Tu - Chasing Light Collection: is this $29 stack worth it for Photography?
If you shoot sports, events, or portraits and you are tired of starting from a blank canvas every single time, the bottleneck is rarely your camera settings—it is your editing workflow. You have probably tried a $500 preset pack with 200 options, only to spend more time hunting for the right look than actually editing. Josh Tu’s Chasing Light Collection flips that script. It is not a massive library; it is a tight, four-preset kit that covers the exact looks he uses for high-level work. At $29, you are buying a proven color palette and a monochrome base, not a lottery ticket of random filters.
Quick answer
| Best for | Sports photographers, event shooters, and portrait artists who want a consistent, professional look without digging through hundreds of options. |
| Skip if | You are looking for a “one-click magic” solution that requires zero manual adjustment, or if you strictly shoot in black and white and do not need color presets. |
| Price | $29 |
| Format | 4 Lightroom presets (compatible with Lightroom Classic, Cloud, and Mobile) |
| One-line take | A lean, professional-grade kit that gives you a signature color pop, a muted tonal look, a B&W base, and a film-grain aesthetic. |
What you’re actually buying
The appeal of the Chasing Light Collection is its restraint. Most preset packs drown you in variety; this one gives you four distinct tools that cover the full spectrum of a typical shoot. First is Reminisce, which Josh describes as his “bread and butter” for work with major athletes and teams. This is the preset that gives you that signature color pop, the kind of vibrant but controlled look that makes a stadium crowd or a player’s jersey stand out without looking oversaturated. It is designed for shooters who prefer to capture a tad underexposed, allowing the preset to lift the image into a clean, bright finish.
Then there is Valhalla, a muted look that emphasizes greens and reds. If you are shooting outdoor sports or portraits where you want a slightly more cinematic, desaturated vibe rather than a punchy commercial look, this is your go-to. It shifts the mood from “high energy” to “documentary,” which is a crucial distinction when you are telling a story rather than just selling a highlight. (Tu - Chasing Light Collection)
The kit also includes Focus, a monochrome preset that serves as a base for black and white work. It isn’t just a desaturate button; it creates a dramatic contrast that Josh notes you can’t easily replicate with standard color adjustments. Finally, Memories is the aesthetic wildcard. It fakes a grainy film look, encouraging you to play with temperature and tint sliders to get a vintage, textured result. Together, these four presets cover color pop, muted tones, high-contrast B&W, and grainy film—four distinct jobs that a single “universal” preset rarely handles well. (Tu - Chasing Light Collection)
Why it’s on our radar
This pack is interesting because it is built by a working photographer, not a filter maker. The listing explicitly names high-profile clients like UNC Athletics, Coco Gauff, and Ben Shelton, which signals that these presets have survived the pressure of professional deadlines. It is rare to find a $29 product that claims to be the only presets the seller uses; that level of specificity suggests these are the tools that actually work in the field, not just the ones that look good in a demo video. The inclusion of both a vibrant color look and a muted tonal look in a single small pack is a smart move for event shooters who need to switch moods quickly without reloading different files. (Tu - Chasing Light Collection)
What actually matters
Before you buy, keep in mind that Josh is upfront about the limitations: these are not magical one-click solutions. The presets create a great starting point, but you still need to adjust exposure, tones, and white balance based on your specific shooting conditions. If you shoot in very low light or harsh midday sun, the Reminisce preset might need a manual exposure drop to avoid clipping highlights. (Tu - Chasing Light Collection)
Check your Lightroom version. The pack works for Lightroom Classic, Lightroom Cloud, and the Mobile app, so if you are editing on an iPad or phone, you are covered. However, if you are using a different editing software like Capture One or Photoshop (without Lightroom integration), this won’t apply. (Tu - Chasing Light Collection)
Also, consider your shooting style. If you prefer a very flat, neutral look for heavy post-production color grading, the Valhalla preset’s emphasis on greens and reds might be too opinionated for your taste. But if you want a fast, consistent look that saves you 10-15 minutes per image, the Chasing Light Collection is a strong value.
Mid-check
If you are ready to streamline your editing workflow with a proven, four-preset kit, check the current availability and download options. (Tu - Chasing Light Collection)
FAQ
Do these presets work on mobile devices? Yes. The Chasing Light Collection is compatible with Lightroom Cloud (Mobile) and Lightroom Classic, so you can edit on your phone or tablet just as easily as on your desktop.
Are these presets suitable for portraits? While they are geared towards sports, the listing notes that they work well for portraits and events as well. The Reminisce preset’s color pop is particularly effective for making skin tones and clothing stand out in portrait work. (Tu - Chasing Light Collection)
Do I need to adjust the settings after applying the preset? Yes. Josh explicitly states that these are not one-click solutions. You should adjust exposure, tones, and other settings based on your shooting situation. The presets provide a great base, but manual fine-tuning is part of the process. (Tu - Chasing Light Collection)
Bottom line
If you are a sports or event photographer who wants to stop guessing your color grades and start with a professional foundation, the Chasing Light Collection is a no-brainer at $29. You get a vibrant color look, a muted tonal option, a strong B&W base, and a film-grain aesthetic, all from a photographer who uses these exact files for major clients. It is a small investment for a significant time-saver in your editing workflow.