diff --git a/AutomatedTesting/LightingPresets/greenwich_park_02.lightingconfig.json b/AutomatedTesting/LightingPresets/greenwich_park_02.lightingconfig.json
index 1646dd18a2..bfb92bbb6f 100644
--- a/AutomatedTesting/LightingPresets/greenwich_park_02.lightingconfig.json
+++ b/AutomatedTesting/LightingPresets/greenwich_park_02.lightingconfig.json
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {
     "configurations": [
         {
-            "autoSelect": false,
             "displayName": "Greenwich Park 02",
             "skyboxImageAsset": {
                 "assetId": {
@@ -64,7 +63,6 @@
             "shadowCatcherOpacity": 0.20000000298023225
         },
         {
-            "autoSelect": false,
             "displayName": "Greenwich Park 02 (Alt)",
             "skyboxImageAsset": {
                 "assetId": {
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Include/Atom/Feature/Utils/LightingPreset.h b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Include/Atom/Feature/Utils/LightingPreset.h
index 1c220e0d8d..f1d8337a35 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Include/Atom/Feature/Utils/LightingPreset.h
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Include/Atom/Feature/Utils/LightingPreset.h
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ namespace AZ
             AZ_CLASS_ALLOCATOR(LightingPreset, AZ::SystemAllocator, 0);
             static void Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context);
 
-            bool m_autoSelect = false;
             AZStd::string m_displayName;
             AZ::Data::Asset<AZ::RPI::StreamingImageAsset> m_iblDiffuseImageAsset;
             AZ::Data::Asset<AZ::RPI::StreamingImageAsset> m_iblSpecularImageAsset;
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Include/Atom/Feature/Utils/ModelPreset.h b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Include/Atom/Feature/Utils/ModelPreset.h
index 896d6fb78f..9ca8c13859 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Include/Atom/Feature/Utils/ModelPreset.h
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Include/Atom/Feature/Utils/ModelPreset.h
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ namespace AZ
             AZ_CLASS_ALLOCATOR(ModelPreset, AZ::SystemAllocator, 0);
             static void Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context);
 
-            bool m_autoSelect = false;
             AZStd::string m_displayName;
             AZ::Data::Asset<AZ::RPI::ModelAsset> m_modelAsset;
             AZ::Data::Asset<AZ::RPI::StreamingImageAsset> m_previewImageAsset;
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/EditorLightingPreset.cpp b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/EditorLightingPreset.cpp
index e7f9c8b09f..1da9463bd8 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/EditorLightingPreset.cpp
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/EditorLightingPreset.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ namespace AZ
                         ->ClassElement(AZ::Edit::ClassElements::EditorData, "")
                             ->Attribute(AZ::Edit::Attributes::AutoExpand, true)
                         ->DataElement(AZ::Edit::UIHandlers::Default, &LightingPreset::m_displayName, "Display Name", "Identifier used for display and selection")
-                        ->DataElement(AZ::Edit::UIHandlers::Default, &LightingPreset::m_autoSelect, "Auto Select", "When true, the configuration is automatically selected when loaded")
                         ->DataElement(AZ::Edit::UIHandlers::Default, &LightingPreset::m_iblDiffuseImageAsset, "IBL Diffuse Image Asset", "IBL diffuse image asset reference")
                         ->DataElement(AZ::Edit::UIHandlers::Default, &LightingPreset::m_iblSpecularImageAsset, "IBL Specular Image Asset", "IBL specular image asset reference")
                         ->DataElement(AZ::Edit::UIHandlers::Default, &LightingPreset::m_skyboxImageAsset, "Skybox Image Asset", "Skybox image asset reference")
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/EditorModelPreset.cpp b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/EditorModelPreset.cpp
index b8b0b610f3..bed320c45d 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/EditorModelPreset.cpp
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/EditorModelPreset.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ namespace AZ
                         ->ClassElement(AZ::Edit::ClassElements::EditorData, "")
                             ->Attribute(AZ::Edit::Attributes::AutoExpand, true)
                         ->DataElement(AZ::Edit::UIHandlers::Default, &ModelPreset::m_displayName, "Display Name", "Identifier used for display and selection")
-                        ->DataElement(AZ::Edit::UIHandlers::Default, &ModelPreset::m_autoSelect, "Auto Select", "When true, the configuration is automatically selected when loaded")
                         ->DataElement(AZ::Edit::UIHandlers::Default, &ModelPreset::m_modelAsset, "Model Asset", "Model asset reference")
                         ->DataElement(AZ::Edit::UIHandlers::Default, &ModelPreset::m_previewImageAsset, "Preview Image Asset", "Preview image asset reference")
                         ;
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/LightingPreset.cpp b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/LightingPreset.cpp
index 837a725a9f..77924b87a3 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/LightingPreset.cpp
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/LightingPreset.cpp
@@ -105,8 +105,7 @@ namespace AZ
                 serializeContext->RegisterGenericType<AZStd::vector<LightConfig>>();
 
