to life with color and energy.

7. Cool Moody Blues

Are you a fan of those cool, calming, and moody tones in your photos? The Cool Moody Blues free Lightroom preset is just what you need to transform your images into atmospheric works of art. This preset works wonders on outdoor and indoor photos alike, creating a captivating mood by:

Adjusting the temperature to bring out the cooler, bluish tones
Enhancing the shadows to create depth and drama in your images
Increasing clarity, making your subjects stand out against their backgrounds

Whether you're photographing a foggy morning, a rainy day, or a serene evening, the Cool Moody Blues preset will add a touch of mystique to your images. Discover the allure of cool tones with this free Lightroom preset, and give your photos an enchanting, moody appeal.

8. Minimalist Clean

Do you appreciate the beauty in simplicity and want your photos to mirror that aesthetic? The Minimalist Clean free Lightroom preset is your go-to solution for achieving a clean and uncluttered look in your images. This preset works its magic by:

Reducing saturation to create a more subdued color palette
Adjusting contrast to bring out the crispness and clarity of your subjects
Enhancing highlights to brighten up your images without overexposing them

Whether you're capturing the elegance of minimalist architecture, the serenity of a zen garden, or the simplicity of everyday objects, the Minimalist Clean preset will help you showcase the beauty of less is more. Give your photos a breath of fresh air with this free Lightroom preset, and embrace the charm of minimalism in your photography.

9. Dreamy Portraits

Do you want to add a touch of whimsy and dreaminess to your portrait photography? The Dreamy Portraits free Lightroom preset is perfect for you! This preset will transform your portraits into ethereal masterpieces by:

Softening skin tones to create a smooth and flawless appearance
Boosting colors to make them more vibrant and eye-catching
Applying a gentle haze effect to instill a sense of dreaminess and wonder

Whether you're photographing a fairytale-inspired shoot, capturing the magic of a maternity session, or simply want to give your portraits a unique and enchanting look, the Dreamy Portraits preset will help you achieve your creative vision. With this free Lightroom preset, your portraits will look like they've been plucked straight from the pages of a storybook.

10. Nature Lovers

Are you an avid outdoor photographer looking to enhance the natural beauty of your landscape and wildlife shots? The Nature Lovers free Lightroom preset is designed specifically for you! This versatile preset will help you showcase the splendor of nature in your photos by:

Increasing clarity to bring out the intricate details of your subject, whether it's a majestic mountain range or a delicate butterfly
Adjusting color balance to emphasize the rich, earthy tones found in nature
Enhancing contrast and lighting to create a more dynamic and captivating image

With the Nature Lovers preset, you'll be able to capture the awe-inspiring beauty of the great outdoors like never before. Your viewers will feel as if they're standing right there with you, marveling at the breathtaking scenery. So go ahead, grab your camera and this free Lightroom preset, and let's get exploring!

If you're looking to improve your skills in capturing and editing vibrant, colorful images, don't miss the workshop 'How To Photograph & Retouch Bright Colours' by Laurence Philomene. This workshop will provide you with the techniques and tips you need to create stunning, eye-catching photographs that showcase the beauty of bright colors.