pmacc1

If you're very new to photography, don't buy anything yet -- just use the software that came with your computer to get an idea of what parameters can be changed and how. If you have a PC, Microsoft Photos got 4 out of 5 stars from PC Mag:

https://www.pcmag.com/review/344385/microsoft-photos-for-windows-10

Apple's Photos app is also highly rated, if you have a Mac.

Once you get a feel for editing your photos with these tools, you'll be in a better position to figure out what additional capabilities you'd like to have.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Adobe Elements 2018 is what I'd recommend to start. Relatively low cost, all in one, perpetual license (not a subscription). Built in user support... you can choose between "beginner", "intermediate" and "expert" mode... and can switch back and forth between them any time you like.

Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop are now subscription only (annual renewal), are actually designed to use together and are only available as a "set" (actually neither is "complete" without the other... though some users only need features of one or the other). Especially Photoshop is FAR more complex... plan on buying books, taking classes for a while to learn to use it. One or two books or classes for Lightroom would shorten the learning curve with it, too. No built in support with either of them.

Yes, there are freebies out there.... but most folks end up with one of the Adobe programs eventually.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

TucsonDave Loc: Tucson, Arizona

I recommend Affinity. I use the Word version which is identical to the Mac version. For a one time cost of $50 you get all the tools you will need and is very similar in setup to the Adobe product. In addition, updates are provided free of charge. There are also a couple hundred or more videos on how to use the tools in Affinity.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Lots of choices, but they all require learning.

Affinity
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/software-review-affinity-photo-1-5-2
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/affinity-photo-1.5,review-4257.htmlOthers

Others
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-lightroom-alternatives
http://digital-photography-school.com/a-beginners-guide-to-choosing-the-right-post-production-software/
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/photo-editing
https://www.reviews.com/photo-editing-software/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-photo-editing-software,review-1972.html
http://www.redmondpie.com/best-adobe-photoshop-alternatives-for-windows-and-mac-list Affinity
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/

Free -
https://www.lightstalking.com/how-to-edit-rawtherapee/
https://www.lightstalking.com/free-photography-software/
http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-photo-editor
http://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/the-best-photoshop-alternatives-that-are-totally-free-5974500
http://lightzoneproject.org/

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Photoshop CC for photographers. The bundle with Lightroom CC, Lightroom Classic CC, and Photoshop CC. $9.99/month

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Have you used the Win 10 editor yourself? I used to use it to edit medium size JPEGs for office use (documenting construction conditions and progress) but the "quick edit" results became so abysmal on the latest update (April, I think?) that it's unusable, at least for me. Maybe I just need a tutorial or YouTube video, but I use Microsoft Office Picture Manager now, as I can't spend time individually cleaning up two dozen JPEGs showing individual asbestos tile removal. I don't know what they did to it, but it sure wasn't an improvement - all I need to do is clean up the image for increased visibility and I don't want to play around much with exposure and contrast sliders on each slide. Sheesh!


Andy

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

As a fellow amateur I have found Photoshop Elements to be all that I need.

Metis407 Loc: Canada

I agree works very well with Aurora for hdr...

Idaho

By starting with Elements, you are setting yourself up for LR/PS down the road if you decide you want something more.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

Not knowing what your skill is in photography I'm assuming by your question you would be an amateur or advanced. Personally, being an advanced amateur myself I use Photoshop Elements. It's a toned down version of the full version with a LR type of catalog feature for organizing your photos. B&H has the latest 2018 version currently on sale for $69.99;

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1362999-REG/adobe_65281995_photoshop_elements_2018.html#!?BI=19414&kw=bhphotovideo&c3api=0980,{creative}&msclkid=c5333c631a391fb16b5e6748aa09bd6c

My suggestion would be try this for a one time cost and if later on when you become a pro, (or wannabe) and find Elements lacking in your PP workflow you can always jump on the Adobe CC bandwagon and let Adobe deduct 10 bucks a month from your bank account. As for me, Photoshop Elements does everything I want done in post processing and I'm still using version 12.

Best of luck in your quest.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

There are plenty of quite lengthy discussions on UHH you could look at. There are discussions of free programs, as well. It might help if you looked at some of those.

There are basic programs you could start with - in your computer, came with your camera, etc. If you are considering a program you would pay for, look for a free trial. Play with each one and see if you like it.

Accept that no matter what editing software you choose, there will be a learning curve. At first any one of them, no matter how simple, may be difficult, but once you understand how to use it, it will be much easier to progress. There are a lot of things that can be accomplished with post-processing, but as a newcomer to photography you want to be learning more about taking good pictures for now. After all, no fun editing images that are not keepers to start with...

Here is a suggestion: Shoot in RAW right from the start. Save your originals untouched. Do your edits on copies. You will be glad you did later, because as you learn more about post-processing and gain more experience, there will be images worth going back and re-editing with new knowledge, techniques, and more advanced tools. You will be glad you did!

Note: I use the Adobe CC subscription with LR and PS. Started with the program that came with my first digital point-and-shoot. Wanted more control over editing, went to Elements - never got along with it that well. Heard recommendations for LR so I bought that, used it alone for about 4 years. Would have liked to use PS but it was way too expensive. In this period I also got my first DSLR. When the subscription came out, I did the free trials to decide if I could manage PS, decided I could if taken in small bits. Now I am quite satisfied and do not anticipate changing. [I do have some additional "plug-ins" I use, too.]

Another note: Make sure you know if your editing program is "non-destructive". LR qualifies, PS can be destructive but there are ways to deal with that to preserve the original.

Hope this helps.

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

ACDSee has several programs -- different levels at different prices, starting out a basic, very economical levels, everything from beginners to experts.

Bob Locher Loc: Southwest Oregon

If you are going to work in a collaborative environment exchanging work in progress with others, you pretty much have to go with Photoshop. If that is not the case, I suggest Affinity. US $50 once and done.

Another point - if you learn Affinity well, and then have to move to Photoshop, the learning curve is hugely simplified. The effort to learn Affinity is not wasted.

You will find that there is a certain smugness and in some cases outright arrogance from some of the Photoshop users. I am old enough to remember the same thing among Leica users in the 1950's and 60's. Then Nikon came along, first with decent rangefinder cameras that challenged Leica, followed by the then legendary Nikon F-1 SLR. And with that came a whole new set of acolytes who became a new smug and arrogant herd.

Yet, somehow, other brands developed and some survived - Pentax, Olympus, Fuji Canon as examples and of course of more recent date Sony.

Each brand, whether it be software or hardware, strives to develop and then maintain critical mass, necessary for long term health and survival, and of course continued product development. Some users of a given product belittle the efforts and products of competitors, partly to reassure themselves that they made the right decision.

But I digress. Bottom line here - you won't make a mistake going with PS, except perhaps in your billfold - but there are other very valid approaches and the very fact that you are asking advice suggests you are open to them.

A warning - any powerful PP program is going to require a lot of learning to be able to use all its capabilities. But that said, even a relative novice can do a lot. And, if you are serious about digital photography, the pay back for the effort is huge.

The Adventure Continues!

Bob Locher Loc: Southwest Oregon

A side note: Several posts here have referenced "filters" being used in Post Production software. To a newcomer the term is not intuitive. But for example, the haze removal tool is considered a "filter". As is the sharpening tool.