                 serializeContext->Class<LightingPreset>()
-                    ->Version(4)
-                    ->Field("autoSelect", &LightingPreset::m_autoSelect)
+                    ->Version(5)
                     ->Field("displayName", &LightingPreset::m_displayName)
                     ->Field("iblDiffuseImageAsset", &LightingPreset::m_iblDiffuseImageAsset)
                     ->Field("iblSpecularImageAsset", &LightingPreset::m_iblSpecularImageAsset)
@@ -128,7 +127,6 @@ namespace AZ
                     ->Attribute(AZ::Script::Attributes::Module, "render")
                     ->Constructor()
                     ->Constructor<const LightingPreset&>()
-                    ->Property("autoSelect", BehaviorValueProperty(&LightingPreset::m_autoSelect))
                     ->Property("displayName", BehaviorValueProperty(&LightingPreset::m_displayName))
                     ->Property("alternateSkyboxImageAsset", BehaviorValueProperty(&LightingPreset::m_alternateSkyboxImageAsset))
                     ->Property("skyboxImageAsset", BehaviorValueProperty(&LightingPreset::m_skyboxImageAsset))
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/ModelPreset.cpp b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/ModelPreset.cpp
index e93bfa527a..2795617c18 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/ModelPreset.cpp
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Feature/Common/Code/Source/Utils/ModelPreset.cpp
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ namespace AZ
             if (auto serializeContext = azrtti_cast<AZ::SerializeContext*>(context))
             {
                 serializeContext->Class<ModelPreset>()
-                    ->Version(2)
-                    ->Field("autoSelect", &ModelPreset::m_autoSelect)
+                    ->Version(3)
                     ->Field("displayName", &ModelPreset::m_displayName)
                     ->Field("modelAsset", &ModelPreset::m_modelAsset)
                     ->Field("previewImageAsset", &ModelPreset::m_previewImageAsset)
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@ namespace AZ
                     ->Attribute(AZ::Script::Attributes::Module, "render")
                     ->Constructor()
                     ->Constructor<const ModelPreset&>()
-                    ->Property("autoSelect", BehaviorValueProperty(&ModelPreset::m_autoSelect))
                     ->Property("displayName", BehaviorValueProperty(&ModelPreset::m_displayName))
                     ->Property("modelAsset", BehaviorValueProperty(&ModelPreset::m_modelAsset))
                     ->Property("previewImageAsset", BehaviorValueProperty(&ModelPreset::m_previewImageAsset))
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/TestData/TestData/LightingPresets/urban_street_02.lightingpreset.azasset b/Gems/Atom/TestData/TestData/LightingPresets/urban_street_02.lightingpreset.azasset
index d0a290649b..a676d5fba6 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/TestData/TestData/LightingPresets/urban_street_02.lightingpreset.azasset
+++ b/Gems/Atom/TestData/TestData/LightingPresets/urban_street_02.lightingpreset.azasset
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
     "Version": 1,
     "ClassName": "AZ::Render::LightingPreset",
     "ClassData": {
-        "autoSelect": false,
         "displayName": "Urban Street 02",
         "skyboxImageAsset": {
             "assetId": {
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/LightingPresets/_TEMPLATE_.lightingconfig.json.template b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/LightingPresets/_TEMPLATE_.lightingconfig.json.template
index 7cfa7edbc3..6d87c5eb7b 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/LightingPresets/_TEMPLATE_.lightingconfig.json.template
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/LightingPresets/_TEMPLATE_.lightingconfig.json.template
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
     "configurations": [
         {
             "displayName": "Substance: <template>",
-            "autoSelect": false,
             "iblSpecularImageFilePath": "materialeditor/lightingpresets/_Substance_/<latlong_image>_iblskyboxcm_iblspecular.exr.streamingimage",
             "iblDiffuseImageFilePath": "materialeditor/lightingpresets/_Substance_/<latlong_image>_iblskyboxcm_ibldiffuse.exr.streamingimage",
             "skyboxFilePath": "materialeditor/lightingpresets/_Substance_/<latlong_image>_iblskyboxcm.exr.streamingimage",
@@ -45,7 +44,6 @@
         },
         {
             "displayName": "Substance: <template> (Alt)",
-            "autoSelect": false,
             "iblSpecularImageFilePath": "materialeditor/lightingpresets/_Substance_/<latlong_image>_iblskyboxcm_iblspecular.exr.streamingimage",
             "iblDiffuseImageFilePath": "materialeditor/lightingpresets/_Substance_/<latlong_image>_iblskyboxcm_ibldiffuse.exr.streamingimage",
             "skyboxFilePath": "materialeditor/lightingpresets/_Substance_/<latlong_image>_iblskyboxcm_ibldiffuse.exr.streamingimage",
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/LightingPresets/neutral_urban.lightingpreset.azasset b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/LightingPresets/neutral_urban.lightingpreset.azasset
index 2f425b7b09..972c9c3c2b 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/LightingPresets/neutral_urban.lightingpreset.azasset
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/LightingPresets/neutral_urban.lightingpreset.azasset
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
     "Version": 1,
     "ClassName": "AZ::Render::LightingPreset",
     "ClassData": {
-        "autoSelect": true,
         "displayName": "Neutral Urban",
         "iblDiffuseImageAsset": {
             "assetId": {
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/ViewportModels/Shaderball.modelpreset.azasset b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/ViewportModels/Shaderball.modelpreset.azasset
index 3b0d20c7e0..2de1bdb6f8 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/ViewportModels/Shaderball.modelpreset.azasset
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Assets/MaterialEditor/ViewportModels/Shaderball.modelpreset.azasset
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
     "Version": 1,
     "ClassName": "AZ::Render::ModelPreset",
     "ClassData": {
-        "autoSelect": true,
         "displayName": "Shader Ball",
         "modelAsset": {
             "assetId": {
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Viewport/MaterialViewportComponent.cpp b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Viewport/MaterialViewportComponent.cpp
index b2ebc9a9a4..d6f2092d27 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Viewport/MaterialViewportComponent.cpp
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Viewport/MaterialViewportComponent.cpp
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ namespace MaterialEditor
 
