Presets & Camera Recipes

The looks, the settings, the moods — all in one place. Everything I use to make my world look the way it feels.

Ricoh Camera Recipes

My Ricoh GR IIIx is my everyday carry. These recipes are dialed in for golden hour, soft daylight, and that film-ish feeling I can't shake.

Golden Hour Drift

Camera: Ricoh GR IIIx

Image Control: Positive Film
Saturation: +1
Hue: 0
Key: −1
Contrast: −1
Sharpness: −1
Finish: Peripheral Illumination Correction ON
White Balance: Daylight (Shade)

Mood: Warm, cinematic, sun-drenched. Think late afternoon light through leaves.

Best for: Golden hour, outdoor portraits, soft street scenes

Lighting tip: Shoot in the hour before sunset facing the light source.

Soft Greens & Cream

Camera: Ricoh GR IIIx

Image Control: Standard
Saturation: 0
Hue: −1 (green shift)
Key: 0
Contrast: −1
Sharpness: −2
Finish: High-key OFF
White Balance: Auto (A-B: −1, G-M: 0)

Mood: Soft, botanical, dreamy. The feeling of a Sunday morning in a garden.

Best for: Nature walks, still life, coffee shop interiors.

Lighting tip: Overcast or open shade works beautifully. Avoid harsh direct sun.

Film Noir Bloom

Camera: Ricoh GR IIIx

Image Control: B&W (TE)
Saturation: n/a
Key: −1
Contrast: +2
Sharpness: 0
Finish: Grain effect ON (Rough)
White Balance: Shade

Mood: Moody, dramatic, textured — black and white with grit and soul.

Best for: Architecture, solitary portraits, quiet streets.

Lighting tip: Works best in high-contrast light — bright windows, deep shadows.

Canon Camera Settings

I shoot a lot of my cinematic vlogs and b-roll on Canon. These are the in-camera settings I start with before any editing.

Cinematic Vlog Look

Camera: Canon EOS R50 / R series

Picture Style: Neutral
Sharpness: 1
Contrast: −4
Saturation: −2
Color Tone: −1
White Balance: Auto (shifted to warm: A3, M0)
ISO: Auto (max 6400 in low light)
Shutter Speed: 2x your frame rate (e.g. 1/60 for 30fps)

Mood: Flat, clean, warm — built for color grading in post.

Best for: Lifestyle vlogs, talking head videos, day-in-the-life content.

Tip: Log-style look without needing C-Log. Grade with a warm LUT or preset.

Golden Nature B-Roll

Camera: Canon EOS R50 / R series

Picture Style: Landscape (custom)
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: −2
Saturation: +2
Color Tone: 0
White Balance: Daylight
ISO: 100–400
Aperture: f/2.8–f/4 for soft background blur

Mood: Lush, vivid, sun-kissed greens and golds.

Best for: Nature Sundays, travel, outdoor b-roll.

Tip: Expose to the right to protect highlights. Greens pop beautifully in golden hour.

Intimate Indoor Vlog

Camera: Canon EOS R50 / R series

Picture Style: Portrait (warm custom)
Sharpness: 0
Contrast: −3
Saturation: −1
Color Tone: −2 (skin warmth)
White Balance: Tungsten or manual 3200K
ISO: 800–3200

Mood: Warm, intimate, candlelit. The kind of video that feels like a conversation.

Best for: Evening vlogs, reflective content, cozy at-home videos.

Tip: Use a practical light (lamp, candle, fairy lights) in frame for that warm glow.

Adobe Presets (Lightroom / LR Mobile)

These are the Lightroom presets I reach for most — built around the warm, cinematic palette I love. They work on portraits, landscapes, and everyday moments.

Late Bloomer Warmth

Software: Adobe Lightroom / LR Mobile

Profile: Adobe Color
Temp: +15 (warmer)
Tint: +5
Exposure: +0.3
Contrast: −10
Highlights: −30
Shadows: +20
Whites: +10
Blacks: −15
Vibrance: +10
Saturation: −5
HSL: Oranges Hue +10, Greens Hue −5, Greens Sat +10
Tone Curve: Slight S-curve, lifted blacks

Mood: Golden skin tones, soft greens, lifted shadows — a warm analog feel.

Best for: Outdoor portraits, travel, lifestyle photos.

Bloom & Fog

Software: Adobe Lightroom / LR Mobile

Profile: Adobe Landscape
Temp: +8
Tint: +3
Exposure: +0.5
Contrast: −20
Highlights: −50
Shadows: +35
Whites: −10
Blacks: −5
Clarity: −15
Dehaze: −10
Vibrance: +5

Mood: Soft, hazy, dreamy. Like a polaroid left in a warm pocket.

Best for: Botanical gardens, foggy mornings, overcast days, flower photography.

The Green Hour

Software: Adobe Lightroom / LR Mobile

Profile: Adobe Vivid
Temp: 0
Tint: −5
Exposure: +0.2
Contrast: −5
Highlights: −20
Shadows: +15
Vibrance: +15
Saturation: 0
HSL: Greens Hue −10, Greens Sat +20, Yellows Hue +10, Blues Sat −10

Mood: Lush, botanical, film-ish greens with just enough warmth.

Best for: Nature walks, park days, plant-heavy interiors.

A Few Things I've Learned

This isn't about technical perfection — it's about making your footage feel like your memories. Here are some things I remind myself of every time I pick up a camera.

“Shoot flat, grade warm. The more you leave for post, the more creative control you have.”
“Golden hour isn’t just light — it’s a whole vibe. Your camera settings should protect it, not fight it.”
“Lifted blacks are everything. Hard blacks feel cold; lifted blacks feel like film.”
“Don’t sleep on white balance. Shifting it warm before you even open Lightroom saves so much time.”
“Consistency over perfection. One preset, one season. Let your archive tell a story.”
“Your eyes are the best tool you have. If it looks too orange, it probably is.”

Want These Presets?

I'm working on a preset pack with everything above — plus walkthroughs, before/afters, and notes on how I edit. Get on the list.

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