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The history of photo manipulation dates back over 200 years when photographers would scratch, scrape, paint, cut, and paste their way to a pleasing (often humorous) result.
Becoming increasingly more important, photo editing or post-production is now an integral part of photo hobbyists' and pros' workflows, and is often the second.
SEE ALSO: 7 of the best laptops for video editing right now
What was once a physical skill possessed by a select few, photo retouching has since become much more accessible thanks to the latest technological advancements.
There's the infamous Adobe Photoshop, one of the most recognizable pieces of software on the planet – so familiar that it has become a verb. There's Apple Photos, a free, hidden post-processing gem hardwired into MacBooks, and so many others in between.
So whether you’re a photo pro or just doing it for the ‘gram, if you want to take your captures to the next level, there are numerous computer software options out there for your to take advantage of — and we've found the best of them.
For this roundup, we took into account features, usability, and cost to make sure all your photo editing needs are met. Here are our picks:
Gives you access across all your devices • Easy to use interface • Organizes your photos for you
Doesn't come with as many editing tools
If you're looking for an affordable cloud storage and organization system with some editing features, Lightroom CC could be your best choice.
1. Adobe Lightroom CC
Adobe's latest photo storage and editing product is easy to use and intuitive.- Price: Plans start at $9.99/month
What photo enthusiast doesn’t like a one-stop photo shop? The most recent addition to the family gives you access to all your original high-resolution images across all your devices.
The all-new represents Adobe's shift from traditional catalog storage to an intuitive cloud-based system. The interface itself feels less like a high-tech software system and more like a simple smartphone app, only enhanced for your desktop. It creates a single catalog of all your photos without the need to rename them or input fancy keywords. Just drag and drop your pictures and organizes them and auto-attaches searchable keywords so you can find your photos in a snap.
You can edit your photos directly from the software using creative presets or you can make selective adjustments if you prefer. The software features adjustments for light, color, fine details, and optics.
Lightroom does, however, lack some of the individual editing controls like curve adjustments and complex colors that Photoshop enthusiasts love, but for $19.99 per month you can get the Creative Cloud bundle that includes , one terabyte of cloud storage, Lightroom Classic (the original version that professionals love), and for a more in-depth photo enhancing experience.
The all-new represents Adobe's shift from traditional catalog storage to an intuitive cloud-based system. The interface itself feels less like a high-tech software system and more like a simple smartphone app, only enhanced for your desktop. It creates a single catalog of all your photos without the need to rename them or input fancy keywords. Just drag and drop your pictures and organizes them and auto-attaches searchable keywords so you can find your photos in a snap.
You can edit your photos directly from the software using creative presets or you can make selective adjustments if you prefer. The software features adjustments for light, color, fine details, and optics.
Lightroom does, however, lack some of the individual editing controls like curve adjustments and complex colors that Photoshop enthusiasts love, but for $19.99 per month you can get the Creative Cloud bundle that includes , one terabyte of cloud storage, Lightroom Classic (the original version that professionals love), and for a more in-depth photo enhancing experience.
Automatically sorts your photos for you • Chooses the best shot for you to edit from a series • Lets you isolate a photo subject from background
Not as many deep features for pros
If you're an entry-level photo editor, Photoshop Elements could be all you need.
2. Adobe Photoshop Elements
Photoshop Elements' latest update not only helps you edit your photos, but it also organizes them for you using built-in content intelligence.- Price: $69.99
We take more photos than ever, and for the past ten years Photoshop Elements has made photo editing easy for entry-level snappers. ' latest 2018 update not only helps you edit your photos to their best potential, but it also organizes them all for you using built-in content intelligence. The AI analyzes your photos and gives you options to correct them using just a few clicks.
The software automatically sorts your photos by date, subject, people, and places. By attaching smart tags, photos of common subjects like birthdays, sunsets and landmarks, become easy to find without having to do any of the organizing work yourself. There’s even a feature that cuts down on editing time by automatically choosing the best shot for you to edit based on image quality, faces, and subjects.
If you’re familiar with how difficult it can sometimes be to isolate a specific subject in a photo using , the new update makes it way easier. Just drag a box around the subject (or multiple subjects), and the software will isolate it for you, then you can fine-tune the edges if needed.
