Photoshop or Lightroom or both? I'm on the border, trying to decide if I want to pursue photography professionally. It's always been a personal passion. I've worked in photoshop a tad...

aguiden Loc: Indianapolis

I'm on the border, trying to decide if I want to pursue photography professionally. It's always been a personal passion. I've worked in photoshop a tad before and recently had a free trial of lightroom, however I'm still not versed enough to know the biggest difference and what works best for what photography. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

Allen Hirsch Loc: Oakland, CA

Lightroom is simpler, more user-friendly, and has keywording integrated (useful when you have hundreds of thousands of images).

The one thing you need Photoshop for is if you need to combine/blend layers.

Most pros probably use both - but would depend on the type of photography you do.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

aguiden wrote:

I'm on the border, trying to decide if I want to pursue photography professionally. It's always been a personal passion. I've worked in photoshop a tad before and recently had a free trial of lightroom, however I'm still not versed enough to know the biggest difference and what works best for what photography. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

I use both, but I didn't always. I HAD both, but I didn't use photoshop much till I'd spent about a year getting used to Lightroom. The two programs share the same RAW development engine so until you get ready to do pixel-level editing (layers, masks, removing objects, etc), LR will serve you very adequately. LR has the organizational tools most photographers want/need, and does a good job with printing almost everything I need. 90% of my photos get all the editing they need in LR, but the others go on into PS for rest.

Most 3rd party plugins work with either, but I prefer to use them with Photoshop so I can apply them more specifically, either with a brush or using layers or both.

TheDman Loc: USA

As a landscape photographer, there isn't a single photo of mine that doesn't enter Photoshop, at least to evaluate it. Some get minimal treatment while others get hours, and every top landscape photog that I know of does the same.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

LightRoom and PS compliment each other. I use both plus NIK.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

aguiden wrote:

I'm on the border, trying to decide if I want to pursue photography professionally. It's always been a personal passion. I've worked in photoshop a tad before and recently had a free trial of lightroom, however I'm still not versed enough to know the biggest difference and what works best for what photography. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

The are different and they are "best" at different things.

We are at "sweet spot" in time where we have access to amazing imaging tools, including Photoshop, Lightroom and many others. It seems odd to me that people with a "passion" for photography find using or learning such tools as hard work or even a hurdle.

It may be hard for an active photographer to sit still for a week or two while taking a basic course that demonstrates the order of work and different capabilities of Lightroom and Photoshop. But, after that, each daily discovery of a tool or technique within Lightroom or Photoshop is a personal thrill.

How can you NOT get them both and get started thrilling yourself on a daily basis?

TheDman Loc: USA

bsprague wrote:

The are different and they are "best" at... (show quote)

exactly. And if you're looking to pursue this as a job, I don't understand why you would want to master the tools of the job.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I agree with you.

bsprague wrote:

The are different and they are "best" at... (show quote)

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

pappy0352 Loc: Oregon

I use both.

Pappy

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

aguiden wrote:

I'm on the border, trying to decide if I want to pursue photography professionally. It's always been a personal passion. I've worked in photoshop a tad before and recently had a free trial of lightroom, however I'm still not versed enough to know the biggest difference and what works best for what photography. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

Many pros and advanced amateurs use Lightroom as a front end and feed their images to PS from within Lightroom when a pixel editor or other function that Lightroom does not contain is needed. Many, including myself, have indicated that LR fills 90-95 percent of their post processing requirements. It's inexpensive and relatively easy to earn and use. It is not a pixel editor and there are no layers.

K_Duncan Loc: Whiteville, NC

aguiden wrote:

I'm on the border, trying to decide if I want to pursue photography professionally. It's always been a personal passion. I've worked in photoshop a tad before and recently had a free trial of lightroom, however I'm still not versed enough to know the biggest difference and what works best for what photography. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

I use Lightroom for most of my photo work, however Photoshop has some tools that I like and use on occasion. I shoot RAW and use Lightroom to develop my photos. I would say that 95% of the time Lightroom will do what you want. That being said, I would hate to be without Photoshop. :)

Hunakai

Both. They seamlessly compliment each other.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Allen Hirsch wrote:

Lightroom is simpler, more user-friendly, and has keywording integrated (useful when you have hundreds of thousands of images).

The one thing you need Photoshop for is if you need to combine/blend layers.

Most pros probably use both - but would depend on the type of photography you do.

Light room 5 and Photoshop Elements 12 here :thumbup:

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

If you have any ideas of trying photography in a professional manner, you will need to use all the important tools. Photoshop and lightroom are important tools that you will need to master if you want to do this professionally. Both of them are important if you are considering a professional junction.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

aguiden wrote:

I'm on the border, trying to decide if I want to pursue photography professionally. It's always been a personal passion. I've worked in photoshop a tad before and recently had a free trial of lightroom, however I'm still not versed enough to know the biggest difference and what works best for what photography. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

I would suggest that if you cannot sort out your thoughts on LR & PS then you are not ready for the bigger "on the border" question.