The Presets Behind My Work: ‘Ebb & Flow’ & ‘Soft & Grain’
Creativity, for me, has always been a dance - an ebb and flow between light, feeling, and trust. Photography isn’t just about capturing what I see, but how I feel in a moment. Over time, I found myself gravitating toward a handful of consistent editing styles - ones that felt like second nature.
Those edits became the foundation of Ebb & Flow, a Lightroom preset collection I released last year. Since then, my work has continued to evolve - particularly through people-focused, street, and more tactile projects. Out of that evolution came a second collection: Soft & Grain.
Together, these two packs reflect the full rhythm of how I edit - light and shadow, softness and texture, clarity and imperfection.
After being asked repeatedly how I achieve a certain feel in my images, I decided to package the tools I actually use - refined, tested, and lived with - into two Lightroom preset collections… and I am SOOO excited to share these with you!!!!
Ebb & Flow - Light-Led and Intuitive
The idea behind Ebb & Flow comes from the natural rhythm of creation - the gentle pull of inspiration, the rush of momentum, and the stillness in between. These presets are an extension of that rhythm. They’re built from years of experimenting with light, tone, and colour, and - more importantly - from trusting my intuition every time I sit down to edit.
I created this collection not to “fix” photos, but to enhance the feeling already within them. Whether you’re working with soft golden light, open skies, or quieter, more minimal moments, these presets help amplify what’s already there - without forcing a style that isn’t true to you.
Ebb & Flow is rooted in natural light and subtlety. It’s the set I return to when I want images to feel airy, calm, and emotionally grounded - whether I’m photographing landscapes, travel, or everyday in-betweens.
Soft & Grain - Texture, Character, and Filmic Imperfection
Soft & Grain grew more quietly.
It developed through my people work, street photography, and personal projects - images that asked for a little more contrast, a little more grit, and a slightly imperfect, film-inspired finish. These are presets shaped by movement, shadow, warmth, and texture - edits that feel lived-in rather than polished.
This collection leans into grain, colour depth, and tonal character. It’s not designed to emulate a specific film stock, but rather the feeling that film can bring - timeless, tactile, and honest.
I use Soft & Grain when I want photographs to feel grounded and human - when texture matters as much as light, and mood takes precedence over precision.
One Workflow, Two Tools
Although Ebb & Flow and Soft & Grain have different personalities, they’re built from the same philosophy.
Both collections are:
Designed as creative starting points, not one-click fixes
Meant to be adjusted and personalised
Built for consistency across personal and commercial work
I often move between the two depending on the feeling I’m drawn to - sometimes even within the same shoot - sometimes layering a little of each! Together, they form the backbone of my editing workflow.
How I Use These Presets
Both collections are designed to be intuitive and flexible:
Start with feeling: Choose the preset that matches the mood you’re drawn to, not just the colours.
Adjust the basics: Exposure, white balance, and contrast will always vary - small tweaks are part of the process.
Work with the light: These presets are optimised for natural light but adapt beautifully across conditions.
Trust your instinct: Let the preset guide you, not define you - use it then feel free to add to it, make those tweaks to make the final product yours.
Purchasing the Collections
You can purchase each preset pack individually, or choose The Complete Collection if you’re drawn to both editing styles.
The Complete Collection - £50 (save £10 when purchasing both)
Save yourself £10 with a purchase of the complete collection - Ebb & Flow & Soft & Grain
Each collection includes:
Lightroom Desktop (XMP) presets
Lightroom Mobile (DNG) presets
Installation & usage guide
A Final Note
Presets aren’t about shortcuts - they’re about freedom. They offer consistency, confidence, and a foundation you can return to, so you can spend less time second-guessing and more time creating.
Thank you for being here, for supporting this work, and for trusting your own creative rhythm.
Love, Emily
Emily Endean Photography
PS - I’ll leave you with some before and afters so you can see what these presets do!
