I. Planning & Inspiration:
1. Define Your Style:
* Mood: Do you prefer light and airy, moody and dramatic, vintage, warm, cool, or something else? Think about the overall feeling you want to evoke.
* Color Palette: What colors do you want to emphasize or de-emphasize? Do you prefer natural colors, desaturated tones, vibrant hues, or specific color grading (e.g., teal and orange)?
* Contrast & Sharpness: Do you like high contrast, low contrast, soft, sharp, or something in between?
* Examples: Find portraits you admire online or from other photographers. Analyze what aspects you like about them (lighting, colors, tones, etc.). Use these as inspiration, not as exact copies.
2. Consider Your Subject:
* Skin Tone: Presets need to work well on a range of skin tones. Start by focusing on a few common skin tones you frequently photograph.
* Lighting Conditions: Think about the different lighting situations you shoot in (natural light, studio light, golden hour, overcast, etc.). You may need different presets for different lighting scenarios.
* Subject Age: Consider if your presets need to be adjusted for children vs. adults (e.g., smoother skin on children).
* Genre: Portrait genres like beauty, lifestyle, headshots, and environmental portraiture can call for different editing styles.
II. The Editing Process (Using Lightroom Classic or Lightroom CC):
1. Start with a Good Base Image:
* Choose a well-exposed and focused RAW image. This will give you the most flexibility.
* Apply basic lens corrections (profile corrections) to remove distortion and vignetting.
2. Basic Panel:
* White Balance: Set this first. Choose a preset (e.g., "As Shot," "Auto," "Daylight," "Cloudy") or use the eyedropper tool to click on a neutral gray area in the image.
* Exposure: Adjust for proper brightness. Aim for a balanced histogram.
* Contrast: Increase for more drama, decrease for a softer look.
* Highlights: Recover blown-out highlights.
* Shadows: Open up shadows to reveal detail.
* Whites: Set the white point, making sure you don't clip any important highlights.
* Blacks: Set the black point, making sure you don't clip any important shadows.
* Clarity: Add subtle clarity for definition, or reduce it for a softer, dreamier feel.
* Vibrance/Saturation: Vibrance is generally preferred for portraits as it boosts muted colors without oversaturating skin tones. Saturation increases the intensity of all colors equally.
3. Tone Curve:
* This is where you add subtle tonal shifts and mood.
* Point Curve (RGB Channel):
* S-Curve: Increases contrast (darkens shadows, brightens highlights).
* Flattened S-Curve: Reduces contrast (brightens shadows, darkens highlights slightly).
* Linear Curve: Neutral (no change).
* Experiment with different points on the curve to adjust specific tonal ranges.
* Channel Specific Curves (Red, Green, Blue):
* These are used for color grading.
* Raising the curve in a specific channel in the shadows will add that color to the shadows.
* Lowering the curve in a specific channel in the highlights will add the complementary color to the highlights. (E.g., Lowering the blue channel in the highlights adds yellow).
4. HSL/Color Panel:
* Hue: Shifts the color. Subtle adjustments can make a big difference. Experiment with orange and yellow hues to affect skin tones.
* Saturation: Adjusts the intensity of colors. Be careful not to oversaturate. Desaturate blues and purples in portraits sometimes to avoid unwanted color casts.
* Luminance: Adjusts the brightness of colors. Brighten skin tones (orange, yellow) to make them glow. Darken blues in the sky for more impact.
* Color Grading: Add specific color tones to the shadows, midtones, and highlights. This is where you can achieve the "teal and orange" look or other specific color palettes.
5. Detail Panel:
* Sharpening: Apply subtle sharpening. Masking can help prevent sharpening in areas like skin.
* Noise Reduction: Reduce luminance and color noise, especially in shadows. Be careful not to overdo it, as it can soften the image too much.
6. Effects Panel:
* Grain: Add a subtle amount of grain for a vintage or film-like look.
* Vignetting: Add a slight vignette to draw attention to the subject.
* Dehaze: Be very careful with dehaze on portraits. A small amount can add punch, but too much looks artificial.
7. Calibration Panel:
* This panel is often overlooked, but it can have a significant impact on colors.
* Adjust the Red, Green, and Blue primary hues and saturation to fine-tune the overall color balance.
III. Saving and Testing Your Preset:
1. Save the Preset:
* Once you're happy with your edits, go to the Develop module.
* Click the "+" icon in the Presets panel and choose "Create Preset."
* Give your preset a descriptive name (e.g., "Warm Portrait - Natural Light," "Moody Black & White").
* Important: Choose which settings to include in the preset. Generally, you should *not* include:
* White Balance (as this varies greatly from image to image)
* Exposure (as this also varies)
* Local Adjustments (Healing, Cloning, Adjustment Brushes, Gradients, Radial Filters)
* Place the preset in a relevant group.
2. Test on Various Images:
* Apply the preset to a variety of portraits with different skin tones, lighting conditions, and subjects.
* Adjust the Exposure, White Balance, and any local adjustments *after* applying the preset.
* Note any common adjustments you need to make after applying the preset. This will help you refine it.
3. Refine and Iterate:
* Based on your testing, go back and modify the preset. Adjust the settings in the Develop module, and then right-click on the preset in the Presets panel and choose "Update with Current Settings."
* Repeat the testing and refinement process until you are satisfied with the results.
IV. Tips for Creative and Effective Presets:
* Subtlety is Key: Don't go overboard. A good preset should enhance the image, not overwhelm it. It should be a starting point, not a final product.
* Build in Layers: You don't need to include *every* adjustment in a single preset. You can create a series of presets that build on each other. For example:
* Base Preset: Basic tone and color adjustments.
* Sharpening Preset: Adds sharpening.
* Color Grading Preset: Adds a specific color palette.
* Experiment: Don't be afraid to try new things. Push the boundaries and see what you can create.
* Skin Tone Focus: Prioritize natural and pleasing skin tones. Orange and yellow hues are your friends. Use the HSL panel to refine these.
* Contrast for Mood: Higher contrast can add drama, while lower contrast creates a softer, more ethereal look.
* Black and White Conversions: Experiment with different Black and White Mix presets for unique looks. Use the Tone Curve to fine-tune the tones.
* Consider Different Color Profiles: Try different camera profiles in the Camera Calibration panel for distinct color renderings.
* Organization: Use descriptive names and organized folders to keep your presets manageable.
* Learn from Others: Analyze the settings of existing presets (both free and paid) to learn new techniques.
Key Settings to Pay Attention to for Portraits:
* Orange and Yellow Hues, Saturation, and Luminance (Skin Tones)
* Tone Curve (Overall Tone and Mood)
* Color Grading (Shadows, Midtones, Highlights)
* Clarity (Careful Use)
* Sharpening and Noise Reduction
By following these steps and tips, you can create a library of unique and effective Lightroom Develop Presets that will help you achieve your desired portrait style. Remember to be patient, experiment, and have fun!