Another daunting topic when just starting out in visual media is trying to find which programs are best to edit on. In this post, I want to focus on editing software for photography/still media and we can talk about video/film another time. Personally, I have the most experience with Adobe Suite programs. I find myself using Photoshop and Lightroom, which you have most likely heard of before, the most. However, sometimes these programs can be confusing to operate if you're not familiar with them. In future posts, I will help break down the basics of these programs for a better understanding, but for now lets talk about which is best to use.
I find that if I have a lot of edits to do but i plan on editing most of them in the same style (a senior photo session for example), it is best to use Lightroom. This program allows you to import all your files at once and organize them into their own folder within the program. It also allows you to do essential edits such as white balance and spot correction, and be able to apply the edits directly to ALL of your photos if you wish. You can also purchase or make your own "presets" which are essentially edits that you find yourself using often on many of your photos. You can save the presets and directly apply them to however many photos you choose without having to do all the edits one-by-one on the photos which saves a lot of time. I am newer to using Lightroom than Photoshop, but from my experience so far, it is pretty user friendly once you understand it and is the best way to edit large shoots for quicker turn-arounds.
Photoshop is hands down the software that I have the most experience with. That being said...I still feel like I have a lot to learn. I am at the intermediate level with Photoshop because this is the first editing program i ever used and i have been using it since high school. This editing software is best for complicated edits that are more than just your basic color correcting and blemish removal (although you can still do these as well). The possibilities with this software are endless when talking about what you can do with it.
The problem with a lot of the Adobe suite programs is that they can be overwhelming because there is so much you can do with all of them. Sometimes it feels impossible to master them and that is because i believe they are programs that are always developing in new ways, so it is always a learning experience. Another issue with these programs is how pricey they are. I receive a student discount for being in university and they are still $20 a month.
If you feel comfortable with learning and using these programs i say to jump right in! However, if you aren't quite sure if you are ready for more complicated editing just yet, here is a list of easier/more basic editing programs and applications to get your toes wet:
· Gimp
· PS Express (phone application)
· Afterlight Photo Editor (phone application)
· Adobe Lightroom (phone application)
· Adobe Photoshop Mix (phone application)
Want more information on this topic? EnviraGallery has a great article outlining the points i have talked about in this post, feel free to check it out!