The Final Touches: Golden Tones Lightroom Presets for Car Photographers - Sessions with Strict Standards Streetwear.

Blake Ferguson
Apr 4, 2024
7 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Gatekeeping? Say no more.

Celebrating a jam-packed decade of dedication to the car culture of Ontario, Canada, and through a mixed-feeling of inspiration across today’s social media, I have decided to let go of gatekeeping aspects.

Although the secrets to our sauce are what make us artists, it’s more about sharing through transparency and translating experience into someone else’s education.

Over the years, I have experimented in Lightroom to streamline post-production workflows, while maintaining that aesthetic appeal, and more often than releasing new sets.

Over the course of collecting new sets, it has also taught me to shape these workflows and tonal variations according to lighting and environments. That being said, as we publish this article today, my goal is to get the jump on a variety of preset packs, while sharing where it all started.

1.0 Introduction to Post Production and Photo Editing with Internal Resources.
1.1 Brushing up on Software and Tools.
2.0 The Difficulties of Lightroom Preset Developments Through Different Camera Bodies & Colourspace.
3.0 Balancing Quality and Consistency with Streamlined Post Production Workflows.
4.0 Unwravelling Car Photography Sessions with Strict Standards Streetwear.
5.0 How Car Culture Equips Photographers with Professional Skillsets.
6.0 How to Maintain Creative-Edge in Today’s World of Content Creation.

Introducing Post Production & Editing Software.

For those who have heard the term post-production but are not quite familiar. This is a fancy industry term for photo editing, or the work that comes after, in support of recording videography, or capturing photography.

Post production is the process we indulge that shapes our RAW captures into a final, finished product. Professional photographers and videographers collect their clips on their computers to prepare specific alterations and corrections.

If you are hiring a visual artist to fulfil these roles and they do not plan to do any post-production, approach with skepticism regarding your final files. Rest assured, post-production is a shared inclusion in this creative field; however, you never know when a “freelancer” might try to slip one by you.

The two applications I streamline when collecting myself after a photoshoot are Adobe Lightroom to start by sorting and globally fitting corrections, while Photoshop handles the more intricate details.

The Two Most Popular Editing Softwares for Photographers are:

These are not the only two that will get the job done- Adobe weighs the heaviest among creative applications and the underlying potential for photographers, fine artists of all expressions. and predominantly content creators or experienced social media managers. While there are other alternatives, my confidence lies with Adobe Creative Cloud, which works seamlessly for those multi-niche creators.

Now, let’s have a look at how capturing coverage at car gatherings isn’t just a hobby— but a grind of its own. Outsiders often believe there’s no living wage in such a creative focus, but altogether, it’s a passionate way to explore sharpening your skills as a professional photographer. Diving into the space which shaped the development of my growth, as well as the Lightroom Presets we uncover today.

Colourspace Changes From Cheap Camera to Professional Camera.

One thing most photographers don’t account for: colourspace.

Between our cameras, computer screens and post production software, this yields endless of possibilities when it comes to colour management, input, and output.

Independent agencies and photographers in earlier years have hit the market to distribute Lightroom presets as a one-size-fits-all, avoiding this accountability.

Through a digital item policy that states no refunds, not all users implementing the presets saw the same results— that’s where knowledge of these technical aspects are vital to understand if you decide to shape your own Lightroom Presets, or simply stay consistent between your pieces of equipment.

Whereas I became known for my automotive photography among car shows and auto events with my iconic cheap camera back in the day, project car owners from all around still came through with profound appreciation for the coverages provided. I got comfy and settled into post production through the Sony A300 colourspace while the progression took place to support the purchase of a more modernized camera.

Unfortunately, as a phased-out camera, I did not want to distribute Lightroom Presets for them to cause tonal discrepancies for users with high-end DSLR cameras, which uses a modern colourspace.

While technology moves forward, so does the process and the synchronization of these colourspaces, where typically they work more seamlessly for modern-day cameras. As I left off on creating photographs and visuals with my Sony A300 with the designated Golden Tones, as a perfectionist, I had trouble releasing images that did not come with a synchronized aesthetic.

Shortly after Berlin Klassik 2019, I acquired a new Canon EOS60d, and it came time to recalibrate. I had to synchronize my “Cheap Camera” Golden Tones as accurately through the colourspace differences. This has taken some time- but I think we are close to having these ready for purchase!

Let this bear not only an update regarding another successful private car photoshoot, but with synchronized tones across two DSLR colourspaces. Enjoy a glimpse of golden-summer days with Behn and his modified 2000 Volkswagen Jetta MK4 VR6 in London, Ontario. There is nothing like reviewing some before-and-afters through my Photoshop workflow.

