CREATE THE PERFECT PHOTO AESTHETIC WITH PRESETS
The most frequently asked question I get is, what do I use to edit my photos and video content. Today I’m going to share my 3 Steps to Create the Perfect Photo Aesthetic using presets and how I edit my photos. There are just a few key components to create the perfect aesthetic for you and your feed, and I’m going to outline them below in only a few segments.
Photography
First up, your base. Every great photo begins with a good photo base. To obtain that, you need to ensure that you are taking quality photos. That doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy the most expensive camera equipment; it just means that whatever you use to capture images needs to be crisp. I shoot with my Canon EOS R, and a 35 mm 1.4 lens, OR I shoot with my photographers, who uses a Canon 5D Mark 4. However, you can capture amazing imagery by simply using your iPhone or cell phone with a quality camera.
Editing Software
Second, the editing software that you use is also incredibly important. I use Adobe Lightroom. I have both the laptop and the mobile version. However, I use the mobile version most frequently. In this app, you can make a ton of modifications to your images, with everything ranging from exposure to correcting blemishes. There are TONS of tutorials that you can find on YouTube to walk you through this editing application with ease. Another app that I use is VSCO. I used to use this heavily to create a very moody feed theme. It’s a great introduction to presets, which I will be discussing next.
Presets
Last but certainly not least, the easiest and best way to create the most cohesive feed IMO is to utilize presets. Presets are essentially pre-configured settings and adjustments that produce a specific look or vibe that you may want or desire to apply to a picture. In short, it’s an editing cheat code. Once you determine your feed’s aesthetic and vibe, these can be used somewhat like a click and go. They usually require minimal manipulation IF you tend to shoot the same style. For instance, if you manage to shoot more under-exposed (Darker moodier, less exposed, bright images), then you would use presets that may bring a little more brightness to your photo or vice versa if you tend to shoot more over-exposed (Brighter, more washed out images). My feed aesthetic has changed a few times over the past few years. It went from no real aesthetic to a super cool-toned and moody vibe to the most recent, bolder, and warmer vibe. You can literally buy presets from ANYWHERE these days but finding the perfect preset for you isn’t quite as simple as it seems. It does matter which you use. For me, the most important factor is how my skin tone is displayed in each photo. I always want my skin tone and true color to be shown as much as possible. Being a highly melanated black woman, I often struggle with presets that either washes me completely out or make me look orange; NEITHER are a good look. LOL, some of my favorite presets are listed below. Some are before and after images, with links to where you can purchase them.
Before and After. I used the Warm and Bold Preset by Hannah Schweiss Photography
Hannah Schweiss Photography Presets. This bundle can be purchased on Etsy and costs $65, and you get a total of 48 diverse preset options. (Hannah has been my primary photographer for almost three years)
These are the Cool and Bright presets for Dark Skin
Presets for Lightroom is an app (on iPhone) with a TON of presets AND actions to modify your photos. You can pay monthly or pay for lifetime usage, which I believe is roughly $30.
These are just a few tips. I’ll be sharing more along the way. Next up I may discuss my camera equipment in greater detail and some of it’s specific uses. Be sure to follow along.