How to convert LUTs into Lightroom Presets (2023)

I know it’s crossed your mind before - “how come I can’t make my footage look like my photos?”

With these steps, it become easy to match colors and convert your favorite LUTs into Lightroom presets.

1: Open Lightroom and select a photo. Right-click on the photo then select - “Edit in Photoshop.”

2: Once in Photoshop, go to “Filter” in the toolbar and then select “Camera Raw Filter.”

3: You’ll see three dots on the right hand of the window that pops up. This is where it’s changed from earlier versions of Lightroom - OPTION-CLICK there and then select - “Create PROFILE.”

4: You will now see a dropdown menu at the bottom of the window that will allow you to load your favorite LUT.

Pretty weird they hid this feature.

Hope this helped!

Color

I’m working on some new colors for my photos, and I think I’ve finally found the kind of look I like. Been trying to get here for a long time.

3000ft

This morning I got the opportunity to photograph some promos for a local flight school.

There’s been a lot going on in my life lately - I’ve made the decision to transition back to freelance and now things look pretty different. Re-learning how to manage my time has already proved difficult - the line of work that I’ve chosen for myself lends itself to long periods of waiting and short bursts of productivity, and I need to figure out a way to essentially continue a 9-5 schedule in order to maintain the structure that I desperately need to both survive and thrive as a working artist.

This was a fun one. Getting to shoot plane-to-plane was exciting and challenging, and that’s the kind of work I love.

The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival

In 2019, I was fortunate enough to photograph the inaugural Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, and it immediately became one of my favorite events of the year. It was spectacular - so many rare and beautiful cars, actual RACING happening in one of the most iconic locations in the city, and people came from all over the United States to check out what was going on.

Nothing like a 911 wrapped in your hometown’s livery.

Year 2 (2020) was unfortunately canceled due to the pandemic - but we returned strong in 2021.

Attendance grew thanks to humanity’s collective desperation after the lockdown to get out of our houses, and the roster of cars became even greater. Some incredibly special Ferrari examples were there:

There was even more racing, and a dedicated track was built next to the river:

Which finally brings us to 2022. Year 3 brought with it a ~2.5 mile track laid out all over downtown and the industrial sector of Chattanooga. And some of my favorite photos to date.

Anyone who loves cars knows that they're more than the sum of their parts.

These miracles of plastic, steel, rubber, and glass somehow manage to stir the heartstrings of millions; a people group who all share a singular love.

This love is hard to explain to others - how can we attach ourselves so concretely to these machines, what is it about them that brings us joy when we hear the throttle open, or see pop up headlights in the distance?
Car enthusiasts are incredibly diverse - the cult of cars knows no restriction.

It doesn't matter what you're into, either. American Muscle, Japanese Imports, Exotics; there is a mutual respect between all when the community is at its best. There is limitless self expression to be found in cars, and builds and beaters alike become extensions of the person behind the wheel. It's an overwhelming sensory experience; hearing the motor rumble, smelling the exhaust, gripping the steering wheel tightly, watching the miles go by.

There's just something about these things that feels like greeting an old friend whenever you happen to cross paths. And most importantly; no matter who you are, what you believe, or where you're from; there's a place for you in the driver's seat.