Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds: is this $25 stack worth it for Photography?
Concert photos still look like a red hazy mess? This $25 Lightroom preset pack fixes the color first
You know the frustration. You shoot a show, a club night, or a stage performance, and the RAW files come back bathed in a flat, overwhelming crimson. White balance sliders feel useless when the entire scene is one dominant hue. You end up spending twenty minutes per frame trying to pull skin tones back into a believable range, all while the background stays impossibly red. (Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds)
That specific color-correcting grind is exactly what Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds is built to handle. Instead of a generic “warmth boost” or a one-click filter that flattens your dynamic range, this pack gives you five distinct starting points for taming red-heavy lighting. It’s not a magic eraser; it’s a calibrated foundation that saves you from staring at a blank histogram and wondering where to even start. If you shoot events regularly and want to cut your editing time in half without sacrificing skin tone accuracy, this is a sharp, specific tool for the job.
Quick answer
| Best for | Photographers shooting concerts, clubs, or stage performances with heavy red lighting who want a faster, more consistent starting point for color correction. |
| Skip if | You shoot mostly daylight, outdoor, or neutral-lighting subjects, or if you need a fully automated one-click solution that requires zero manual tweaking. |
| Price | $25 |
| Format | 5 Lightroom presets (desktop + Classic compatible; mobile requires desktop upload) |
| One-line take | A niche-specific color correction pack that turns a 20-minute manual fix into a 5-minute refinement session. |
What you’re actually buying
At $25, you’re not just buying five files; you’re buying a structured approach to one of the most annoying lighting scenarios in photography. The core value here is specificity. Most preset packs try to be everything to everyone—portraits, landscapes, moody vibes, bright and airy. This pack does one thing: it tackles the red color cast that plagues low-light event photography. (Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds)
Each of the five presets in Bye-Bye Reds is formulated with different curves, split-toning, and color calibration settings. This means they aren’t just five versions of the same tweak. One might be better for a scene where the red is coming from a single spotlight, while another might work better when red gels are mixed with ambient blue or white light. The seller notes that these were formulated on Sony RAW files but tested on Canon and Nikon, which is a nice touch for cross-brand reliability. You’re getting a toolkit that adapts to the specific circumstances of your red lighting, rather than a rigid filter that might crush your shadows or blow out your highlights.
The real benefit is workflow. Instead of starting from scratch with every frame, you apply the preset that matches the lighting condition, and then you fine-tune. The seller is clear that these are meant to be a foundation, not a one-click edit. This is actually a strength: it forces a collaborative process between you and the software. You get the heavy lifting done—the initial color balance, the curve adjustments, the split-toning base—and then you spend your energy on the details that make your photo yours. For a photographer juggling hundreds of concert shots, that shift from “fixing the color” to “refining the image” is where the time savings really live. (Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds)
Why it’s on our radar
This pack stands out because it solves a very specific, very common pain point without overpromising. Most color correction tools are either too generic or too complex for a quick workflow. Bye-Bye Reds sits in the sweet spot: simple enough to apply in seconds, but nuanced enough to handle the variations in red lighting you’ll encounter at different venues.
The fact that the presets are designed to work best when red is the predominant lighting color is a smart constraint. It means the algorithms behind the curves and split-toning are optimized for that exact scenario, rather than trying to guess what you’re shooting. If you’re the kind of photographer who specializes in live music, theater, or nightlife, this is a targeted investment that will pay off every time you open a RAW file from a show. It’s the kind of niche tool that doesn’t get much attention in the broader photography market, but for the right shooter, it’s a game-changer. (Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds)
What actually matters
Before you hit checkout, there are a few practical details to keep in mind. First, these presets are designed for RAW files. If you’re shooting JPEGs, you’ll likely get less benefit from the color correction, as the data needed for deep color adjustments is already compressed. Make sure you’re shooting in RAW to get the full value out of the pack. (Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds)
Second, if you’re primarily a mobile Lightroom user, read the seller’s note carefully. The presets were created for desktop and cloud-based Lightroom, and while they work on Lightroom Classic, mobile users may need to upload them via desktop first. If you don’t have access to a desktop version, reach out to the seller before purchasing to confirm your workflow. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s a step you need to plan for. (Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds)
Finally, remember that these are starting points. The seller encourages you to play around with the settings and develop your own go-to presets based on what works best for your camera and your typical venues. The value isn’t just in the five files; it’s in the learning curve they provide. You’ll start to understand how red lighting interacts with your camera’s color science, and that knowledge will make you a faster, more confident editor even when you’re not using these specific presets. (Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds)
Mid-check
If you’re ready to see the full breakdown of what’s included and confirm the price, you can View on Gumroad.
FAQ
Will these presets work on my camera brand? Yes. The presets were formulated on Sony RAW files but have been tested on Canon and Nikon. While results may vary slightly based on your specific camera model and lighting conditions, the core color correction should work well across major brands. (Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds)
Do I need Lightroom Classic, or will they work on mobile Lightroom? The presets are compatible with both desktop Lightroom and Lightroom Classic. If you only use the mobile version, you may need to upload the presets via a desktop version first to make them available on your phone. It’s a good idea to check with the seller if you’re exclusively mobile. (Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds)
Are these one-click edits that I don’t have to touch? No. The seller explicitly states that these are meant to be a foundation for your edits, not a one-click solution. You’ll need to adjust the settings to match the specific conditions of each photo. This is by design, as it allows you to maintain control over the final look and develop your own editing style. (Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds)
Bottom line
If you shoot events with heavy red lighting and you’re tired of spending hours on color correction, Lightroom Presets: Bye-Bye Reds is a smart, targeted investment. It’s not a magic bullet, but it’s a powerful starting point that will save you time and help you achieve more consistent results. For $25, it’s a low-risk way to upgrade your workflow and get back to doing what you love: taking great photos.