diff --git a/Preselection/data/HH_ggTauTau_default.json b/Preselection/data/HH_ggTauTau_default.json
index 3ffaead..7b0be62 100644
--- a/Preselection/data/HH_ggTauTau_default.json
+++ b/Preselection/data/HH_ggTauTau_default.json
@@ -14,5 +14,36 @@
         "muon1_pt", "muon1_eta", "muon2_pt", "muon2_eta",
         "tau1_pt", "tau1_eta", "tau2_pt", "tau2_eta", "tau1_id_vs_e", "tau1_id_vs_m", "tau1_id_vs_j", "tau2_id_vs_e", "tau2_id_vs_m", "tau2_id_vs_j",
         "n_tau", "n_electrons", "n_muons"
-    ]
+    ],
+    "selection_options" : {
+        "photons" : {
+            "idmva_cut" : -0.7
+        },
+        "electrons" : {
+            "pt" : 10.0,
+            "eta" : 2.4,
+            "ip_xy" : 0.045,
+            "ip_z" : 0.2,
+            "dR_pho" : 0.2
+        },
+        "muons" : {
+            "pt" : 10.0,
+            "eta" : 2.4,
+            "ip_xy" : 0.045,
+            "ip_z" : 0.2,
+            "rel_iso" : 0.3,
+            "dR_pho" : 0.2
+        },
+        "taus" : {
+            "pt" : 20.0,
+            "eta" : 2.3,
+            "dz" : 0.2,
+            "DeepTau_vs_e" : 2,
+            "DeepTau_vs_mu" : 1,
+            "DeepTau_vs_jet" : 8,
+            "dR_pho" : 0.2,
+            "dR_lep" : 0.2
+        },
+        "n_leptons_and_taus" : 1
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Preselection/helpers/loop_helper.py b/Preselection/helpers/loop_helper.py
index d5c6d03..154ae9b 100644
--- a/Preselection/helpers/loop_helper.py
+++ b/Preselection/helpers/loop_helper.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import awkward
 import multiprocessing
 import time
+import copy
 
 import selections.photon_selections as photon_selections
 import selections.analysis_selections as analysis_selections
@@ -217,19 +218,22 @@ def write_summary(self):
 
     def select_events(self, events, metadata):
         # Dipho preselection
-        events = photon_selections.diphoton_preselection(events, metadata["resonant"], self.debug)
-        events.Photon = events.Photon[photon_selections.select_photons(events, self.debug)]
+        options = copy.deepcopy(self.selection_options)
+        for key, value in metadata.items(): # add sample-specific options to selection options
+            options[key] = value
+        events = photon_selections.diphoton_preselection(events, options, self.debug)
+        events.Photon = events.Photon[photon_selections.select_photons(events, options, self.debug)]
 
         if self.selections == "HHggTauTau_InclusivePresel":
-            events = analysis_selections.ggTauTau_inclusive_preselection(events, self.debug)
-            events.Electron = events.Electron[lepton_selections.select_electrons(events, events.Photon, self.debug)]
-            events.Muon = events.Muon[lepton_selections.select_muons(events, events.Photon, self.debug)]
-            events.Tau = events.Tau[tau_selections.select_taus(events, events.Photon, events.Muon, events.Electron, self.debug)]
+            events = analysis_selections.ggTauTau_inclusive_preselection(events, options, self.debug)
+            events.Electron = events.Electron[lepton_selections.select_electrons(events, events.Photon, options, self.debug)]
+            events.Muon = events.Muon[lepton_selections.select_muons(events, events.Photon, options, self.debug)]
+            events.Tau = events.Tau[tau_selections.select_taus(events, events.Photon, events.Muon, events.Electron, options, self.debug)]
 
         elif self.selections == "ttH_LeptonicPresel":
-            events = analysis_selections.tth_leptonic_preselection(events, self.debug)
-            events.Electron = events.Electron[lepton_selections.select_electrons(events, events.Photon, self.debug)]
-            events.Muon = events.Muon[lepton_selections.select_muons(events, events.Photon, self.debug)]
+            events = analysis_selections.tth_leptonic_preselection(events, options, self.debug)
+            events.Electron = events.Electron[lepton_selections.select_electrons(events, events.Photon, options, self.debug)]
+            events.Muon = events.Muon[lepton_selections.select_muons(events, events.Photon, options, self.debug)]
 
