You can view her beautiful work at One for the Wall Photography AND this week there is a super fabulous $100 Gift Certificate Giveaway from One Willow happening on her blog… be sure to check it out! Also feel free to use the code FORTHEWALL to get 15% off of all One Willow Preset Collections.

Color Pop-Dramatic: This photo was edited in Lightroom 4 using a new preset (coming soon) and the brush collection.   I applied the preset and then used the following brushes from the Brush Collection; color enhance, skin softening, eye sparkle and lash define, lightening and darkening, and finally Sharpen Definition.

Black and White Conversion: This photo was edited in Lightroom 4 with the Ophelia Preset from the Timeless Collection(version Lightroom 2 & 3). I applied the preset then used the heal tool and also the following brushes from the Brush Collection; skin softening, eye sparkle, lash define, eye whitening, basic sharpening. The Ophelia preset is a preset designed for Lightroom 2 & 3. However, I used it very easily using the update method shown HERE.


Tones:  The photo was edited with the Imagination preset from the Beautiful Things Collection (Lightroom 2& 3 version).  I applied the preset, tweaked it to suite the photo (white balance adjust, shadows, whites, contrast, clarity) then used the heal tool and the following brushes from the Brush Collection; skin soften, eye sparkle, eye whites, define lashes, lighten, define, color soften and basic sharpen.   The Imagination preset is a preset designed for Lightroom 2 & 3, however I used it very easily using the update method shown HERE.

Define and Enhance: For a more natural looking image, I used a new workflow preset for Lightroom 4 (coming soon). I also used the heal tool after I applied the preset and used the following brushes for subtle enhancements; lightening, eye sparkle, skin softening, paint on rose, eye whites, define lashes, and basic sharpen.

* Photos edited in Lightroom 4 in Raw format by One Willow Presets. Blog boards and web sizing done in Photoshop CS4.
* All photos in the post belong to One for the Wall Photography and were used with permission.

I’ll take a few balloon smiles over a to do list any day. xo

Camera Settings

Canon 5D Mark II

Lens 35mm 1.4

ISO 3200 (Yes, this is a kickin’ ISO- this room has very poor lighting- one of the reasons I love the Mark II)

f/1.8

1/200 sec

Edits-  Lightroom 4 with a New Preset (still to be named)

Collage/Watermark- Photoshop CS4

When you upgraded to Lightroom 4, the One Willow Presets that were installed in to your previous Lightroom version should have automatically installed into your preset panel of LR4. To begin an edit, select the photo in the develop module and simply click on the preset you want to use. This will revert your Lightroom settings back to ‘old process’. You can continue to edit in this process or you can choose to update. I like to update because I do really like the added definition Lightroom 4 gives to Raw files.

The two photos below show the original and the one click edit with Memories from the Beautiful Things Collection (before updating).

After you apply the preset and the settings have reverted back to old process, an update notice will appear in the bottom right hand side of your photo.  If you would like to update the settings to the current process, click the box with the exclamation point.

Once clicked, an update process version box will appear (unless you have chosen the don’t show again option). Click Update to update the individual photo.

Lightroom 4 will adjust the settings to what it believes to be the closest match to the old process.  The image below was after I updated to the current process and Lightroom 4 adjusted the settings.

I love that the new Raw processing in Lightroom 4 seems to add more definition but when I updated with the preset, the assumed settings lightened and brightened more than my liking. So I simply pulled back the exposure slider and decreased the clarity.  Below is the adjusted image with the current process and adjustments.

And another edit using the same update option mentioned above and the bw film preset.

After the update (before adjustments).

After the update with adjustments; decrease exposure, decrease hightlights, increase whites.

Another option you can use is to change to ‘process 2010. This is also quick and easy. Do this before your edit or before choosing the preset. Select your photo in develop module. Go to Settings>process>2010.

I hope this helps give a better understanding of using Lightroom 2 & 3 presets in Lightroom 4. I am currently in the design phase for a brand new collection for Lightroom 4. I am super excited to share this new collection with you! Coming Soon!

More Q&A about presets and Lightroom 4 can be found HERE.

The Brush Collection. Available for Lightroom 2 & 3 and Lightroom 4.

Original Raw Photo (converted to Jpg and prepared for Web)

After applying the Ophelia Preset from The Timeless Collection.

Finished using Lightroom Brushes from The Brush Collection; Darkening (created a new brush a few times), Lightening, Skin Soften (on skin and the background to enhance the blur) and Sharpen Dramatic.

Above photo courtesy of Along Came Baby Photography  Edit by One Willow Presets

Last Spring I photographed this beautiful family and captured this quiet shot between mother and daughter during one of the ‘in between’ moments.  It has since, become one of my all time favorite photos.

Over the past few weeks, I have received emails with questions about how the latest version will affect presets.  I plan to create a full post on how to tweak your presets soon, but thought that I would answer a few questions today.

Will my One Willow Presets still work with Lightroom 4?

Most of your presets will still work in this version, however they may not apply the same as they did in LR2 and LR3, you will likely need to tweak them (some more than others).  While testing the presets in LR4, I found that after I converted to the new process, I often needed to adjust the shadow slider and contrast to compensate for the settings change.  I also found that these setting changes did effect some of the post presets (finishing presets) as well.  While this does eliminate the ‘one click’ application, it doesn’t take much time to adjust and still makes for a speedy workflow.  Also, you can use your presets by staying in old process 2010.  To change this, while in LR 4 with the photo selected, go to Settings>Process>2010. As I mentioned above, I hope to have a full post created soon detailing how to use your One Willow Presets effectively with LR4.

Will One Willow be creating presets for Lightroom 4?

Yes! I am super excited about the totally new collections I will be adding to One Willow Presets.  Look for more information on that coming soon!

Will you continue to offer presets for Lightroom 2 & 3?

Yes! I am thrilled with the presets in the current collections and will be keeping them around for Lightroom 2 & 3 users.

Will you be upgrading the current preset collections?

The current preset collections will remain available for Lightroom 2 & 3.  I am excited to be in the designing process for entirely new preset collections for Lightroom 4.  Again, a majority of the presets can still be used with Lightroom 4 using the processes mentioned above.

I hope this helps answer a few of the questions you have regarding your One Willow Presets and Lightroom 4. I know many of you are considering the upgrade and wondering if you should do so and that is totally up to you.  There are some fabulous tutorials on the web that will walk you through many of the new features, they may help with your decision.  I still find that LR2 & LR3 both have much to offer. In looking forward to the newest version, I am excited about the improved opportunities with photo editing and even more excited to share new presets with you all!

Thank you so much for your continued support of One Willow Presets, you are all so very appreciated.

And because I can’t create a post without a photo… here is another photo edited with new One Willow Brush Collection.