About This Side Hustle
LUTs (Look Up Tables) for video and Lightroom presets for photography are in massive demand from content creators who want professional-looking content without spending hours on color grading. You create the presets once and sell them infinitely as digital downloads. Popular styles include cinematic film looks, moody tones, and bright airy aesthetics.
Earning Potential
Individual preset packs sell for $15-49. Premium collections sell for $49-99. A catalog of 5-10 packs generates $500-2,000/month. Top preset creators with large followings earn $5,000-15,000/month.
Pros
- Nearly 100% profit margins
- Infinite scalability
- Quick to create with expertise
- Growing creator economy demand
- Passive income after creation
Cons
- Requires technical color grading knowledge
- Many free alternatives available
- Need impressive before/after samples
- Market becoming competitive
30-Day Launch Plan
1
Days 1-5
Create Your Presets
Develop a cohesive preset or LUT pack
- Analyze popular preset styles in your photography niche
- Create 8-15 unique presets with consistent quality
- Test presets across different lighting conditions and cameras
- Name presets with descriptive, marketable names
2
Days 6-10
Build Marketing Assets
Create compelling before/after demonstrations
- Shoot or source diverse sample photos for demonstrations
- Create before/after comparison images and videos
- Design a professional product page with mockups
- Record a video tutorial showing preset installation and use
3
Days 11-18
Launch & Promote
Sell your presets and build awareness
- List your preset pack on Gumroad, Etsy, or your own website
- Share before/after comparisons on Instagram and TikTok
- Offer a free preset as a lead magnet for your email list
- Reach out to photography influencers for collaboration
4
Days 19-30
Expand Your Collection
Create more packs and build recurring sales
- Develop themed preset collections (wedding, travel, food)
- Create video LUT versions of your popular photo presets
- Build an affiliate program for photographer partners
- Launch seasonal preset collections for ongoing revenue
Tips for Success
- Show dramatic before/after transformations in your marketing
- Price your packs between $19-49 for best conversion rates
- Offer a free preset to build your email list and demonstrate quality
- Create niche-specific packs (wedding, real estate, food photography)
- Partner with photographers and filmmakers for affiliate sales
Skills Required
Color grading expertise
Photography or videography
Adobe Lightroom/Premiere
Marketing
Product packaging
Tools Needed
- Adobe Lightroom or DaVinci Resolve
- Gumroad or Etsy store
- Sample photos/videos for demos
- Social media accounts