bweber Loc: Newton, MA

I use Capture One 10. It is a very good raw converter, and a fantastic editor and organizer. They publish a large number of webinars that will teach you everything you need to know about the software. I find their layers easier to use than Adobe. They even have a simple, single method for creating a layer from a single color on your image. They also offer a free 30 day trial. I would check it out before you settle for Lightroom.

Kuzano

Crayola, since I was 4. They start teaching it very young. There is now a Windows version. Most preschoolers learn on Mac.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I still use Aperture as my first choice If you can find a way to get it. I do have Adobe stuff at $10.00 per mo.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I still use Aperture as well but I'm slowly converting to Affinity

leftj Loc: Texas

Affinity advertises that it is for professionals. That tends to make me shy away from it.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I hadn't really noticed that. They had a sale on the software and so I looked at some of the tutorials and was intrigued.

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

Thanks

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

For a good complement to Apple Photos, Affinity Photo is cheap (<$50 in the App Store) and slick. The Windows version is the same.

I use Canon Digital Photo Professional for difficult Canon images. The Windows version is the same.

I use SilkyPix Developer Studio SE for my Panasonic GH4 images. The Windows version is the same.

I use Lightroom and Photoshop CC (subscription) for serious workflow. The Windows version is the same.

I use Thorsten Lemke's excellent Graphic Converter ($40 shareware, Mac ONLY) to batch manipulate images and convert to unusual formats. It also has a WONDERFUL slide show/slide sorter feature that is great for full screen editing of group photos.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Mineart, Lightroom is available as a standalone AND as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. The CC version is kept upgraded and up to date as long as you subscribe. You get the latest camera raw converters in ACR as soon as they are available. The standalone version costs money for upgrades; updates are free. You don't get the newest version of ACR once they switch to a new version of Lightroom standalone.

The reason so many folks don't understand Lightroom's interface is that it is primarily an image database used for parametric image processing. It has a catalog (really, it's a database of sorts) that POINTS TO images but does not store them, and this confuses people when they move their images around (you have to re-link them). The purpose of Lightroom is to serve the very serious, prolific, or professional photographer who needs to:

• Catalog work on a regular basis
• Cull edit and/or "rate" images from a session
• Convert raw images and process them non-destructively
• Perform gross image adjustments parametrically (use sliders that change the overall characteristics of an image)
• Never change a JPEG file — Just export or print the changes (You can't change a raw file, ever!)
• Maintain ALL change commands in a database and execute them only to export a new version of the original image
• Use "proxy" images to display changes
• Safely allow infinite versions of an original image to be exported, saved, printed, and catalogued
• Export files for labs and the Internet and Photoshop (or other) editing
• Print files directly to high-end inkjet printers for maximum possible quality

It was originally developed over a decade ago by beta testing it with around 10,000 professionals and advanced amateur photographers who provided feedback to Adobe. They still get that feedback, but from millions of users.

So... It is not for everyone. There is much to be learned about there, and not everyone has the time, patience, need, or "knack" to do that. For them, I recommend Affinity Photo. Yes, there is Photoshop Elements, but it isn't my first choice (It works in 8-bits per color channel. Affinity works in 32.)

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

I also use picture+. Check out their website.

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

Thanks

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

I intend only to add to the list, not put anything down. I also use LR as well as other things.
There is an inherent problem with the fact that some editors are a part of a larger application which wants to "manage" or "catalog" your stuff. I resist that. But Photos and LR will fight you on that point.
The Mac comes with Photos and Preview. Both are capable of doing a reasonable amount of "editing".
You did not say what system you use but if you use Sony, take a look at the free Sony Image Data Converter for Mac.
RPP or Raw Photo Processor is only for Mac and the interface is unconventional but the power is impressive. http://www.raw-photo-processor.com/RPP/Overview.html It is contribution ware, optionally.
I tried "RawTherapee" which is open source and probably still in beta. I thought it had a lot of potential but I could not figure out how to use it.

I ran into a minor "feature" on the Mac. I like to work from the Finder where a folder of photos is my point of interest. From there I like to use whatever program I want to on whatever file I want to. So my normal approach is just like in Windows: right click, go to "open with", select the app for this time. I could not get either LR or Photos to appear on the list and had to use "other" and scroll through the resulting list of all apps. I spent about half an hour with Apple on the phone and could not solve it. My workaround is to put those programs on the Dock and then just drag the file to the app. That works well. Let me know if you have a solution.

adamsg Loc: Chubbuck, ID

I didn't want to get started with an expensive photo editing program, so I took a friend's recommendation and got Graphic Converter. I may be still rather unschooled, but I have found this program to be a solid performer and way better than Nikon's program,, which came with my DSLR. Graphic Converter has given me some really gratifying results and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

I am very new to this, I appreciate that you have taken the time to respond

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I purchased Affinity for $59.00