The Best Lightroom Presets for Basketball Photography
Basketball is one of the hardest sports to photograph and edit. Gyms have mixed, flickering light, orange-yellow color casts and deep shadows. The right Lightroom preset fixes most of that in one tap. Here's what to look for and which presets work best.
What makes a good basketball preset
- Neutralizes gym color casts — pulls the orange and green out of overhead lighting
- Keeps skin tones natural under harsh, direct light
- Lifts shadows without making the image look flat
- Adds contrast and clarity so fast action reads sharp
Our picks
1. Glimmer — bright and punchy
Glimmer is built for well-lit arenas and gyms: clean whites, punchy color, extra clarity for fast action. Best when the gym has decent lighting.
2. La Salle — warm and filmic
La Salle gives a warm, film-inspired look with a soft matte finish. Great for senior nights and school events where you want a bit of mood.
3. Don Soffer — airy and clean
Don Soffer keeps big indoor spaces feeling bright and open with creamy highlights and soft teal shadows.
How to use them
Apply the preset, then adjust exposure and white balance for your specific gym. Copy those settings across the gallery. See the full mobile editing guide for steps, or the guide to fixing gym lighting.
Want all three plus Basmi Dream in one download? See the Sports & Action Presets collection.
