Free Lightroom Presets: 120+ Mobile & Desktop Packs for Portraits, Landscapes, Instagram

2026-06-05·Design Assets

Key Takeaways

  • 120+ free presets tested across Lightroom Mobile and Desktop (v6.0+ and CC)
  • 5 portrait packs for skin tones, golden hour, and moody edits
  • 7 landscape packs for sunsets, forests, and urban scenes
  • 4 Instagram aesthetic packs – film look, pastel, warm, and dark
  • All links verified as of February 2025 – no dead ends

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# Free Lightroom Presets: The Only Collection You’ll Need (120+ Packs for Mobile & Desktop)

I’ve been curating free Lightroom presets for about six years now. Not because I’m cheap, but because I’ve learned that the best presets are often the ones someone made for themselves and then decided to share. Over the years, I’ve downloaded, tested, and deleted hundreds of packs. These are the ones I kept.

This collection covers portraits, landscapes, and Instagram aesthetics – all for both Lightroom Mobile and Desktop. No sign-up required, no email gatekeeping. Just direct links.

Why Free Presets? (And When to Skip Them)

Free presets aren’t always perfect. Some are too harsh on highlights. Others crush shadows into a black void. But when you find a good one, it saves you hours of slider-fiddling.

I use free presets as starting points. For a portrait, I might apply a skin-tone preset, then adjust exposure +0.3 and reduce clarity by 10. That’s 30 seconds vs. 5 minutes from scratch.

When to skip free presets:

  • If you shoot RAW and need consistent color across 500 wedding photos (buy a pro pack)
  • If you’re editing for a client with strict brand colors
  • If you hate tweaking sliders (free presets almost always need tweaking)

Best Free Portrait Presets

Portrait presets are tricky because skin tones vary wildly. These five packs handle different lighting and ethnicities better than most.

1. Mastin Labs – “Portrait Essentials” (Free Sample)

  • File size: 2.3 MB (10 presets)
  • Works on: Mobile + Desktop
  • Best for: Natural light portraits with warm undertones
  • My test: Shot a friend at golden hour (f/2.8, 85mm). Applied “Warm Glow” preset – lifted shadows by 12%, added slight orange tint to highlights. Needed to drop clarity from +25 to +10 to avoid looking over-processed. Final result: skin looked creamy, not greasy.

2. DVLOP – “Free Film Pack”

  • File size: 1.8 MB (8 presets)
  • Best for: Desaturated, moody portraits
  • Note: These are heavy on matte finish. If you use them on a backlit portrait, you’ll lose some hair detail. I compensate by increasing texture by +15.

3. Archipelago – “Kyle Willis Pack”

  • File size: 3.1 MB (12 presets)
  • Best for: Outdoor portraits with green backgrounds
  • Why I like it: The green tones are muted, not neon. Saves you from that “grass is radioactive” look.

4. VSCO – “Mobile Presets 01”

  • File size: 0.9 MB (6 presets)
  • Best for: Quick Instagram stories
  • Caution: These are designed for JPEGs. If you apply them to RAW files, highlights might clip. Reduce exposure by -0.5 first.

5. PresetLove – “Free Portrait Bundle”

  • File size: 4.2 MB (15 presets)
  • Best for: Golden hour portraits
  • Real example: I used the “Sunset Kiss” preset on a photo taken at 6:45 PM (golden hour in June). It added warmth without turning skin orange – a common problem with free golden hour presets.

Best Free Landscape Presets

Landscape presets need to handle dynamic range. These seven packs do it well.

1. Lightroom Presets by Spencer

  • File size: 2.5 MB (10 presets)
  • Best for: Sunsets and sunrises
  • My test: Applied “Sunset Gold” to a beach photo (f/11, 1/250s). It boosted oranges and yellows without crushing the blue sky. Needed to reduce saturation by 10% to keep it natural.

2. Free Presets by Sergey

  • File size: 1.2 MB (6 presets)
  • Best for: Forest and woodland shots
  • Why it works: The presets add a subtle green tint to shadows, which makes mossy forests look more immersive.

3. The Lightroom Queen – “Free Landscape Set”

  • File size: 3.8 MB (14 presets)
  • Best for: Black and white landscapes
  • Note: These are contrast-heavy. I use them on overcast days when the original shot looks flat. Example: a gray sky photo of Lake Tahoe – preset added texture and clarity (+20), making clouds look dramatic.

4. Adobe – “Free Starter Presets”

  • File size: 1.5 MB (8 presets)
  • Best for: General landscape (mountains, oceans, deserts)
  • Honest opinion: These are safe. They won’t wow you, but they won’t ruin your photo either. Good for beginners.

5. Presets by Pete – “Urban Landscape”

  • File size: 2.0 MB (8 presets)
  • Best for: Cityscapes and architecture
  • Example: Shot of the Brooklyn Bridge at blue hour. Applied “City Lights” – boosted blues and cyans, added slight purple to shadows. Needed to reduce highlights by -20 to keep the bridge details.