         MaterialViewportNotificationBus::Broadcast(&MaterialViewportNotificationBus::Events::OnLightingPresetAdded, presetPtr);
 
-        if (preset.m_autoSelect || m_lightingPresetVector.size() == 1)
+        if (m_lightingPresetVector.size() == 1)
         {
             SelectLightingPreset(presetPtr);
         }
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ namespace MaterialEditor
 
         MaterialViewportNotificationBus::Broadcast(&MaterialViewportNotificationBus::Events::OnModelPresetAdded, presetPtr);
 
-        if (preset.m_autoSelect || m_modelPresetVector.size() == 1)
+        if (m_modelPresetVector.size() == 1)
         {
             SelectModelPreset(presetPtr);
         }
@@ -510,6 +510,13 @@ namespace MaterialEditor
 
     void MaterialViewportComponent::OnCatalogLoaded([[maybe_unused]] const char* catalogFile)
     {
-        AZ::TickBus::QueueFunction([this]() { ReloadContent(); });
+        AZ::TickBus::QueueFunction([this]() {
+            ReloadContent();
+
+            // Automatically select preferred default presets if they exist
+            // We will later data drive this with editor settings
+            SelectLightingPresetByName("Neutral Urban");
+            SelectModelPresetByName("Shader Ball");
+        });
     }
 }
diff --git a/Gems/AtomLyIntegration/CommonFeatures/Assets/EnvHDRi/photo_studio_01.lightingconfig.json b/Gems/AtomLyIntegration/CommonFeatures/Assets/EnvHDRi/photo_studio_01.lightingconfig.json
index a7addfe557..d3472a5f2f 100644
--- a/Gems/AtomLyIntegration/CommonFeatures/Assets/EnvHDRi/photo_studio_01.lightingconfig.json
+++ b/Gems/AtomLyIntegration/CommonFeatures/Assets/EnvHDRi/photo_studio_01.lightingconfig.json
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {
     "configurations": [
         {
-            "autoSelect": false,
             "displayName": "Photo Studio 01",
             "skyboxImageAsset": {
                 "assetId": {
@@ -64,7 +63,6 @@
             "shadowCatcherOpacity": 0.25
         },
         {
-            "autoSelect": false,
             "displayName": "Photo Studio 01 (Alt)",
             "skyboxImageAsset": {
                 "assetId": {