If you’ve ever thought presets were the magical one-click fix to make all your photos perfect, let’s clear that up! Presets are amazing, but they’re not designed to be a “set it and forget it” solution.

Why Presets Aren’t Magic Buttons
Here’s the thing: every photo you take is different. Lighting changes, the colours in the scene are different, so a preset isn’t going to work perfectly for every single shot. It’s not like you click the preset, and boom, instant perfection! That’s because presets are more like a jumping-off point than a final edit. You still need to tweak them depending on the photo’s unique starting point.

The Fun of Experimenting
One of the coolest things about presets is how they let you play around with your style.

Think of them as a way to “try on” different looks for your photos without spending hours in Lightroom. You can quickly see what different tones or vibes would look like on your image and then run with the one that feels right. It’s like a wardrobe for your photos—try this, try that—until you land on something you love.

Time-Saving, But You’ll Still Need to Tweak
Presets do save time, which is a huge bonus when you’ve got a batch of holiday or family photos waiting to be edited.

But after applying a preset, you’ll still want to go in and make a few adjustments, like tweaking the exposure, contrast, or warmth. It’s those little custom touches that bring your image to life and make it truly yours.

Final Thoughts
So, while presets aren’t a one-click miracle, they are brilliant tools to speed up your workflow and help you experiment with your photo style.

With a little customisation, they can give your photos that beautiful, polished look. Plus, playing around with them is half the fun!

Check out the CLG Editing Presets for mobile AND desktop –  right here!