If you’re a newbie, the latest update is an ideal choice because it comes with 49 guided elements features that show you how to edit your photos step-by-step. And of course, you can always add your own personal touch.
The software automatically sorts your photos by date, subject, people, and places. By attaching smart tags, photos of common subjects like birthdays, sunsets and landmarks, become easy to find without having to do any of the organizing work yourself. There’s even a feature that cuts down on editing time by automatically choosing the best shot for you to edit based on image quality, faces, and subjects.
If you’re familiar with how difficult it can sometimes be to isolate a specific subject in a photo using , the new update makes it way easier. Just drag a box around the subject (or multiple subjects), and the software will isolate it for you, then you can fine-tune the edges if needed.
If you’re a newbie, the latest update is an ideal choice because it comes with 49 guided elements features that show you how to edit your photos step-by-step. And of course, you can always add your own personal touch.
Lots of retouching features • including body shaping • Affordable
No geotag maps • Not as many features as Photoshop
If you're all about retouching, Cyberlink could be the tool you're looking for.
3. Cyberlink Photo Director 8 Ultra
This CyberLink software offers useful everyday photo-editing tools at an affordable price.- Price: $49.99
offers useful everyday photo-editing tools and an interface that's split into six modules. There's the Library module to import, mark, and prepare photos for editing, but all the magic happens in the Adjustment module. It gives you tools to crop, straighten, and adjust tonality. There's a spot remover tool for blemishes and an adjustment brush to isolate areas you want to alter. Add a gradient mask, saturate or desaturate, and adjust color temperature. If retouching and skin smoothing tools is what you're after then the Edit allows you to do just that, along with a cool body shaping feature.
Similarly to Photoshop, it has content-aware object selection tools, and you can use the Layers module to blend multiple photos together. Once you've finished your masterpiece, you have the option of creating a slideshow before exporting them. called it 'an affordable tool that gives a run for its money.'
Similarly to Photoshop, it has content-aware object selection tools, and you can use the Layers module to blend multiple photos together. Once you've finished your masterpiece, you have the option of creating a slideshow before exporting them. called it 'an affordable tool that gives a run for its money.'
Automatically adjusts photos for you
Pricey • Doesn't organize photos • Not much editing flexibility
If you're looking for software that does the work for you, PhotoLab could be worth the price tag.
4. DxO PhotoLab
What makes Photolab so unique is that it automatically finds the faults with your photographs based on the type of camera and lens and makes adjustments.- Price: $129
If you want clean, high quality, no-frills photo editing software then take a shot at this one.
What makes DxO PhotoLab (formerly Optics Pro 11) so unique is that it automatically finds the faults with your photographs based on the type of camera and lens you use and it makes adjustments, without you having to do a thing.
The user interface looks similar to Lightroom, and in fact, it works as an excellent plug-in for your workflow since DxO doesn’t offer as much editing flexibility.
There are no brush tools, but the Customize mode can be used to make primary adjustments to contrast, color, and exposure if the automatic enhancements miss the mark. The software doesn’t help with organizing photos, but you can export them directly to other photo applications like Facebook and Flickr once you’re satisfied with the edit. You can also export them to or Lightroom to continue working if you wish.
What makes DxO PhotoLab (formerly Optics Pro 11) so unique is that it automatically finds the faults with your photographs based on the type of camera and lens you use and it makes adjustments, without you having to do a thing.
The user interface looks similar to Lightroom, and in fact, it works as an excellent plug-in for your workflow since DxO doesn’t offer as much editing flexibility.
There are no brush tools, but the Customize mode can be used to make primary adjustments to contrast, color, and exposure if the automatic enhancements miss the mark. The software doesn’t help with organizing photos, but you can export them directly to other photo applications like Facebook and Flickr once you’re satisfied with the edit. You can also export them to or Lightroom to continue working if you wish.
Free • Offers video editing as well
Not as many features as paid options
If you're looking for simple photo and video editing, this could be your best bet. And it's free!
5. Microsoft Photos
If you want simple photo and video tuning, this free option may be the right choice for you.- Price: Free
is a free, media creation toolbox and you may already have it, since it's included in computers and replaces the Windows Photo Gallery app.