         return events
 
diff --git a/Preselection/selections/analysis_selections.py b/Preselection/selections/analysis_selections.py
index 25b31f9..6944378 100644
--- a/Preselection/selections/analysis_selections.py
+++ b/Preselection/selections/analysis_selections.py
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@
 import selections.tau_selections as tau_selections
 import selections.photon_selections as photon_selections
 
-def ggTauTau_inclusive_preselection(events, debug):
+def ggTauTau_inclusive_preselection(events, options, debug):
     cut_diagnostics = utils.CutDiagnostics(events = events, debug = debug, cut_set = "[analysis_selections.py : ggTauTau_inclusive_preselection]")
 
     # Get number of electrons, muons, taus
-    electron_selection = lepton_selections.select_electrons(events, events.Photon, debug)
-    muon_selection = lepton_selections.select_muons(events, events.Photon, debug)
-    tau_selection = tau_selections.select_taus(events, events.Photon, events.Muon[muon_selection], events.Electron[electron_selection], debug) 
+    electron_selection = lepton_selections.select_electrons(events, events.Photon, options, debug)
+    muon_selection = lepton_selections.select_muons(events, events.Photon, options, debug)
+    tau_selection = tau_selections.select_taus(events, events.Photon, events.Muon[muon_selection], events.Electron[electron_selection], options, debug) 
     
     n_electrons = awkward.num(events.Electron[electron_selection])
     n_muons = awkward.num(events.Muon[muon_selection])
@@ -22,14 +22,14 @@ def ggTauTau_inclusive_preselection(events, debug):
     
     # Require >= 1 lep/tau
     n_leptons_and_taus = n_electrons + n_muons + n_taus
-    lep_tau_cut = n_leptons_and_taus >= 1
+    lep_tau_cut = n_leptons_and_taus >= options["n_leptons_and_taus"] 
 
     # Require OS leptons/taus for events with 2 leptons/taus
     sum_charge = awkward.sum(events.Electron[electron_selection].charge, axis=1) + awkward.sum(events.Muon[muon_selection].charge, axis=1) + awkward.sum(events.Tau[tau_selection].charge, axis=1)
     charge_cut = sum_charge == 0
-    n_lep_cut = n_leptons_and_taus == 2
+    two_leptons = n_leptons_and_taus == 2
     not_two_leptons = n_leptons_and_taus != 2
-    os_cut = (n_lep_cut & charge_cut) | not_two_leptons # only require 2 OS leptons if there are ==2 leptons in the event
+    os_cut = (two_leptons & charge_cut) | not_two_leptons # only require 2 OS leptons if there are ==2 leptons in the event
 
     all_cuts = lep_tau_cut & os_cut
     cut_diagnostics.add_cuts([lep_tau_cut, os_cut, all_cuts], ["N_leptons + N_taus >= 1", "OS dileptons", "all"])
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def ggTauTau_inclusive_preselection(events, debug):
 
     return events
 
-def tth_leptonic_preselection(events, debug):
+def tth_leptonic_preselection(events, options, debug):
     cut_diagnostics = utils.CutDiagnostics(events = events, debug = debug, cut_set = "[analysis_selections.py : tth_leptonic_preselection]")
     
     # Get number of electrons, muons
diff --git a/Preselection/selections/lepton_selections.py b/Preselection/selections/lepton_selections.py
index ea8b885..6459e66 100644
--- a/Preselection/selections/lepton_selections.py
+++ b/Preselection/selections/lepton_selections.py
@@ -7,15 +7,17 @@
 
 DR_LEP_PHO = 0.2
 
-def select_electrons(events, photons, debug):
+def select_electrons(events, photons, options, debug):
     cut_diagnostics = utils.ObjectCutDiagnostics(objects = events.Electron, cut_set = "[lepton_selections.py : select_electrons]", debug = debug)
 
