How to Edit Moody Street Photography in Lightroom Using Presets

If you’re into street photography and want that dark, gritty, cinematic vibe, you’re in the right place. In this guide, I’ll show you how to edit moody street photos in Lightroom using a simple, effective workflow and presets that make it way easier.

We’re talking low light, deep shadows, rich contrast, and that raw feeling street photography was made for. No fluff – just a straight path from flat RAW to full mood.

How do you Edit Moody Street Photos in Lightroom?

To edit moody street photos in Lightroom, start by lowering the exposure slightly, increase contrast, reduce highlights, and deepen shadows. Adjust the blacks and whites for balance. Use split toning to cool the highlights and warm the shadows. Then apply a preset that enhances low-light tones and cinematic contrast.

For photographers who want sharp, moody edits, our street presets Lightroom collection is a perfect fit. It helps you capture the raw energy of the streets while keeping a professional look.

Step-by-Step Guide to Editing Moody Street Photos

Here’s a simple process you can follow every time. All you need is Lightroom (Classic or Mobile), and a preset to kickstart the look.

1. Start with the Right Photo

A moody edit works best when your photo already has good shadow and light play, think streetlights, neon signs, golden hour, or even overcast days.

Pro tip: Shoot in RAW to give yourself more flexibility in editing.

2. Apply a Moody Preset

Presets aren’t cheating – they’re tools. Use a preset that’s built for street photography with strong blacks, low saturation, and cinematic tones. One-click gets you 80% there.

• Looking for something fast and bold? Try a preset from the Street Photography Preset collection.
• If you’re new to all this, our guide to presets for beginners is a good place to start.

3. Tweak Basic Settings

After applying the preset, fine-tune the image.

4. Adjust the Tone Curve

The Tone Curve is where you lock in the mood.

• Drop the shadow end of the curve slightly down.
• Lift the blacks just a touch for that matte look.
• Add a soft S-curve for contrast.

This adds drama and a cinematic feel that screams “moody.”

5. Color Grading (Split Toning)

This is huge. Color grading sets the tone – literally.

• Shadows: Add warm tones (orange, red, or brown)
• Highlights: Cool tones (blue or teal)

This creates contrast between light and dark areas and sets the emotional tone.

6. Desaturate, But Don’t Go Grey

Lower the overall vibrance and saturation a little – just enough to pull color back without making it dull.

• Target the HSL panel to desaturate greens and yellows, and keep reds strong.
• This gives skin tones character and makes street signs pop in a subtle way.

7. Finish with Detail and Calibration

• Add a small amount of grain for a filmic texture.
• Use Lens Corrections to fix distortion.
• In Calibration, shift the blue primary hue a little for a final tone boost.

When to Use a Moody Edit in Street Photography

• Night shots with strong light contrast
• Foggy or rainy scenes
• Urban scenes with harsh shadows
• Neon or artificial lighting (think Tokyo, Berlin, NYC)

Need help creating that neon vibe? Check out our film-look street editing guide for a different flavor.

Final Thoughts

When you edit moody street photos in Lightroom, you’re adding emotion, style, and edge. Presets speed up the process, and small adjustments make it personal. Keep it bold, keep it real, and don’t be afraid to break the rules a bit.

Your street shots deserve to feel like they came straight from a movie frame – and Lightroom makes that totally doable.

Want to see what presets can do? Start here with our Street Photography Editing Workflow.

Now go edit moody street photos in Lightroom – and make them hit hard.