The application is helpful for adjusting saturation, contrast, highlights, and shadows. It also comes with 15 preset filters that work well for scenery shots. You can change the strength of each of the enhancements with a slider and make skin corrections using blemish removal tools.
It also comes with video editing software that allows you to trim videos and add background music. You can add filters to your vids, but unlike with photos, the video filters aren’t adjustable. The same type of software can cost you though you will get more advanced video editing options. If you want simple photo and video tuning, this free option may be the right choice for you
The application is helpful for adjusting saturation, contrast, highlights, and shadows. It also comes with 15 preset filters that work well for scenery shots. You can change the strength of each of the enhancements with a slider and make skin corrections using blemish removal tools.
It also comes with video editing software that allows you to trim videos and add background music. You can add filters to your vids, but unlike with photos, the video filters aren’t adjustable. The same type of software can cost you though you will get more advanced video editing options. If you want simple photo and video tuning, this free option may be the right choice for you
Organizes photos by date • Offers basic photo editing
Not as many features as paid options
If you use a Mac and have basic needs, Apple Photos could be all you need.
6. Apple Photos
If you just need the basics, this free option could be all you need.- Price : Free
Pull the best out of the pics you take with Apple Photos, the MacBook upgrade of iPhoto. The app recognizes raw camera files and also groups all your pictures by date. You can zoom in to a specific day or zoom out to display months or years worth of photos in what the app organizes as Moments. When you click Edit at the top of the software, Adjust, Filters, and Crop menus appear so you can enhance your photos.
The adjust tab opens up a world of editing opportunities. It allows you to control the brightness of your images, exposure, highlights, shadows, and black point – just as you can on iOS smartphones. You can also sharpen photo details and adjust noise. The Filters come with Warm and Cool options but aren't nearly as customizable as the ones that come with
The adjust tab opens up a world of editing opportunities. It allows you to control the brightness of your images, exposure, highlights, shadows, and black point – just as you can on iOS smartphones. You can also sharpen photo details and adjust noise. The Filters come with Warm and Cool options but aren't nearly as customizable as the ones that come with
Best Photo Editing Software of 2019 - Programs for Less Than $100
We thoroughly tested each program by manipulating the same set of photos to see how each program handled the edits. The programs all scored differently based on how intuitive the software's interface is. We also evaluated the photo organizing system to see how well the system helped us find and arrange our photos. Our testing helped us identify Corel PaintShop Pro 2019 as the best photo editing software in our review. Its user-friendly interface and advanced editing tools are good for both beginners and seasoned graphic designers alike. The photo organizing system helps you arrange your photos in a variety of ways so you will be able to find the images you need quickly.
Best OverallPaintShop Pro 2019
This software's basic and advanced tools can help you make professional-level photo edits to your images. The variety of photo organizing options allows you to create a system that makes the most sense to you.
Best ValueAffinity Photo
It doesn’t include a photo organizing system, but this program has some of the most powerful editing tools you’ll find in software you can buy without paying a subscription. It has a steeper learning curve for beginners, but it can help you become a pro.
Best for BeginnersCyberLink PhotoDirector Ultra 10
The editing and photo organizing interfaces are clean and easy to maneuver. It is a good program for beginners to learn on, but it also has the advanced editing tools that will satisfy a more experienced editor.
Product | Price | Overall Rating | Pricing | Editing Tools | Organizing Options | File Compatibility & Sharing | Help & Support | Supported Configurations | Trial Period | Ease of Use Score | Editing Tool Score | Number of Filter Presets | Organizing Tools Score | File Compatibility Score | Sharing Options Score | Help & Support Score | Windows 10 | Windows 8 | Windows 7 | Mac OS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Corel PaintShop Pro 2019 | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 30 Days | 100 | 100 | 99 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✖ |
Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018 | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 30 Days | 100 | 95 | 98 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
CyberLink PhotoDirector Ultra 9 | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 30 Days | 100 | 93 | 93 | 100 | 50 | 100 | 60 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Zoner Photo Studio X | 4/5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 1.5 | 5 | 30 Days | 100 | 38 | 38 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 60 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✖ | |
ACDSee Photo Studio Professional 2018 | 4/5 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2.5 | 30 Days | 100 | 60 | 60 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Affinity Photo | View Deal | 3.5/5 | 4.5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2.5 | 5 | 10 Days | 17 | 57 | 57 | 17 | 100 | 25 | 40 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Xara Photo & Graphic Designer | View Deal | 3.5/5 | 5 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0 | 30 Days | 33 | 140 | 140 | 33 | 75 | 75 | 60 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✖ |
Best Overall
PaintShop Pro 2019
This program is really easy to use.