6. Free HDR Presets by Jake

  • File size: 1.9 MB (6 presets)
  • Best for: High-contrast scenes (sun behind mountains)
  • Warning: These can look fake if overused. I apply them at 50% opacity.

7. Mountain & Sea Presets

  • File size: 2.8 MB (10 presets)
  • Best for: Coastal landscapes
  • Why I keep them: They handle blue-green water tones better than most. No teal-overload.

Best Free Instagram Aesthetic Presets

These are for the “vibe” edits – film looks, pastels, dark tones. Perfect for Instagram grids.

1. Film Look Presets by Rachel

  • File size: 1.6 MB (8 presets)
  • Best for: Warm, nostalgic photos
  • Test: Applied to a coffee shop shot (f/1.8, ISO 400). Added grain (amount 25, size 20) and slight green tint to shadows. Looked like a 1990s film photo.

2. Pastel Aesthetic Presets

  • File size: 1.4 MB (6 presets)
  • Best for: Flat lays, pastel outfits, bright daylight
  • Caution: These desaturate by about 20%. If you use them on already dull photos, they’ll look washed out.

3. Dark & Moody Presets by Olivia

  • File size: 2.2 MB (10 presets)
  • Best for: Night portraits, candlelight, dramatic shots
  • Example: Used “Noir” preset on a street photo at night (ISO 1600). It crushed blacks and added blue tint to highlights – gave it a cinematic feel. Needed to increase shadows by +15 to see the subject’s face.

4. Warm Travel Presets

  • File size: 1.0 MB (5 presets)
  • Best for: Travel photos with warm lighting
  • Why it’s popular: It adds a golden hue without making whites look yellow. Good for beach and sunset shots.

Comparison Table: Top 5 Free Preset Packs

PackBest ForFile SizeMobile?Desktop?Skin Tone HandlingTweaks Needed
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Mastin Labs Portrait EssentialsNatural light portraits2.3 MBYesYesGood for warm skinClarity -15
DVLOP Free Film PackMoody portraits1.8 MBYesYesFair to mediumTexture +15
PresetLove Portrait BundleGolden hour portraits4.2 MBYesYesExcellentSaturation -10%
Spencer Landscape PackSunsets2.5 MBYesYesN/ASaturation -10%
Rachel Film Look PackInstagram aesthetic1.6 MBYesYesGood for warm tonesGrain +5

How to Install Free Lightroom Presets (Quick Guide)

On Desktop (Lightroom CC/Classic):

1. Download the .xmp or .lrtemplate file

2. Open Lightroom → Develop module

3. Click the Presets panel (left side)

4. Click the + icon → “Import Presets”

5. Select the file. Done.

On Mobile (Lightroom app):

1. Download the .dng file (most free presets come as a DNG photo)

2. Open Lightroom app → import that DNG

3. Tap the three dots → “Create Preset”

4. Name it and save. The preset is now in your presets list.

Pro tip: If you get a .zip file, unzip it first. Some browsers block .zip downloads – use Chrome or Safari.

Why These Presets Work (And When They Don’t)

I’ve been using these presets for months. Some are better than paid ones I’ve bought. But they’re not magic.

They work when:

  • You shoot in good light (golden hour, overcast, studio)
  • You’re willing to adjust exposure and white balance after applying
  • You’re editing for social media (not prints)

They don’t work when:

  • Your original photo is badly underexposed (more than -2 stops)
  • You have mixed lighting (e.g., fluorescent + window light)
  • You need consistent results across hundreds of photos (use DNG profiles instead)

Final Thoughts

Free Lightroom presets are a great way to experiment without spending money. I’ve collected over 120 packs over the years, and the ones above are the ones I actually use. They’re not perfect, but they’re free, and they save time.

If you try one, start with the Mastin Labs portrait pack or the Spencer landscape pack. Those two are the most versatile.

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FAQ

1. Can I use free Lightroom presets on both mobile and desktop?

Yes, most free presets work on both. Look for .xmp files (Desktop) or .dng files (Mobile). Some packs include both formats. If you download a DNG preset, import it to Lightroom Mobile, then save it as a preset – it will sync to Desktop via Creative Cloud.

2. Are free Lightroom presets safe to download?

Generally yes, if you download from reputable sources like Mastin Labs, DVLOP, or Adobe Exchange. Avoid random “preset generator” sites that ask for your email before showing a download link – many are spam farms. Stick to the links in this article (all verified).

3. How do I adjust a preset if it makes my photo look too harsh?

First, reduce the preset’s opacity. In Lightroom Desktop, go to the Presets panel and lower the Amount slider (it’s at the top). For Mobile, apply the preset, then manually decrease Clarity and Contrast by 10-20%. If colors are off, adjust White Balance or Saturation. Most free presets are designed for specific lighting conditions – a 10-second tweak usually fixes them.