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There’s nothing like 20/20 vision, but unfortunately, cameras still can’t magically transport viewers into the world of our photos. To get there, we need editing. There’s a good reason why it’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words. You can tell an entire story without writing a single line.
Typically, photographers use Lightroom to give their photos extra oomph or to convey a specific atmosphere they felt while on location. But it’s tricky. Often, it includes countless hours of tweaking the settings and then reapplying the effects to every photo in the set. And if you’re shooting nature or specific subjects in high definition, you have to keep an eye on settings throughout the process.
The HDR effect (High Dynamic Range photography) involves blending multiple photos of the same scene with different exposures to create a single image with greater brightness and contrast range. It’s used to capture details in both the shadows and highlights of scenes with high contrast, such as landscapes and architecture.
Or you can simply use these Lightroom presets to add the HDR effect to your photos. These Lightroom presets will help you strike the perfect balance between highlights and shadows. They will sharpen and give structure to your images so that every detail stands out, and you can truly transport your viewers, clients, and followers into that magical moment.
You might also like our collection of HDR Effect Photoshop Actions.
What is the HDR Effect in Photography?
HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a technique used in photography to capture a wider range of detail and light in a single image, especially in scenes with high contrast between bright highlights and dark shadows.
In a typical photograph, the camera’s sensor can only capture a limited range of tones, resulting in overexposed highlights or underexposed shadows in high-contrast scenes. HDR photography involves taking multiple exposures of the same scene at different exposure levels – one properly exposed, one underexposed, and one overexposed. These images are combined using an application, like Lightroom, to create a single image with a broader dynamic range, showcasing details in the highlights and shadows.
The process includes merging the multiple exposures and applying tone mapping techniques to compress the wide range of tones into a viewable format while preserving as much detail as possible. The result is a photograph that appears more balanced and closer to how the human eye perceives the scene.
HDR photography can produce realistic images that capture the full range of light, as well as artistic interpretations that emphasize contrasts and colors. It’s commonly used in landscape photography, architecture, and any situation where the lighting conditions present challenges in capturing details across the entire scene.
Our Favorite HDR Effect Lightroom Preset Collection
Pro HDR Collection Lightroom Presets
Get HDR shots, no matter the weather. This professional collection of Lightroom presets for adding HDR effects to your photos easily adapts to different weather and shooting conditions and guarantees smooth and structured results. You’ll get 11 presets that you can fine tune to achieve the desired effects.
Top HDR Effect Lightroom Presets
10 HDR Presets for Lightroom
Bring light (and attention) to every corner of your photos with these ten HDR Lightroom presets. You’ll get various presets for enhancing your photos, no matter the camera settings, and creating gorgeous effects. From natural presets to punchy and surrealist presets, you’ll get the whole package!
20 HDR Lightroom Presets Vol.1
If HDR is your go-to photography style, this collection is precisely what you need! Featuring 20 high-quality HDR presets for Lightroom, you can use this preset collection for a variety of shoots. They work great for a variety of photos and conditions, and bring out the best in your shots.
50 HDR Lightroom Preset Collection
HDR for landscape is easy, but what about portrait and lifestyle HDR? Not a problem with this HDR Lightroom preset collection. Featuring 50 HDR presets, this collection is excellent for adding natural brightness to your photos and making sure that every detail is clear. Edit your way to absolute perfection!
14 Pro HDR Lightroom Presets
Get professional and authentic shots with these 14 HDR Lightroom presets. They’re perfect for pro photography, as well as blogs, social media, and marketing materials. You can easily fine tune the presets to achieve the desired effects and then apply them to all the photos in your set.
8 Pro HDR Lightroom Presets
Bring out the details beautifully and subtly with this collection of 8 professional HDR presets for Lightroom. They give you subtle and natural results that are perfect for portfolios, magazines, social media, and more! Let’s amaze your audience!
Faded HDR LightRoom Effect
Create a unique atmosphere with this faded HDR Lightroom effect. Perfect for portrait and fashion photography, as well as lifestyle and landscape shots that convey a distinctive atmosphere, this preset is a stellar and professional option.
PRO HDR Premium Lightroom Presets
Get stunning and highly-detailed results with these professional and premium Lightroom presets that will give your photos the HDR effect. The collection consists of 5 presets that you can easily customize to achieve the desired effect in line with your unique style. Bring out the details – and the applause!
HDR Studio Vol. 1 Lightroom Presets
Perfect for product and professional photography, these HDR Lightroom presets are a stellar choice. You’ll get a high dynamic range with these 20 presets that leverage micro-contrast to provide you with detailed photos that contain none of the elements destructive to aesthetics, such as halos and noise.
15 HDR Pro Lightroom Presets
Bring the atmosphere of the shot a little closer to your viewers, clients, and followers with these 15 HDR Lightroom presets. Perfect for professional landscape, lifestyle, travel, and nature photography, these presets are highly customizable and incredibly easy to use. You’ll get beautiful results with half the work!
15 HDR Lightroom Presets Vol.2
Breathe fresh life into your photos! Perfect for graphic designers and professional photographers, these premium HDR Lightroom presets offer 15 options to enhance the details of your photos, and correct wrong exposure and imperfect shooting conditions. From smooth to dramatic, there are plenty of stunning HDR effects to work with.
HDR Studio Vol.2 Lightroom Presets
Add vibrancy and dynamism to your photos with this HDR Lightroom preset collection! This collection offers 20 professional presets that will add the HDR effect to your standard photos. It’s perfect for urban, nature, travel, and other types of photography where you want to convey an authentic atmosphere.
How to Install HDR Lightroom Presets
Installing HDR Lightroom presets simplifies the process of creating high dynamic range effects in your photos, making them pop with vibrant details and a dynamic look. Here’s how to install HDR Lightroom presets:
- Emphasis on Contrast & Composition: Black and white photography puts a strong emphasis on the interplay of light and shadow. Contrast becomes a crucial element in creating impactful and visually striking images.
- Timeless & Classic Aesthetics: Black and white images have a timeless and classic appeal that can evoke a sense of nostalgia and elegance. They focus more on shapes, textures, and emotions rather than being influenced by color.
- Simplicity & Minimalism: Without the distraction of color, black and white photography often highlights the subject’s form, lines, and details. This can lead to a sense of simplicity and minimalism in compositions.
- Drama & Mood: The absence of color can create a sense of drama and mood, as the photographer relies on tonal contrast to convey emotions and atmosphere.
- Storytelling & Expression: Black and white photography can enhance storytelling by directing the viewer’s attention to the subject’s emotions, expressions, and interactions. It encourages viewers to focus on the essence of the scene.
- Technical Considerations: Photographers need to consider elements like lighting, contrast, and texture more intensively in black and white photography, as color isn’t present to provide visual cues.
- Digital and Film: Both digital cameras and film can be used for black and white photography. In the digital age, with an application like Lightroom using presets, you can shoot in color and convert to black and white during post-processing.
Gorgeous HDR Shots at Your Fingertips
Get better-looking photos with these HDR Lightroom presets! Forget about underexposed (or overexposed) photos that don’t show the details making up the whole atmosphere. And while you’re at it, make some room in your calendar because you won’t be wasting days trying to get the perfect results anymore.
With these Lightroom presets, the world of gorgeous HDR shots is at your fingertips. All you have to do is download the HDR preset you’ve been eyeing, apply it to your photos, and presto! You’ve got yourself a gorgeous shot!
No matter if you plan on showing your photos in an exhibit, magazine, or on social media, these presets will enhance their details. Now, we’re not saying they’ll instantly launch you into stardom, but hey! You know that every good photographer swears by their presets.