When it comes to giving your photos that cinematic, Hollywood-like feel, the right Lightroom presets can make all the difference. Whether you’re a professional photographer or just getting started, these cinematic Lightroom presets can help you achieve stunning results with just a few clicks. In this article, I’ll take you through the top 15 cinematic Lightroom presets that can elevate your photos, making them look like they belong on the big screen.
I’ve used many of these cinematic presets in my projects. They’re incredibly useful for transforming ordinary photos into something extraordinary. I’ve applied these presets in various scenarios, from urban street photography to dreamy, romantic portraits, and they’ve consistently delivered amazing results.
Why Cinematic Color Grading is Important for Photos
Cinematic color grading isn’t just about making your photos look good—it’s about telling a story. The right color grade can evoke emotions, set the mood, and draw the viewer’s attention to specific details. For example, a moody, dark color grade can add tension and drama, while a bright, vibrant grade can create a sense of joy and energy.
Cinematic color grading is especially important for photos that aim to tell a story or create a certain atmosphere. Portraits, street photography, and landscape shots can all benefit from the right cinematic touch. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about enhancing the emotional impact of your images.
The Popularity of Presets Among Professionals
Did you know that over 70% of photographers and production houses use Lightroom presets to streamline their workflow? Presets are widely used not just by individual photographers, but also by big companies and major production houses. They save time and ensure consistency across large projects, making them an essential tool in the creative industry.
What Type of Photos Require Cinematic Color Grading?
Cinematic color grading works best for certain types of photos where mood and storytelling matter most.
Urban and street photography often look more dramatic with cinematic colors. The presets can deepen shadows, highlight city lights, and turn everyday scenes into eye-catching, movie-like moments.
Portrait photography also benefits from these presets as they add depth and emotion to the subject, making the photos feel more powerful and connected to the viewer.
Landscape photography gains a richer, more epic feel with cinematic tones, bringing out the natural colors and adding a film-like quality to wide-open spaces.
Lastly, editorial and fashion photography use cinematic color grading to set a specific mood or match the theme of the shoot, making the images more visually appealing and telling a cohesive story. This makes cinematic color grading a useful tool for many types of photography.
Top 15 Cinematic Lightroom Presets for That Hollywood-Like Look
1. Cinewood – Lightroom Cinematic Presets
Best for: Urban and landscape photography.
Details: This preset collection delivers a dramatic, high-contrast look with deeper shadows and enhanced highlights. It’s perfect for creating a dark, moody atmosphere in photos that require rich, saturated colors. Ideal for travel photographers or those capturing architectural shots where you want the environment to stand out with a cinematic feel.
2. Cinematic Lightroom Presets
Best for: Outdoor and nature photography.
Details: These presets bring raw, earthy colors and a natural, desaturated look, making them excellent for wilderness shots or pastoral landscapes. Perfect for photographers working in outdoor environments who want to highlight the beauty of nature with a gritty, realistic touch.
3. Cinematic Street Action & Lightroom Presets
Best for: Street photography and action shots.
Details: These presets enhance the brightness of city lights and maintain deep shadows, creating a polished, intense look. They’re ideal for fast-paced urban scenes, night photography, or capturing action moments where the contrast between light and shadow creates a dramatic effect.
4. Supremetone Lightroom Presets
Best for: Portraits and urban landscapes.
Details: Known for bold color contrasts, this preset pack works best for achieving retro, neon-soaked aesthetics. It highlights blue, pink, and purple hues, creating a stylish, moody look. It’s especially good for fashion shoots or modern urban settings where color plays an important role.
5. Cinematic Matte Lightroom Presets (Desktop & Mobile)
Best for: Portraits, lifestyle, and tech-related photography.
Details: These presets provide a subtle, matte finish, softening contrast and adding a vintage feel. They’re great for professional portraits or lifestyle shoots where you want to emphasize a softer, more muted tone without affecting the original image.
6. Cinematic Lightroom Presets Desktop and Mobile
By: Artsyno
Best for: Portraits and intimate photography.
Details: These presets are designed for warm, soft tones, making them ideal for everyday moments like family gatherings, couples photography, or intimate portraits. They emphasize skin color and natural light, creating a timeless and gentle look.
7. Cinematic Shoot Lightroom Presets (Desktop & Mobile)
Best for: Urban landscapes and conceptual photography.
Details:Â These presets provide a cool, desaturated color palette, perfect for creating a dystopian, sci-fi edge in photography. They work especially well for night shots or cityscapes that need a futuristic, muted look, enhancing blues and greys to set the mood.
8. Airy Scene Lightroom Presets (Desktop & Mobile)
Best for: Outdoor and lifestyle photography.
Details: With light, airy, and vibrant tones, these presets bring out bright colors and create a whimsical, romantic feel. They’re best for outdoor scenes like weddings, family photos, or travel shots that need a cheerful, dreamy atmosphere with enhanced blues, pinks, and yellows.
9. 12 Cinematic Vintage Lightroom Presets
Best for: Portrait, fashion, and editorial photography.
Details: These vintage-inspired presets add soft, pastel tones, giving photos a quirky, nostalgic feel. Ideal for creating timeless images with a retro vibe, they work particularly well for styled portrait shoots or editorial content where a delicate, yet colourful look is desired.
10. Blue Cinematic Street Presets (Mobile & Desktop)
Best for: Night-time urban and street photography.
Details: These presets enhance deep blues and cool colors, making them perfect for dramatic, nighttime cityscapes or street shots. They’re ideal for photographers capturing bustling city life at night, where the interplay between light and shadow is important.
11. Cinematic Street 4 Lightroom Presets
Best for: Urban and street photography.
Details: These presets focus on enhancing shadows, deep contrast and muted tones, perfect for creating a futuristic, noir feel in your city and street photography. Best used for conceptual shots or gritty, urban environments where a darker mood is desired.
12. London – Cinematic Lightroom Presets
Best for: Cityscapes and architectural photography.
Details: These presets offer balanced color grading with improved clarity and contrast. They are ideal for capturing the grandeur of city architecture both day and night. Perfect for photographers who want to create a sleek, sophisticated look in their city or travel photos.
13. Wong Kar-wai Inspired Lightroom Presets
Best for: Romantic portraits and artistic urban photography.
Details: These presets to create a nostalgic, dreamy atmosphere with rich, saturated colors and soft lighting, making them perfect for romantic portrait sessions or artistic street photography where emotion and mood are essential.
14. Cinematic Film Look Lightroom Presets
Best for: Action-packed scenes and outdoor landscapes.
Details: These presets simulate high-contrast visuals, perfect for creating an intense, sandy look in action or landscape photography. They enhance the harshness of desert-like tones or adventure environments, making them ideal for high-energy outdoor shots.
15. Cinematic Lifestyle Lightroom Presets
Best for: Lifestyle and everyday photography.
Details: These presets offer a balanced look with natural tones and soft contrast, making them ideal for lifestyle photography. Whether capturing candid moments or documenting everyday life, these presets add a cinematic touch without losing the reality of the scene.
Conclusion
Cinematic Lightroom presets are game-changers for photographers who want to add a professional, Hollywood-like touch to their photos. Whether you’re capturing the dusty streets of a city or the soft glow of a romantic sunset, there’s a cinematic preset that can help you achieve your vision. By using these presets, you’re not just improving your photos – you’re telling a story, creating an atmosphere, and drawing your audience into the world you’ve captured.
Remember, the key to using these presets effectively is to experiment and find the presets that best suit your style and the mood you want to convey. Enjoy editing!