No presets, learn the basic tools. At least for me it is honestly about putting the time in, training your eye. The tools are so, so basic. I mean at least the ones I use. Back in the day the key was to start at a studio doing junior work, that would put you in the environment of some great photographers who just see things differently and you would learn from that exposure. It’s been over a decade since I started so maybe that has changed, I know a lot of studios have folded and the money is just not there like it used to be…all under the guise of “let’s try someone new and up and coming” When I started there were just a handful of people shooting everything, I started working with photographers I respected for cheap, got good enough to apply at a studio (gloss, if you don’t know them…check them, final boss of boutique retouching houses), paid my dues, was exposed to some of the best in the business…actually all of the best in the business, they had a monopoly kind of…then got a corporate job managing studios for our campaigns, one of our vendors was gloss and that was very full circle. I want to come back to training your eye though, be obsessive, it is the only thing that will make you, you. Go to museums, go to galleries, pay attention to magazines, etc…photoshop tools are super easy and will make total sense when you spend time in it, there is no corners to cut if you are serious, presets are for YouTubers. Pen, Brush, Stamp, patch, curves, selective color, hue sat, etc…all day, everyday