-    pt_cut = events.Electron.pt > 10
-    eta_cut = abs(events.Electron.eta) < 2.5
-    ip_xy_cut = abs(events.Electron.dxy) < 0.045
-    ip_z_cut = abs(events.Electron.dz) < 0.2
+    pt_cut = events.Electron.pt > options["electrons"]["pt"]
+    eta_cut = abs(events.Electron.eta) < options["electrons"]["eta"]
+    ip_xy_cut = abs(events.Electron.dxy) < options["electrons"]["ip_xy"]
+    ip_z_cut = abs(events.Electron.dz) < options["electrons"]["ip_z"]
     id_cut = (events.Electron.mvaFall17V2Iso_WP90 == True | ((events.Electron.mvaFall17V2noIso_WP90 == True) & (events.Electron.pfRelIso03_all < 0.3)))
-    dR_cut = object_selections.select_deltaR(events, events.Electron, photons, DR_LEP_PHO, debug)
+    # TODO: make ID cut configurable
+    # also: ID cut has pretty low efficiency on signal, loosen?
+    dR_cut = object_selections.select_deltaR(events, events.Electron, photons, options["electrons"]["dR_pho"], debug)
 
     electron_cut = pt_cut & eta_cut & ip_xy_cut & ip_z_cut & id_cut & dR_cut
 
@@ -23,15 +25,15 @@ def select_electrons(events, photons, debug):
 
     return electron_cut
 
-def select_muons(events, photons, debug):
+def select_muons(events, photons, options, debug):
     cut_diagnostics = utils.ObjectCutDiagnostics(objects = events.Muon, cut_set = "[lepton_selections.py : select_muons]", debug = debug)
 
-    pt_cut = events.Muon.pt > 10
-    eta_cut = abs(events.Muon.eta) < 2.4
-    ip_xy_cut = abs(events.Muon.dxy) < 0.045
-    ip_z_cut = abs(events.Muon.dz) < 0.2
-    iso_cut = events.Muon.pfRelIso03_all < 0.3
-    dR_cut = object_selections.select_deltaR(events, events.Muon, photons, DR_LEP_PHO, debug)
+    pt_cut = events.Muon.pt > options["muons"]["pt"]
+    eta_cut = abs(events.Muon.eta) < options["muons"]["eta"]
+    ip_xy_cut = abs(events.Muon.dxy) < options["muons"]["ip_xy"]
+    ip_z_cut = abs(events.Muon.dz) < options["muons"]["ip_z"]
+    iso_cut = events.Muon.pfRelIso03_all < options["muons"]["rel_iso"]
+    dR_cut = object_selections.select_deltaR(events, events.Muon, photons, options["muons"]["dR_pho"], debug)
 
     muon_cut = pt_cut & eta_cut & ip_xy_cut & ip_z_cut & iso_cut & dR_cut
 
diff --git a/Preselection/selections/photon_selections.py b/Preselection/selections/photon_selections.py
index 75d3527..9702910 100644
--- a/Preselection/selections/photon_selections.py
+++ b/Preselection/selections/photon_selections.py
@@ -18,13 +18,14 @@
     2. Trim objects with object-level selections afterwards
 """
 
-def diphoton_preselection(events, resonant, debug):
+def diphoton_preselection(events, options, debug):
     # Initialize cut diagnostics tool for debugging
     cut_diagnostics = utils.CutDiagnostics(events = events, debug = debug, cut_set = "[photon_selections.py : diphoton_preselection]")
 
-    photons = events.Photon[select_photons(events, debug)]
+    photons = events.Photon[select_photons(events, options, debug)]
 
     ### mgg cut ###
+    resonant = options["resonant"]
     if resonant:
         mgg_mask = numpy.array(events.ggMass > 100) & numpy.array(events.ggMass < 180)
     else:
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ def diphoton_preselection(events, resonant, debug):
     pt_mgg_cut = lead_pt_mgg_cut & sublead_pt_mgg_cut
 