You can arrange your photos in several different ways.
You cannot make animated GIFs with this software.
You cannot post directly to online photo galleries using this software.
This software offers some automatic editing tools, which is helpful for beginners, but it also provides hands-on editing tools that allow you to tweak your images exactly the way you want.
The Smart Photo Fix tool allows you to compare the original image alongside an edited preview as you make alterations, which can help you make the changes you want.
The interface is clean and organized so you can easily find the tools and menus you need. You can organize your photos by rating, keywords, people and places to help you find your photos faster. It also keeps track of your images' EXIF data so you can look up the exact settings your camera used to capture your photos. It also works with a wide variety of file types, including RAW, PSD and PDF files so you can edit just about any project using this software. One thing that helps this program stand out from the others is its extensive help features and resources. The learning center tool allows you to get information quickly about any of the tools in the program. PaintShop Pro also has hundreds of tutorial videos on its YouTube page so you'll be able to find help on any subject.
The interface is clean and organized so you can easily find the tools and menus you need. You can organize your photos by rating, keywords, people and places to help you find your photos faster. It also keeps track of your images' EXIF data so you can look up the exact settings your camera used to capture your photos. It also works with a wide variety of file types, including RAW, PSD and PDF files so you can edit just about any project using this software. One thing that helps this program stand out from the others is its extensive help features and resources. The learning center tool allows you to get information quickly about any of the tools in the program. PaintShop Pro also has hundreds of tutorial videos on its YouTube page so you'll be able to find help on any subject.
Best Value
Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo
The interface is easy to navigate.
The advanced layers tools allow you to do more in-depth edits.
There is no photo organizing software.
It is hard to get a hold of this company if you have questions.
This software offers all of the advanced photo editing tools that an experienced photographer or graphic designer might want, including content aware tools, EXIF data, HDR tools and more.
While each of the programs on this review can make edits, this software creates the most professional-grade edits. Surprisingly, this program is relatively cheap and only requires a one-time payment instead of a subscription like many of the top programs on the market.
As a more advanced feature, this program's Assistant Manager allows you to make presets to each of the editing tools so that when you select a specific tool it automatically adjusts brush settings, adjustment tools, masks and layers to match your predesignated specifications. This program lacks a built-in photo organizing system. While it isn't necessary to have one, it can make the editing process easier when you can quickly locate your photos.
There are dozens of tutorials on the Affinity Revolution YouTube channel and even more throughout the web so you can learn various effects from experienced users. It is compatible with all the basic files along with PSD, RAW and PDF files. This program is available on both Windows and Mac so it is more likely to suit your needs. A full version of the software recently became available for the iPad.
As a more advanced feature, this program's Assistant Manager allows you to make presets to each of the editing tools so that when you select a specific tool it automatically adjusts brush settings, adjustment tools, masks and layers to match your predesignated specifications. This program lacks a built-in photo organizing system. While it isn't necessary to have one, it can make the editing process easier when you can quickly locate your photos.
There are dozens of tutorials on the Affinity Revolution YouTube channel and even more throughout the web so you can learn various effects from experienced users. It is compatible with all the basic files along with PSD, RAW and PDF files. This program is available on both Windows and Mac so it is more likely to suit your needs. A full version of the software recently became available for the iPad.
Best for Beginners
CyberLink PhotoDirector Ultra 10
PhotoDirector 365 Monthly
PhotoDirector 365 Yearly
PhotoDirector 10 Ultra
The interface is easy to use.
There are plenty of online video tutorials.
It only supports six file types.
This software is split into six different sections to help you find the tools you need without overwhelming you with too many options at once, which is especially helpful when you're a beginner.
A user guide is available within the application to help explain the various tools, and there are dozens of video tutorials online to help you learn and achieve more effects. You can add text and a number of text effects to your photos using this program. This software's watermark feature allows you to easily create and place an identifying mark on your photos so you can feel better about sharing them online. In addition to editing your photos, this software also allows you to create slideshows complete with music, transitions and accompanying text.
