Lightroom Presets Color Trends in 2024: What’s Hot This Year
Photography and editing trends evolve constantly, and in 2024, Adobe Lightroom continues to be a favorite tool for both amateur and professional photographers. One of the key features that photographers turn to is the use of presets — predefined settings that instantly transform the look and feel of an image with a single click. This year, the spotlight is on some exciting color trends that are shaping the way photos are edited and shared.
In this post, we’ll dive into the top Lightroom preset color trends for 2024, giving you insights into how to enhance your visual storytelling and stay ahead of the curve.
1. Cinematic Hues: The Power of Subtle Drama
Cinematic color grading continues to dominate in Lightroom Presets Color Trends 2024, but with a twist. While deep contrasts and moody tones are still popular, the trend leans towards subtler, more nuanced hues. Think soft greens, muted blues, and warm highlights that give photos an immersive film-like quality without overpowering the subject. These presets often mimic the aesthetic of high-end films, perfect for portrait photographers who want to add a touch of drama and elegance to their images.
Cinematic Lightroom presets are ideal for editorial shots, wedding photography, or travel images, creating a sense of depth and storytelling. In 2024, they’re lighter, softer, and more emotionally resonant, with an emphasis on realism.
2. Vintage Washed Tones: Nostalgia in Soft Focus
Nostalgia is making a big comeback in 2024, and it’s evident in the rising popularity of vintage-inspired Lightroom presets. These presets feature desaturated, pastel-like tones that wash over the image, evoking the look of old film photographs. The trend draws from the aesthetic of the ’70s and ’80s, with warm browns, faded yellows, and muted oranges.
What’s different this year is the fusion of retro with modern crispness — while the colors are faded and dreamy, the images retain sharpness and clarity. Vintage washed presets are particularly favored for lifestyle photography, where the goal is to convey warmth, intimacy, and timelessness.
3. Earthy and Organic: Nature’s Palette
Lightroom Presets Color Trends With the growing emphasis on sustainability and a return to nature, earthy tones are defining Lightroom color trends in 2024. These presets use a blend of muted greens, browns, soft oranges, and deep blues to give photos a natural and grounded feel. Ideal for outdoor photography, these presets enhance the environment’s natural beauty, making landscapes and nature shots appear even more authentic.
This trend is not just about color, but also texture — presets that add subtle grain or a slight matte finish to mimic organic imperfections are highly sought after. It’s all about connecting with nature while embracing simplicity and calmness in photography.
4. Vibrant Minimalism: Bold Yet Simple
Minimalism remains a trend in photography, but in 2024, it’s infused with a new sense of boldness. Vibrant minimalism combines clean, uncluttered compositions with bursts of color. Think bright pops of yellow, turquoise, or coral set against a white or neutral background. This trend is especially popular in fashion photography and product photography, where color is used to draw attention to specific elements without overwhelming the entire image.
These Lightroom presets are all about balance — keeping the edit minimal, but ensuring that when color is used, it grabs the viewer’s attention instantly.
5. Faded Neon: A Fresh Take on Urban Edits
2024 is seeing a surge in urban photography inspired by neon lights and cityscapes, but with a twist. Faded neon presets offer a softer, more subdued version of the traditional high-saturation neon colors. Instead of stark contrasts, these presets blend pinks, purples, and electric blues into a dreamy, almost pastel palette that still feels vibrant but more accessible and modern.
These presets work best for nighttime cityscapes, street photography, and even fashion photography set against urban backdrops. The faded neon look is a great way to add a contemporary, futuristic vibe while maintaining an artistic flair.
6. Monochrome with a Twist: Creative Black and White
Black and white photography never goes out of style, but in 2024, it’s getting a creative overhaul. Monochrome presets now often come with subtle tints — a hint of blue, sepia, or green — that add depth to traditional black and white images. This creates a more dynamic and modern take on the classic style.
These presets work well for fine art photography, portraiture, and architectural shots where texture and shape are emphasized. The addition of subtle color tones adds a layer of interest without detracting from the simplicity of monochrome.
7. Vibrant Pastels: Soft But Bold
Pastels aren’t just for spring anymore — in 2024, they’re being embraced year-round. Vibrant pastel presets mix the softness of pastel colors with a bold vibrancy that makes them pop. The result is a dreamy, ethereal look with a touch of whimsy, perfect for portrait photography, fashion shoots, and lifestyle imagery.
These presets often include lavender, soft coral, powder blue, and mint green, offering a light, airy feeling that’s ideal for capturing moments of joy and playfulness.
How to Make the Most of 2024’s Preset Trends
To maximize the impact of these Lightroom Presets Color Trends, it’s important to consider your personal style and the message you want to convey through your photography. Here are a few tips:
- Experiment with Multiple Trends: Don’t be afraid to mix and match. For example, combining earthy tones with a hint of vibrant pastel can create a fresh take on landscape photography.
- Adjust to Fit Your Aesthetic: Presets are a starting point. Fine-tune the exposure, contrast, and saturation to align with your vision.
- Be Consistent Across Your Work: Whether you’re curating an Instagram feed or working on a portfolio, try to maintain a consistent color scheme to establish a cohesive brand identity.
Conclusion
2024 is a year of balancing boldness with subtlety, nostalgia with modernity, and nature with minimalism. These Lightroom preset color trends offer a wide range of creative possibilities for photographers looking to elevate their work. Whether you’re drawn to the cinematic, the nostalgic, or the vibrant, there’s a preset trend this year to suit every style and mood.
So go ahead, dive into these trends, and make your photos stand out in 2024!
