Bright II Airy Lift | Bright & Clean Preset for Lightroom Mobile & Desktop

S-II is for lifestyle and portrait photographers who shoot in bright, open conditions — coastal environments, outdoor summer sessions, bright interior spaces with good natural light — and want a preset that matches and enhances the quality of that light.

For photographers whose visual identity is built on a bright, airy aesthetic — Instagram lifestyle photography, coastal travel, outdoor portrait sessions in summer light — where the airy quality is a consistent part of their visual identity rather than an occasional direction.

For photographers who find S-I slightly too balanced for their content and want more obvious lift and openness without the deliberately high-key quality of S-IV.

The lifted highlights create a sense of space. S-II's highlight lift makes photographs feel more luminous and open — a quality that balanced presets cannot achieve without the bright areas feeling processed.

The softened shadows complete the airy effect. S-II's combination of lifted highlights and softened shadow depth creates the specific airy character — the two elements work together to create space and light throughout the tonal range.

It suits coastal and summer photography. Bright coastal environments, summer lifestyle, outdoor portrait sessions in abundant light — S-II enhances these conditions by matching and amplifying the ambient quality.

It is the most versatile option for light-aesthetic social content. The clean, lifted quality of S-II communicates the visual language of successful lifestyle social media photography without requiring specific conditions.

1 × S-II Airy Lift DNG file — for Lightroom Mobile on iPhone and Android
1 × S-II Airy Lift XMP file — for Lightroom Classic on Mac and Windows
Step-by-step installation guide for Mobile and Desktop
Lifetime access — download again anytime

This preset captures the aesthetic of high-speed color films pushed 1 or 2 stops in development for added contrast and grain. It is the professional answer for those who want their work to feel raw and impactful. By emulating the high dynamic tension and the characteristic "silver" highlight roll-off of legendary street emulsions—known for their ability to turn harsh shadows into a stylistic choice S2 ensures your photos feel like a documented piece of art. It transforms digital frames into cinematic snapshots, reminiscent of 90s street reportage and the high-contrast work of urban masters.

Step 1 — White balance first. 5,000-5,400K for outdoor daylight. The airy quality reads most naturally on a neutral-cool white balance — do not warm aggressively before applying.

Step 2 — Apply S-II Airy Lift. Open any photo in Lightroom. Apply S-II Airy Lift. The lifted highlight quality and softened shadow depth apply simultaneously.

Step 3 — Fine-tune. Check highlights after applying — S-II's lift can push near-clipped highlights into clipping. Reduce Highlights -10 to -15 if needed. Adjust Exposure per photo.

On phone photos: 83-85% strength.

What is the difference between S-II and S-IV Pure Light? S-II lifts the highlights and softens shadow depth for an organic airy quality while maintaining natural overall brightness. S-IV is high-key maximum brightness — significantly brighter with controlled highlight roll-off specifically calibrated for high-key photography. S-II for bright and airy everyday lifestyle content, S-IV for deliberately high-key photography where maximum brightness is the point.

Does S-II work for portrait photography? Yes — S-II's airy lift is well-suited to outdoor portrait photography in bright conditions. The lifted quality produces luminous, open portraits. For indoor or studio portrait photography, S-I or S-VI are more appropriate.

Does S-II work in the free version of Lightroom Mobile? Yes. Preset installation and use is completely free in Lightroom Mobile.