The flexibility of the presets and HSL has allowed me to think freely about what and how I want to photograph, the story I want to tell, and stress less about the end result while I'm editing.
Chrystal Longe approaches photography with one goal in mind: make it feel like something.
Shooting digital, she's always chasing the warmth, texture, and emotional depth that film photographers talk about—the quality that makes an image feel lived-in rather than recorded.
By combining film-inspired presets with HSL, Grain, Bloom, and Halation, she builds color and softness into each frame with intention. Editing isn’t just a finishing step, but part of how she thinks about an image before she takes it. Her workflow isn't about over-editing. It's about making images that feel exactly how the moment did.
In this conversation, Chrystal walks through the tools shaping her practice, and why learning to work with color changed not just her edits, but how she photographs.
1. What VSCO editing tools do you use regularly?
While I try to experiment and utilize all of the editing tools VSCO has to offer, I find that I most often use the presets, specifically the Fujifilm and Kodak Film X presets. I also use frame and texture effects, Grain, and HSL tools while editing my work.
I’ve really been enjoying the addition of the Bloom and Halation tools to add a dreamy, nostalgic tone to my photos.
2. What keeps you reaching for presets, and what do you pair them with?
I enjoy using presets for the ease of control with color grading, and the invitation to experimentation with editing without eating up much of my time.
I also like to use presets as a learning tool, using them as inspiration for ways I can edit images that I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
Paired with the HSL and Grain tools, I can achieve the vibrancy and richness in my photos to match the feeling I’m aiming for in that moment.
Although I mainly shoot on digital cameras, I'm always striving for the tactile quality that is frequently sought after with film photography. I love the convenience of shooting digital, but I sometimes find that digital images can appear a bit clinical or sterile.
Over time, I've found that muting or brightening specific colors and tones, adding a little grain, some texture, or a frame is what an image needs for the final touch.
3. Have any of these tools changed how you photograph?
I would certainly say some of these tools have changed how I photograph, notably the HSL tool, and the vast collection of presets.
I have always been attracted to strong colorplay in artwork, and VSCO adding the HSL tool to their editing suite as I was diving deeper into photography felt like a door opening in my realm of creativity.
I had grown up experimenting with various editing software, but hadn't gotten a true grasp on how to manipulate colors. The flexibility of the presets and HSL has allowed me to think freely about what and how I want to photograph, the story I want to tell, and stress less about the end result while I'm editing.
I like to use presets as a learning tool, using them as inspiration for ways I can edit images that I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
4. What are you exploring now, and which tools are playing a role?
Lately, I have been intrigued by the Bloom and Halation tools, particularly in conjunction with the distressed and texture effects.
I've been diving into macro photography, focusing on abstract and organic textures, flowers, and details in nature. Utilizing these tools, I can create misty and romantic scenes, and add soft details that were missed in the moment.
I look forward to using these features more in the upcoming warmer months as the weather and light changes, and nature comes into bloom.
5. Can you describe your photography practice in a couple of sentences?
My primary passion in photography is to have fun, focus on the details, and capture the world as I see it. There are limitless ways to use a camera—the absolute best way to learn how to use one and discover what you enjoy shooting is to experiment. Like most mediums, a lot of 'failures' are future lessons.
The camera captures the moment. Color and texture make it feel real.
Chrystal's workflow is built on feeling. Presets give her a starting point and room to experiment without losing time. HSL lets her work color-by-color—shifting, saturating, pulling back—until the image matches what she actually saw. Grain and texture add tactility. Bloom and Halation bring the softness and warmth that makes a digital file feel lived-in.
Each tool has a specific job. Together they build a process that's fast, repeatable, and intentional across every shoot. Once you get to know your tools, consistency stops being something you chase and it just starts shows up in the work.
The absolute best way to learn what you enjoy shooting is to experiment. Like most mediums, a lot of ‘failures’ are future lessons.
