FAQ: Is Buying Presets Worth It?
Is buying presets worth it? Kind of a weird question for a preset company to ask, right? We certainly think it’s worth it— but why? We’re going to go through all the pros and cons of buying and using presets so you can make your own decision by the end of the article!
Image by Thomas Tozzi
Edited with Quest 48 LXCV
PRO: Preset creators are incredibly skilled
Image by Francesco Rossi
Edited with Quest 48 LXCV
Preset developers are highly skilled and knowledgeable about all the ins and outs of Adobe Lightroom, including areas of photo editing that most people don’t even touch when they edit their photos from scratch. For example:
Creative Profiles - Creative Profiles can significantly enhance the character and customization of presets. However, to create a preset that utilizes these profiles, you first need to create the profile itself in ACR. Not very many presets come with these profiles, but all of Archipelago Presets and Archipelago Quest presets do, because our preset creators want to use every tool at their disposal to develop Lightroom presets our customers will love.
Developing with multiple camera file types - In order to create presets that will work for all the different camera file types, you need to actually have those files on hand to check and recheck your preset to make sure nothing looks wrong. Preset developers have a pool of files from Nikon, Sony, Canon, Fuji, and other cameras to test their work and make sure it will work for all photographers.
Variety of skin tones, lighting, and colors - Presets are developed using images taken in a variety of lighting conditions, with each color considered, and checked to ensure they will work with different skin tones. Again, this is so they’ll work for all photographers.
Con: You might not need presets if you’re proficient in Lightroom editing
If you’re already a master at editing photos in Lightroom, you might not need presets to edit your photos, or you could create your own to edit your photos. If you know all the ins and outs of all the modules, panels, and sliders in Lightroom and can edit your photos in all the styles you desire, you probably don’t need to purchase presets.
Myth vs reality
We want to address the myth that using presets is “cheating” or “doesn’t make you a real photographer” (yes we’ve seen those toxic comments). There’s a myth that relying on presets without learning the why behind the settings might slow your growth as an editor. We think it’s important to understand how sliders work so you can adapt presets to your needs. If you aren’t aware that certain Lightroom features exist, how would you know how to use them? You can learn to use Lightroom and get better at editing while using presets that utilize all of Lightroom’s features— figure out what settings you don’t like in a preset, where they are in Lightroom. and change them!
PRO: Find a consistent, signature style
Image by Nina Goks
Edited with Quest 48 LXCV
Finding that “Holy Grail” preset, the one that fits all your photos and makes them look the way you see them in your head… that feeling is pure magic. Presets can help you find your signature style and create a consistent portfolio.
That said, that consistency can come from using multiple presets (especially if they’re all from the same developers or company). Sometimes, it takes more than one preset to work with every lighting or color scenario you’re faced with.
Con: Style Fatigue
Even when you find that signature style, if many other photographers are also using the same trendy preset or editing style, it can be challenging to distinguish your work from theirs. If you closely follow editing styles, your images may become dated and lose their uniqueness.
Remember when everyone was editing green grass to be gray? Yeah, we’d like to forget that time in photography trends, too.
Pro: “One-click” Edits and tools
Presets offer the ability to edit some images in “one-click”— that is to say, once you’ve corrected your exposure and white balance, clicking on a base preset gets you close to the edit you envision. Subsequent clicks could add tools or additional presets from the same preset collection or others you own, meaning most of your edit is “click, click, done”! Then, you can sync or copy + paste your edits across the session, and most of the work is done! Of course, not every single image will be that way, but if you nail your lighting and settings in-camera, one click of a preset can get you close!
Some people love tweaking their preset edits until they fit a more unique and personalized style, so in this case, tweaking is a “pro”. You can save your tweaked version of the preset by creating a new preset, or tweak from session to session based on what you need for each scenario.
Image by Thomas Tozzi
Edited with Quest 48 LXCV
Con: Tweaking
Yes, I know we said tweaking is a “pro” right above, but if you hate fine-tuning your edits and wish everything really was a one-click solution all the time, tweaking would be a “con”, for you. Presets often require tweaking to suit your image’s lighting, colors, and subject, and some buyers expect a perfect one-click edit and feel disappointed when it doesn't match the promo images.
Promo images are often from professional photographers working with ideal locations, neutral clothing, perfect lighting, and experienced models. In contrast, sometimes our “normal” images come with color casts, harsh light, or clothing color choices that aren’t ideal. Presets aren’t usually a one-click solution for every single photo, and if that drives you nuts, they might not be for you.
Pro: Price
While purchasing high-quality presets can get expensive, there are tons of “pros” to be considered:
With the Quest Subscription, you get a new Quest preset each month for a low price. It’s a great way to try out different editing styles you might never have attempted, get new presets and tools for your editing lineup, and enjoy a low-cost solution to any… um… preset collecting habits you may have (cough, not that I have a preset collection problem… cough).
When you purchase presets from companies like Archipelago, you can rest assured knowing that your purchase also comes with TONS of support, from the support team you can contact with any issues or questions, to our lively Facebook Group, the Archipelago Collective. You can even try out preset edits in the group before buying to know which one(s) will work for you!
Money spent on presets can be written off as business expenses on your taxes!
Con: Price
Finding the perfect preset for your photos is priceless, right? Well, no, not for everyone, and money spent on presets can add up and get expensive. High-quality preset packs can be pricey, and it’s easy to fall into a habit of buying multiple sets in search of “the one” that fits your style. If you’ve been buying every preset under the sun from all different companies and not finding the one that works for you, it can get very frustrating.
We’ll leave it up to you to come to your own conclusion on whether buying presets is worth it— it’s such a personal decision for you, your budget, and your workflow. Hopefully, the above pros and cons have given you more to think about on the subject!