A Practical Order of Operations for Using Lightroom Presets

Why the sequence matters—and how it helps you work with intention

When I’m editing images from the field—especially from forests, wetlands, or remote landscapes—I try to follow a consistent order of operations in Lightroom. Not because Lightroom demands it, but because clarity in process leads to clarity in results.

Presets work best when they’re applied to a clean, thoughtfully prepared image. Here’s the order I use, along with the reasoning behind each step.

1. Heal / Remove

Why first:

Small distractions—dust spots, stray highlights, or minor edge clutter—tend to stand out more once contrast and color are added later. Removing them early keeps them from becoming harder to manage.\

Field mindset:

This is like brushing leaves off a rock before photographing it. You’re not changing the scene—just clearing visual noise.

2. Lens Corrections

 Why now:

Lens corrections fix distortion, vignetting, and color fringing caused by the optics themselves. If the image geometry or brightness at the edges is off, it can influence how you judge exposure and contrast later.

Field mindset:

Before interpreting light, make sure the lens isn’t misleading you.

3. Crop & Straighten

Why here:

Cropping early helps define what the image is actually about. Once the composition is set, you can make tonal and color decisions that support that structure instead of fighting it.

Field mindset:

This is the moment you decide where the viewer’s eye will go—and where it won’t.

4. Apply Presets or Profiles

Why now:

Presets and profiles establish a baseline look—overall contrast, color bias, and tonal direction. Applying them before global adjustments prevents you from correcting the image twice.

Field mindset:

Think of presets as a starting trailhead, not the destination. They set direction, not detail.

5. Global Adjustments

Why after presets:

Exposure, highlights, shadows, tone curve, and color refinement belong here. These adjustments balance the image as a whole and fine-tune the mood established by the preset.

Field mindset:

This is where the image settles into itself—nothing isolated yet, just balance and harmony.

6. Local Masks (Selective Adjustments)

Why last:

Local adjustments are image-specific and intentional. They guide attention, reinforce light, and add subtle emphasis. Doing them last ensures they build on a solid foundation rather than correcting earlier missteps.

Field mindset:

This is quiet refinement—nudging the viewer, not forcing them.

Final Thought 

This order isn’t about speed or automation. It’s about working with purpose. Each step builds on the one before it, allowing presets to enhance your image rather than overpower it.

The more consistently you follow a thoughtful workflow, the more intuitive your editing becomes—and the closer your final image will feel to what you experienced in the field.

That’s the goal.