The Library section helps you to find and arrange your photos by rating, tags and name. To save you time, this program allows you to use batch editing to complete the same edits to a group of photos. It also features a content-aware removal tool which allows you to seamlessly remove items from your images and fills the empty space in a way that matches the rest of the photo.
The Library section helps you to find and arrange your photos by rating, tags and name. To save you time, this program allows you to use batch editing to complete the same edits to a group of photos. It also features a content-aware removal tool which allows you to seamlessly remove items from your images and fills the empty space in a way that matches the rest of the photo.
Best For Learning Adobe
Photoshop Elements
This program helps prepare you for other Adobe programs.
Photoshop Elements is the gateway software for Adobe CC. The program's interface is divided into Quick, Guided and Expert mode, designed to help beginning users grow and come to an intermediate editing level.
You can toggle between the modes to learn how to use the software until you are comfortable enough to stay in the Expert mode. Adobe offers the best editing tools on the market and this is made evident by its impressive content-aware fill tool, which allows you to remove unwanted objects, like trash or electrical poles, from your images and fill in the space believably with just a couple button clicks.
This is one of the only Adobe programs that doesn't require a subscription. You'll just need to make a one-time payment, albeit it a pricey one, of roughly $100. This will give you access to 90 creative filters, plenty of tutorials, HDR tools, blemish removing tools and many more useful features. Like many of Adobe's programs, this one expects you to work with other Adobe software to fulfill your editing goals. The photo organizer is a separate program that opens in a different window. While this is nice in getting you ready for how other Adobe software works, it can also be a little annoying popping between the two programs.
This is one of the only Adobe programs that doesn't require a subscription. You'll just need to make a one-time payment, albeit it a pricey one, of roughly $100. This will give you access to 90 creative filters, plenty of tutorials, HDR tools, blemish removing tools and many more useful features. Like many of Adobe's programs, this one expects you to work with other Adobe software to fulfill your editing goals. The photo organizer is a separate program that opens in a different window. While this is nice in getting you ready for how other Adobe software works, it can also be a little annoying popping between the two programs.
Best Built-In Photo Organizer
ACDSee Photo Studio
Photo Studio Professional Monthly
Photo Studio Professional Annual
Photo Studio Professional Lifetime
It offers a wide range of high-quality editing tools.
ACDSee Photo Studio offers over 60 filters so you can quickly add stylization to your photos. It also features plenty of drawing and painting tools as well as background removal tools.
However, the reason it didn't score as highly as other programs is because this software doesn’t work in layers, which is standard for most photo editing software. This means you cannot view and select your separate elements as easily as you can with other programs. This software also requires that you take a few extra and somewhat unnecessary steps before you can finalize your editing changes to your file, which is why it didn't score as highly in the ease of use category.
If you don't mind the lack of layers and the extra steps it takes to edit your photos, this program is a great choice. It has a phenomenal photo organizer that allows you to separate, rate and organize your images in a variety of ways so you can find them in the way that makes the most sense to you. You'll find plenty of online support including an active user forum, tutorials and live chat so you can find answers to questions quickly.
If you don't mind the lack of layers and the extra steps it takes to edit your photos, this program is a great choice. It has a phenomenal photo organizer that allows you to separate, rate and organize your images in a variety of ways so you can find them in the way that makes the most sense to you. You'll find plenty of online support including an active user forum, tutorials and live chat so you can find answers to questions quickly.
Why Trust Us
For the past nine years, we have reviewed photo editing software to find the best programs available. We spent over 85 hours in the last 12 months using these editing programs to manipulate photos. Our testers are skilled editors with backgrounds in photography and graphic design. We used the same set of photos so we could compare each program's editing capabilities against each other.
We contacted John Yoo, Head of Sales at CyberLink, to see what he finds most important for any photo editing software. He told us, 'The basic functions – crop, adjust exposure, contrast, white balance, noise reduction – all of these features are not only important but the software needs to be able to adjust these accurately and easily.' We completely agree.
