Friday Freebie: Lightroom Presets from MCP Actions

Lately I've been editing all my photos in Lightroom 4.  I'm still rather new to the program but I'm loving it.  

I find using Lightroom to be an easier, less time consuming process than using Photoshop (I use PSE10).   But what I love most is that you can sync adjustments to a batch of photos in just a few clicks.  It really speeds up my workflow.

And one of the great features of Lightroom are Presets.  Presets are Lightroom's way of adding many adjustments to a photo in just one click (similar to using actions in Photoshop).   There are a bunch of great sites out there that have free Presets and one of our favorites is MCP Actions (we love her actions too).  

MCP Actions offers the Quick Clicks Collection which will give you a taste of what Lightroom presets can do for you.  The set allows you to adjust white balance, pump up colors and fix exposure in just one click.   So great and so fast!  

Once you've given these a try, check out MCP's full selection of presets, she has a terrific array of presets that will help you adjust color, convert photos to black and white, or process images with a vintage twist in a matter of seconds.

Here are a few sample images from the Quick Clicks Collection: 

SOOC

True Colors

Best Guess White Balance Adjustment

Free Facebook Timeline Covers

We love MCP Actions!  (Check out my blog post from earlier in the year where I show you some before and after images using MCP Action's Bag of Tricks).

At MCP Actions you can find all kinds of great tools to help you create better photographs.  From Lightroom Presets, to Photoshop Actions, to Blog It boards and templates, Jodi Friedman has you covered.

For those of you new to her products, she has a variety of freebies that you can try out...timeline templates, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements actions, Lightroom Presets....all kinds of goodies.  Once you do, you will want to purchase more because you'll see how much time you can save editing photos with her terrific tools.  Plus she provides wonderful videos to help you learn how to use her products most effectively.

Below is a timeline cover I made using one of her free templates.  I used a digital paper that I had in my stash of files to give it a customized look.  You can find this style and more on the MCP Actions' Facebook page here.

Have fun browsing MCP Actions and trying out these great tools!

MCP Actions--Fantastic Tools for Editing Photos

I love MCP Actions.  They are a photographers best friend when it comes to making quick and easy photo edits.

I was recently given the opportunity to try out the Bag of Tricks collection and they truly worked magic on my images.  In just a matter of minutes, I was able to easily make adjustments to my photos.  From turning skies bluer (don't you hate it when the sky is blown out?), to fixing grass (say "good bye" to the brown spots),  to boosting colors and fixing skin tones, this set of actions has it all.

What I love most about these actions, is that you can make adjustments without giving your images that over-processed look.  And the MCP site has video tutorials to help you get on your way.

Below are a few examples of images I worked on using the Bag of Tricks set.  Be sure to visit the MCP Actions to see the wide array of fantastic tools they have available to turn your photos into works of art!

Before: Cheeks are too pink and colors in background faded.

After:  Redness reduced and background colors are  more vivid.

Before--image is a little dark and colors are faded.

After--using the Bag of Tricks, I was able to boost the colors and brighten my subjects's face.

Before--sky is washed out and colors are a bit faded.

After--a little sky enhancement and color boost and the photo went from good to WOW!