Enhancing Post Production Workflow & Balancing Quality Consistency.

Previous photo sessions with Cody and his modified 2011 Volkswagen Golf MK6 GTD took place at this location alongside the golden tones demonstrated today.

Although, that was with the colour profile of the Sony A300, as for Behn- the Canon EOS60d may have yielded some improvements along the way. After recently acquiring a new camera body, I learned something through experience that was not exemplified thoroughly during my studies of Photography at Fanshawe College.

As Behn wanted a similar outcome for the display of his vehicle, during this photoshoot, the new arsenal was upon me. Learning aspects of myself as an artist still to this day, I acknowledge that my need for consistency through the quality of the artwork has caused me delays in terms of conquering new and moving forward.

As I conquer more photo sessions across various subjects, mediums, and niches, I aim to distribute Lightroom Presets in my Shop for the hobbyist photographers learning the routes. Whether you implement these in your final images or play around with them for hours, these will sharpen your post-production eye and teach you new photo editing techniques from the interfaces and preset options within— and that’s how it came about for me, presenting the Golden Tones you see today.

Photography News & Graphic Design Insights.

Caffeine-fuelled Insights—feel the creative rush as Blake Ferguson delivers fluff-free perspectives, covering the ever-changing fields of photography, graphic design and the utilization of digital marketing. Helping brands and businesses shape expectations, and professional photographers deliver.

Uphill Momentum: Car Photography with Strict Standards Streetwear.

Covering grounds for Strict Standards Streetwear- you can catch this set of Behn and his modified 2000 Volkswagen Jetta MK4 VR6 showcased on his Build Representative Profile. Since January 1st, 2018, I have had the pleasure of hopping aboard to support this automotive lifestyle brand through my car show and auto event coverage, and beyond. Bringing along Behn for the ride, he represents the Clique with his custom car project.

Strict Standards Streetwear Has Been an Outlet For Professional Development — Ontario, Canada

Ironically speaking, as much as Strict Standards Streetwear has been enriching me in aspects of digital marketing, and beyond, it comes with a slight neglect in overlooking the ongoing process of developing these Lightroom Presets.

Vast digital media management and further experience in the business core have opened my perspectives from abroad, where I hope, throughout my development, I can articulate substantial progress, not solely based on commercial photography, but through business and how services operate.

Car Culture: Leaving Photographers Sharp in All Professional Aspects.

In earlier years, contributing car photography for car shows and auto events, the days of horizontal images were cut out for commercial captures of accurate, real-life representations.

During the time vertical images began shifting in favour of social media, so did the appeal of adding a personalized fine-art touch.

A touching aspect for me as an automotive photographer- especially while publishing my work on social media and through intricate connections built via outlets such as ElevateTM and Strict Standards Streetwear- is the creators I have been delighted to connect with.

Over many years, what has inspired me towards the continuous innovation behind more intrinsique post production is the second-hand fascination provided from others, invoking curiousity, while studying them and learning new methods from a file that solely outputs numerical values.

Maintaining the Creative Edge in Today’s World of Content Creation.

Regardless of my consistency through Insights or social media, I never pause the progressive practice as a photographer and graphic designer. While scrolling on Instagram in 2024- especially in the car niche, creatives have amplified. If you are an automotive photographer in 2024, competing means adhering skills along the lines of graphic design.

I found myself intertwining my three cores, starting with photography, through to post-production, all while using techniques of Photoshop and graphic design to drive fine-art concepts. Isn’t it wonderful when all of your worlds collide?

After spending many days between the finalization of this set, processing the tones at hand, followed by artistic photo manipulation, this set has rekindled my passion as a fundamental creative, taking a pause on the focus behind brand presence and digital marketing. As the set of conceptual concepts remains exclusive to social media, you can find the set and aesthetic swipe on my Instagram.

Car Photography depicts a Photoshop Composite of AG F140 Wheels with Behn's 2000 VW Jetta MK4 VR6 in London, Ontario, Canada. — Photoshop Composite of AG F140 Wheels & 2000 VW Jetta MK4 VR6 - London, Ontario

I am proud to claim that the automotive photography, marketing assistance, and graphic design have impacted the Strict Standards Streetwear Brand in a capacity that permits an in-depth Case Study highlighting our projects and their success.

Underlining more of the history behind this independent clothing label, as well, is the success acquired in unison. If you are fond of all things automotive, streetstyle and the means to create, continue through another read via another Strict Standards project!