.svg){kind=small}
How to Sell Lightroom Presets Online: The Complete Guide for Photographers and Creators
Today · 15 min read
Lightroom presets have quietly become one of the most popular digital products on the internet. Every day, thousands of photographers, content creators, and social media managers search for that perfect preset pack to give their photos a consistent, polished look. If you already know your way around Adobe Lightroom and have developed your own editing style, you are sitting on a goldmine of potential passive income.
The beauty of selling presets is that you create them once and sell them forever. There is no inventory to manage, no shipping to worry about, and no limit on how many copies you can sell. A single preset pack can generate income for months or even years after you first upload it.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about creating, packaging, pricing, and selling Lightroom presets online. Whether you are a professional photographer looking to diversify your income or a hobbyist who just loves color grading, this post will show you exactly how to turn your editing skills into a real business.
| PlatformHow to Create Lightroom Presets That Stand Out | Fees | Best For | Storefront |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | 6.5% + listing fees | Marketplace discovery | Basic shop page |
| Gumroad | 10% on free plan | Simple digital sales | Limited customization |
| Storelib | 0% on free plan | Creators, photographers | Custom + link in bio |
| Creative Market | 50% commission | Design professionals | Marketplace profile |
Types of Lightroom Presets That Sell Well
Not all presets are created equal, and understanding which types sell best will help you focus your efforts where they matter most. The Lightroom preset market is broad, but certain categories consistently outperform others.
Moody and dark presets are among the most popular. These presets desaturate certain tones, lift the blacks slightly, and add deep shadows to create a cinematic, editorial feel. They appeal to portrait photographers, street photographers, and anyone going for a dramatic aesthetic on their social media feed.
Warm and earthy tones are another top seller. Think golden highlights, rich browns, and muted greens. These presets are favorites among lifestyle bloggers, travel photographers, and wedding photographers who want their images to feel inviting and nostalgic. The warm preset category has remained consistently popular because the aesthetic translates well across seasons and locations.
Bright and airy presets cater to a huge audience of content creators, especially those in the fashion, food, and interior design niches. These presets boost exposure, soften shadows, and give photos a clean, magazine quality look. They tend to work well on naturally lit images and are popular with Instagram influencers who want a light, polished feed.
Film emulation presets recreate the look of classic analog film stocks like Kodak Portra, Fuji 400H, and Kodak Gold. There is a massive community of digital photographers who love the organic, slightly imperfect quality of film but do not want to deal with the cost and inconvenience of shooting actual film. Well crafted film emulation presets can command premium prices.
Travel photography presets are designed to enhance landscape and adventure photos. They typically boost vibrant colors in skies and foliage, add clarity to distant details, and create a sense of wonder. This category works well as a seasonal product, with sales spiking during summer and holiday travel seasons.
Packaging and Pricing Your Preset Packs
How you package and price your presets has a direct impact on your sales. Most successful preset sellers offer packs rather than individual presets. A pack of 5 to 15 presets with a cohesive theme gives the buyer more value and makes your product feel substantial enough to justify the price.
When naming your preset packs, choose names that evoke a mood or visual style rather than generic labels. Instead of calling a pack "Preset Pack 1," name it something like "Golden Hour Collection" or "Nordic Mist." Descriptive names help buyers understand what they are getting and create an emotional connection with the product before they even see a sample photo.
Include both XMP files for Lightroom Classic desktop and DNG files for Lightroom Mobile in every pack. Package everything neatly in a ZIP file with a clear installation guide in PDF format. The installation guide is important because many buyers, especially those who are new to presets, will not know how to import them without instructions. A smooth installation experience reduces customer support requests and increases the likelihood of positive reviews.
For pricing, research what similar presets sell for in your niche. As a general benchmark, individual preset packs typically sell for $15 to $45 depending on how many presets are included and the quality of the brand behind them. Bundles of multiple packs can sell for $50 to $150 or more. If you are just starting out, consider launching at a slightly lower price to build reviews and social proof, then gradually increase your prices as demand grows.
Offering a free sample preset is one of the most effective strategies in this space. Give potential buyers a taste of your editing style with one or two free presets, and many of them will come back to purchase the full pack. You can use Storelib to list a free product that captures email addresses before delivering the download, building your marketing list at the same time.
Setting Up Your Preset Store on Storelib
Once your presets are created and packaged, you need a place to sell them. While there are several platforms available, Storelib stands out as an excellent choice for preset sellers because it gives you full control over your storefront, charges zero platform fees on the free plan, and lets you build a branded shopping experience that feels professional.
Setting up your preset store on Storelib takes just a few minutes. Create your account, choose a clean store design that showcases your photography style, and start adding your preset products. For each product listing, upload your ZIP file containing the presets and installation guide, write a compelling product description, set your price, and add high quality preview images.
Your product preview images are arguably the most important element of your listing. Show before and after comparisons using the same photo so buyers can clearly see the transformation your presets deliver. Use a variety of example images across different lighting conditions and subjects. The preview images should sell the result, not just show the product files.
Write product descriptions that speak to the buyer's desires. Instead of listing technical specifications, describe the mood and feeling your presets create. Tell the buyer what kind of content these presets work best for and who will benefit most from using them. Include details about what is included in the pack, the file formats provided, and compatibility information.
Storelib also lets you set up your store link as a link in bio page, which is perfect if you are promoting your presets through Instagram or TikTok. Buyers can browse your entire preset catalog, see preview images, and complete their purchase all from their phone without ever leaving the experience.
Marketing Your Presets and Growing Your Sales
Creating great presets is only half the battle. You also need a solid marketing strategy to get your products in front of the right audience. The good news is that Lightroom presets lend themselves naturally to visual marketing, which makes platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube ideal channels for promotion.
Instagram is the number one marketing channel for most preset sellers. Share before and after comparison posts using your presets, post Reels showing the editing process in real time, and use Stories to share quick tips and behind the scenes content about your creative process. The visual nature of Instagram makes it perfect for showcasing the transformation your presets deliver. Always include a clear call to action directing people to your Storelib store link in your bio.
TikTok has become a massive driver of preset sales in recent years. Short videos showing dramatic before and after edits tend to go viral on the platform. Create content around themes like "edit this photo with me" or "how I get my editing style" and watch the views and sales follow. The TikTok audience skews younger and is highly engaged with content about photography and editing.
Pinterest is an underrated marketing channel for presets. Create pins showing before and after comparisons, preset previews, and photography tips. Pinterest content has a much longer lifespan than Instagram or TikTok posts, and pins can drive traffic to your store for months or even years after you publish them.
YouTube tutorials are another powerful way to market your presets. Create editing walkthrough videos where you use your own presets, teach Lightroom techniques, and demonstrate how your presets work across different types of photos. YouTube videos build trust and authority, and viewers who watch you edit are much more likely to purchase your preset packs.
Building an email list should be part of your long term strategy. Offer a free preset as a lead magnet to capture email addresses, then send regular newsletters featuring new releases, editing tips, seasonal promotions, and exclusive discounts for subscribers. Email marketing consistently delivers the highest return on investment of any marketing channel for digital product creators.
The key to growing your preset business over time is consistency. Keep creating new packs, keep showing up on your chosen marketing channels, and keep listening to what your customers want. As your catalog grows and your reputation builds, your preset business will compound. Each new customer becomes a potential repeat buyer, and each satisfied customer becomes a word of mouth advocate for your brand. Start with one great preset pack, market it well, and let the momentum build from there.
More in Getting Started
Start your online business!
Turn your digital creations into income. Launch your store in minutes, no credit card required.