Programs that completed edits in a quick, intuitive fashion while truly enhancing the photos received higher scores in our review. Programs lacking main features or offering them in a clunky fashion scored lower. Since tutorials and forums are such an important part of learning the photo editing process, programs with better instructive and help features scored higher.
We also evaluated each programs' help features and organizing abilities to determine which offered the best options overall. We paid attention to each program's ease of use to see which were best for beginners to learn on. Since file compatibility is such an important part of the editing process, we scored programs higher if they accommodated the main photo file types: JPG, TIFF, PNG, GIF, PSD, PDF and RAW.
How We Tested
We used the same 12 photos in each of the programs we tested to see how well each one performed basic and advanced edits. We began by using the most basic editing tools like cropping, red eye removal and filters before moving on to more advanced editing tools like using mask layers to adjust hue, tone and brightness, or creating HDR images. We compared the final images from each program to see which software performed editing tasks the best.
Some programs provided the same level of editing finesse but forced you to go through several unnecessary steps before completing a task. For this reason, we scored clean, simple and well-organized interfaces higher. This year's best photo editing software, PaintShop Pro 2018, beautifully creates basic and advanced image enhancements through an easy-to-use interface.
If the program you want requires a subscription, make sure you understand the payment schedule. For instance, find out if the $20 payment is due quarterly or monthly.
If you are a beginner wanting to become a more advanced editor, make sure you purchase a program that allows you to work in layers.
How Much Does Photo Editing Software Cost?
Beginner to Intermediate-level photo editing software costs between $40 and $100, though some programs are subscription based and require a monthly or annual payment that typically totals to about $50 per year. More professional-level photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop CC will cost you roughly $21 a month or more. Before deciding on a program, make sure it has the features and editing tools that you will likely use the most.
Things to Consider With Photo Editing Software
File Types
Most professional photographers prefer to work with RAW images since it gives them more control over brightness, color and overall image quality. PSD is another popular file type since it saves the individual layers of your photos so you can edit them at any time. If you plan on becoming a serious photo editor, it is best to learn to work with these files.
Most professional photographers prefer to work with RAW images since it gives them more control over brightness, color and overall image quality. PSD is another popular file type since it saves the individual layers of your photos so you can edit them at any time. If you plan on becoming a serious photo editor, it is best to learn to work with these files.
If you take a lot of photos and plan on editing them on a regular basis, it can really help you save time if you get a program that offers batch processing. For example, if you wanted all of your photos to be a little brighter, you can use batch processing to quickly brighten all of the photos you select instead of taking the time to do it individually. This feature is commonly found in the photo organizing section of photo editing software.
Simple Tips for Good Photography & Editing
Simple Tips for Good Photography & Editing
- One of the most crucial parts of editing is taking a good picture to begin with. You’ll save hours of work if you learn to set up your camera and lighting correctly from the start.
- To capture better details, get as close as you can to your subject while still keeping it in focus.
- Try not to work in direct sunlight, as the harsh cast shadows can be very distracting. This is why many photographers prefer to shoot on cloudy days or during the golden hours – just after sunrise and just before sunset when the light isn’t as harsh.
- If you must work in direct sunlight, try to counterbalance the sun's harshness with diffuser or reflector panels, the camera flash, light boxes, and shade.
- Learn how to use shutter speeds. To capture crisp details in fast-moving subjects, such as wildlife, you need a shutter speed of over 1/500th of a second.
- Engaging landscape photography often has a foreground, middle ground and background. Try to incorporate all three when taking a shot.
- When taking portraits, try to help your subjects loosen up. You’re more likely to capture genuine expressions and body language this way.
- Practice, practice, practice. If you want to get better, get out there and learn. Experiment with aperture sizes and learn which lenses and settings you like best.
- If you make too many edits, your image may look less organic, amateurish or downright bad. Be conservative with your edits – as the saying goes, “less is more.”
- Keep a copy of the original image in case you don’t like your edits. Before finalizing a photo, focus on something else for 10 minutes and then come back to it. Your fresh eyes will be able to tell if the image looks good or if it needs tweaking.
- Learn from the pros. Many photographers offer tips on YouTube or their websites. Ask questions and learn as much as you can.
- Pace yourself. Photography equipment and editing software are expensive, so you’ll likely have to acquire everything bit by bit.
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