     ### pho ID MVA cuts ###
-    pho_idmva_requirement = photons.mvaID > -0.7
+    pho_idmva_requirement = photons.mvaID > options["photons"]["idmva_cut"]
     pho_idmva_cut = awkward.num(photons[pho_idmva_requirement]) >= 2 # both photons must pass id mva requirement
 
     ### electron veto cut ###
@@ -58,13 +59,13 @@ def diphoton_preselection(events, resonant, debug):
 
     return events
 
-def select_photons(events, debug):
+def select_photons(events, options, debug):
     cut_diagnostics = utils.ObjectCutDiagnostics(objects = events.Photon, cut_set = "[photon_selections.py : select_photons]", debug = debug)
     
     pt_cut = events.Photon.pt > 25
     eta_cut = abs(events.Photon.eta) < 2.5
     pt_mgg_cut = (events.Photon.pt / events.ggMass) >= 0.25
-    idmva_cut = events.Photon.mvaID > -0.7
+    idmva_cut = events.Photon.mvaID > options["photons"]["idmva_cut"] 
     eveto_cut = events.Photon.electronVeto == 1
     photon_cut = pt_cut & eta_cut & pt_mgg_cut & idmva_cut & eveto_cut
 
diff --git a/Preselection/selections/tau_selections.py b/Preselection/selections/tau_selections.py
index bd6be40..088e1ab 100644
--- a/Preselection/selections/tau_selections.py
+++ b/Preselection/selections/tau_selections.py
@@ -8,21 +8,21 @@
 DR_TAU_PHO = 0.2
 DR_TAU_LEP = 0.2
 
-def select_taus(events, photons, muons, electrons, debug):
+def select_taus(events, photons, muons, electrons, options, debug):
     cut_diagnostics = utils.ObjectCutDiagnostics(objects = events.Tau, cut_set = "[tau_selections.py : select_taus]", debug = debug)
 
-    pt_cut = events.Tau.pt > 20
-    eta_cut = abs(events.Tau.eta) < 2.3
+    pt_cut = events.Tau.pt > options["taus"]["pt"]
+    eta_cut = abs(events.Tau.eta) < options["taus"]["eta"]
     decay_mode_cut = events.Tau.idDecayModeNewDMs == True
-    dz_cut = abs(events.Tau.dz) < 0.2
+    dz_cut = abs(events.Tau.dz) < options["taus"]["dz"]
 
-    id_electron_cut = events.Tau.idDeepTau2017v2p1VSe >= 2
-    id_muon_cut = events.Tau.idDeepTau2017v2p1VSmu >= 1
-    id_jet_cut = events.Tau.idDeepTau2017v2p1VSjet >= 8
+    id_electron_cut = events.Tau.idDeepTau2017v2p1VSe >= options["taus"]["DeepTau_vs_e"]
+    id_muon_cut = events.Tau.idDeepTau2017v2p1VSmu >= options["taus"]["DeepTau_vs_mu"]
+    id_jet_cut = events.Tau.idDeepTau2017v2p1VSjet >= options["taus"]["DeepTau_vs_jet"]
 
-    dR_pho_cut = object_selections.select_deltaR(events, events.Tau, photons, DR_TAU_PHO, debug) 
-    dR_muon_cut = object_selections.select_deltaR(events, events.Tau, muons, DR_TAU_LEP, debug) 
-    dR_ele_cut = object_selections.select_deltaR(events, events.Tau, electrons, DR_TAU_LEP, debug) 
+    dR_pho_cut = object_selections.select_deltaR(events, events.Tau, photons, options["taus"]["dR_pho"], debug) 
+    dR_muon_cut = object_selections.select_deltaR(events, events.Tau, muons, options["taus"]["dR_lep"], debug) 
+    dR_ele_cut = object_selections.select_deltaR(events, events.Tau, electrons, options["taus"]["dR_lep"], debug) 
 
     tau_cut = pt_cut & eta_cut & decay_mode_cut & dz_cut & id_electron_cut & id_muon_cut & id_jet_cut & dR_pho_cut & dR_muon_cut & dR_ele_cut