kskarma Loc: Topeka, KS

The suggestions to acquire and use Photoshop Elements...(along with Premiere Elements, if you plan on doing any video)...are right on target. Oftentimes you can get a package deal of both of these programs for around $60-70. The "Elements" versions of "Full Blown" Photoshop have about 80% of the capabilities of the complete version for about 20% of the cost...a great deal. One of the BIG advantages of spending the time learning some of the basics of Photoshop, is that it is pretty much the Gold Standard of photo editing, publishing, graphic arts, etc. Learning to do the simple things such as cropping, adjusting saturation, contrast, curves, sharpness, etc...is not difficult at all, and can add so much to your photos. "Mastering Photoshop" is a different story as it has tons of options, tools, etc....most of those are not going to be used by a beginner...but ALL of the 'entry level' techniques can serve as stepping stones to more advanced options, if so needed later on...

Another tip....most all of the major software houses will let you download any of their programs for a free 30-day trial. This can give you a chance to see if the program will do what you want?...worth the $$$?...works with your gear, etc?..!!

I also agree with the advice to refrain from spending the big bucks for the D-810...unless you know specifically WHY you might need that body. I've been at this for many years and currently have a pair of D-750's...which meet...and surpass, all of my widely varied photo needs. And...if you need to save some $$$...and most of us do....check out refurbished cameras (also lenses and other gear) from Nikon. I've bought one of my D-750s and a D-700 from them with nary a bit of trouble... (I should say, too...that in my 50+ years of shooting a wide range of Nikons, I have yet to have a single one of the couple of dozen bodies I've owned, fail...!!)

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I've had one fail - the card reader on a used D3200 that I got for less than $200, but I think that's spot on - and I got my first F in about 1971.

I fail to see the appeal of the one time Elements purchase when you can get a constantly updated full function version for a tenspot a month, including the incredibly useful LightRoom. I think the main argument against it is the resistance of some of us "old timers" (pretty funny in terms of the whole digital era) used to the "license it and think you own it" model. That model is soon going to sound as antiquated as the idea of buying a set of floppy disks to upload at a B&M store. The world changes, and we need to change with it.


Andy "If you're on Medicare, you're entitled to call yourself a geezer" H

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Looks like you may go with Lr/Ps. If you don’t want to pay monthly, look into Affinity. It is a Lr/Ps in one program. $50.00 one time fee.

SubVet Loc: New Port Richey, FL

Thanks for all the replies and I understand your questions. I am 75, wife 75 and son 10, uncle 97 that lives about 200 miles away, plus my normal duties to keep up with. From time to time I do get to take some pictures. I have taken some Photo Shop and Light Room classes but never really had time to repeat at home what I learned in class. Picasa worked for me until they removed their support.

I tell you that as fact and $10 a month is not the issue, but quality time to learn what and how to do the processing. I did follow a suggestion about the Nikon program and signed earlier today before my afternoon and night duties.

I truly do appreciate all of the interest and replies which under ideal conditions, would be great.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I'm a senior citizen too, although still working a sixty plus hour a week professional job. I've got the Medicare card to prove it! The subscription model is taking over the programming world, and there's not much we can do about it. I'm not that unhappy, as the new model enables companies to invest more and more each year in R&D. A steady revenue stream ALWAYS beats a "How much will we sell this quarter?" approach from the corporate perspective. I don't blame them for choosing it.

The Adobe suites have the most training and tutorials on the Interwebz (mostly free!) by far. Google "Learning GIMP" and "Learning Light Room / Photoshop" and see how many results each search produces.

It's a Brave New World, but the boundaries for us who are still making images have never, ever been wider!

Andy

HempyJ

Thank you for the reply mwsilvers. You are right I should have considered the original post more thoroughly / precisely. GIMP is *definitely* not for those not wanting to invest time to learn. I wouldn’t say it’s very steep AndyH - but it is definitely not Adobeasy though. GIMP is more challenging than something like Elements but one will have to pay for that "user friendliness". Also, I do use PS (and Illustrator) on a regular basis (10+ years) commercially, for my work as a cartographer, but my company pays for that license.

H

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

"Adobeasy" Nice call!


Andy

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Looks like you want a cheap /easy way to make money. Not prepared to learn a programme for even basic editing. Prepared to spend vast amount of money on another top of the range camera, which is probably way above your skill level. The world does not owe you a living, or any comforts associated with making money for very little effort on your part. Your initial post sounded as though you were a teenager straight out of school, looking for a soft job, to muddle through life making money. Surprised that you are within ten years of getting into my age bracket. I learned Photography from the ground up. Obtained qualifications in different aspects of Photography, and ran a one-man- business for over fifty years. I'm still learning things about my trade even after retirement. I am ready to offer help to anyone prepared to work at Photography, but you do not seem prepared for that.

harlequin2

http://www.faststone.org/
But you could make a donation.

RichLacey Loc: Atlanta

As an option, check into zenfolio.com. You upload your photos for sale to zenfolio, then they take it from there. Customers may choose a plethora of options such as prints of all sizes and media, framed, mouse mats, cell phone covers, etc etc etc. They also accept credit cards on your behalf and allow you to set the markup for your items. Parents at their child’s sporting events go crazy for this stuff and you can make $2000-3500 in a weekend of little league. You could still create galleries on your zenfolio site for the work you are currently trying to sell, assuming you have them in digital format. I believe they are currently running a special for $180 (1/2 price) for annual service, and you create the images, upload, and collect the profits. They will even handle post processing, but this can get more costly. Might be an option to check out. This Possibility does not meet ALL your criteria however.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

I just started with Nikons NX-D and so far so good.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA

Why does GIMP have an "extensive learning curve"? I want to do some simple things like remove wires from a pic or enhance clouds without darkening the scene, perhaps print only a portion of a scene.

Jimcamera Loc: Michigan

Topaz Studio is a good program and it is free. You can always purchase extras, but the basic editing program is free.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

So you want something for nothing so you can make money? Unreal.