The Dvlop Photos Go to College by AFFOB preset pack is a collection of looks designed to give your images a distinct, character-rich aesthetic. It’s built for photographers who want to infuse their work with a mood that, according to the creator, draws from an award-winning style. This pack seems particularly suited for wedding, portrait, and photojournalism work, but you should know upfront that key compatibility details, especially for specific cameras, aren’t published.
What’s in the Dvlop Photos Go to College preset pack?
This pack includes a total of 5 main presets and one bonus tool. You get three color presets and two black and white options, which is a pretty balanced split for a general-purpose pack like this.
The color presets are:
- 01. Myage: This one offers a soft pastel blue undertone. I find this kind of look often works well for creating a dreamy, slightly desaturated feel, which can be great for certain portrait styles or even some wedding aesthetics, especially if you’re going for something ethereal.
- 02. Catalina: The creator describes this as a punchy golden brown. A golden brown can add warmth and richness, giving images a slightly vintage or autumnal vibe. “Punchy” suggests it’ll have some good contrast, making it suitable for situations where you want your subjects to really pop.
- 03. Suburban Home: This preset delivers a deep blue. Deep blues can be fantastic for moodier shots, night scenes, or even to enhance skies and water in landscapes, adding drama and a sense of depth.
For black and white, you have two distinct options:
- 04. Hope: The creator says this is punchy and soft, and forgiving on skin. That’s a good combination for black and white portraits, where you want strong visual impact without making skin look harsh or overly textured.
- 05. Bikeage: This one is described as “thicker” and working in most situations. A “thicker” black and white often implies richer blacks, more pronounced shadows, and a generally bolder look. It sounds like a solid, versatile option for a wide range of images.
On top of these, you get a Fade Tool. Fade tools are usually for creative play, letting you reduce overall contrast and lift the blacks for that popular matte look, or to handle high contrast situations by softening the extremes. It’s a nice addition for more stylistic control.
What cameras and profiles are these presets built for?
The Dvlop Photos Go to College presets leverage DVLOP’s advanced Dual Illuminant Profiles. This is a pretty sophisticated feature, especially in Lightroom. Dual Illuminant Profiles allow the preset to react differently depending on whether your image was shot under warmer or cooler lighting conditions, giving you more consistent results across varying light sources.
However, this is also where some of the biggest unknowns lie. The creator doesn’t publish a specific list of supported cameras. This is a pretty significant gap, especially if you’re a professional who relies on precise color. While DVLOP profiles generally work across many cameras, not knowing if your specific model is optimized can lead to unexpected color shifts or skin tone issues. It means you’d need to do some testing yourself to ensure it plays nice with your camera’s raw files.
Furthermore, there’s no information on log profile compatibility. If you’re shooting video or stills in a flat log profile like S-Log3, V-Log, or C-Log, this is the part that matters. Presets designed for standard photo profiles often won’t behave correctly on log footage without a conversion LUT applied first. Without clarification, I’d assume these are built for standard, non-log raw files. If you shoot log, you’ll likely need to apply a camera-specific conversion LUT before applying these presets, which adds a step to your workflow and might not give you the intended look right out of the gate.
What kind of images and mood do these presets suit?
Judging from the creator’s background and the preset descriptions, Dvlop Photos Go to College by AFFOB is aimed squarely at photographers looking for a specific, often gritty and unconventional, aesthetic. AFFOB got their start contributing to the WSJ and pioneered a distinct approach to wedding photography, so you can expect a style that’s less about pristine perfection and more about character and mood.
According to the product information, these presets are made for:
- Wedding photography: Given AFFOB’s recognition as top wedding photographers and rising stars in the field, this is a clear fit. The looks suggest something beyond traditional bright and airy, likely leaning into more dramatic or photojournalistic styles.
- Portraiture: The “Hope” black and white preset is specifically called out as being forgiving on skin, which is a good sign for portrait work. The range of color presets could also offer diverse moods for different portrait subjects.
- Adventurous photojournalism: This aligns perfectly with AFFOB’s gritty approach. If you’re documenting events or life in a raw, authentic way, these presets could enhance that storytelling.
- Landscapes and shadow play: The descriptions of deep blues and “thicker” black and whites suggest these presets aren’t just for people. They could add drama and depth to environmental shots, making them great for conveying a strong sense of place or mood.
On paper, this pack seems built for photographers who want to inject their images with a strong, recognizable style, moving away from generic looks towards something more artistic and impactful.
Using AFFOB’s presets in your workflow
These presets are designed for use within Adobe’s photography ecosystem, which is pretty standard for DVLOP products. Specifically, they’re compatible with:
- Adobe Lightroom 4 or later (Classic)
- Adobe Camera Raw CS6 or later
- Adobe Lightroom CC Desktop 1.4 or later and Mobile (Non-Classic)
This broad compatibility means if you’re already an Adobe user, you should be able to integrate these presets easily into your existing workflow. Presets are generally applied early in the grading process, usually right after importing your raw files. They give you a base look that you can then tweak further with your own adjustments to exposure, white balance, and local corrections.
The fact that they use DVLOP’s Dual Illuminant Profiles means they should offer a more intelligent starting point than a simple LUT or basic preset. This technology helps maintain color consistency even when your lighting conditions change, which is a huge time-saver when you’re working through a large batch of images, like a wedding album. You can read more about how DVLOP integrates with other creators’ styles in articles like the DVLOP Mixology by Two Mann Studios Review, which covers another DVLOP product.
Skip Dvlop Photos Go to College if…
While Dvlop Photos Go to College by AFFOB offers a distinct aesthetic, it’s not for everyone. You should probably skip this pack if:
- You need precise camera-specific color profiles: The lack of a specific list of supported cameras is a drawback. If you work with multiple camera systems and need guaranteed color accuracy without extensive personal testing, this omission could be a dealbreaker. You might find yourself doing more correctional work than you’d like to get the presets to sit right on your specific camera’s files.
- You primarily shoot in log profiles (S-Log, C-Log, V-Log, etc.): As mentioned, there’s no information on log profile compatibility. If your main workflow involves shooting flat log footage, these presets likely won’t give you the desired results directly. You’d need to add a conversion LUT step, which complicates things and doesn’t guarantee the intended look. For log-specific solutions, you might look at products like those covered in the Is Video Lut Pack 1 by Goodlight Presets Worth It? review, which are explicitly designed for video.
- You prefer a bright, airy, or ultra-clean aesthetic: AFFOB’s background suggests a “gritty and unconventional approach.” While versatile, these presets are unlikely to deliver the super light, pastel, or perfectly clean looks that are popular in some photography niches. The “punchy golden brown” and “deep blue” descriptions lean towards moodier, more character-driven results.
- You’re looking for a one-size-fits-all solution for operating systems: The compatibility lists the required Adobe software versions, but operating system compatibility isn’t specified. While usually implied by Adobe’s requirements, if you’re on an older or niche OS, this could be an unstated limit.
My strongest opinion here is about the missing camera and log profile information. For a colorist, that’s crucial. Not knowing means you’re taking a bit of a gamble, especially if you’re particular about your starting point.
So, should you get Dvlop Photos Go to College?
If you’re an Adobe user looking to inject a gritty, character-filled, and unconventional mood into your wedding, portrait, or photojournalistic work, and you don’t mind experimenting a bit with your camera’s raw files, this preset pack could be a strong contender. However, if precise camera-specific compatibility or explicit log profile support is non-negotiable for your workflow, you might find yourself doing extra work to make these presets fit. Consider your existing gear and creative style carefully.
Questions people ask
What software is compatible with Dvlop Photos Go to College by AFFOB?
Dvlop Photos Go to College by AFFOB is compatible with Adobe® Lightroom® 4 or later (Classic), Adobe® Camera Raw CS6 or later, and Adobe® Lightroom® CC Desktop 1.4 or later and Mobile (Non-Classic).
How many presets are included in the Photos Go to College pack?
The Dvlop Photos Go to College pack includes 5 main presets (3 color, 2 black and white) and an additional Fade Tool.
What kind of aesthetic do AFFOB's presets offer?
AFFOB's presets are designed to infuse images with character, mood, and an award-winning, gritty, and unconventional aesthetic, suitable for wedding, portraiture, and adventurous photojournalism.
Are there any black and white presets in this pack?
Yes, the pack includes two black and white presets: "Hope," which is punchy, soft, and forgiving on skin, and "Bikeage," described as thicker and working in most situations.
Prefer to buy directly from AFFOB at full price? See the official page.
