Reasonable alternatives to Apple's "Photos" app (Page 2): Before one goes from Photos to PSE, one should go through their entire computer and look for old photos he discarded. The PSE...

FredCM Loc: Central Illinois

Before one goes from Photos to PSE, one should go through their entire computer and look for old photos he discarded. The PSE "Organizer" will find them and restore them creating a god awful mess. Get rid of the photos, use the recycle/trash option to overwrite what's been discarded, so PSE Organizer can't find them. I don't recall, but it might go through emails looking for photos too and want to 'organize" them too. What a mess. Or one could simply ignore it and Scott Kelby's advice.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I use apple Photos for 95% of my PP. If I need more controls I use ON1. BTW, ON1 has a very good discount for Vets.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Get Snapseed, it’s free. Has more tools than the Photos app provides. I also use free Waterlogue to produce some nice looking water color effects if you’re into that sort of creativity.

oldart Loc: Dallas, Texas

Mac user here: I use Photos most of the time, but have Photoshop Elements when I want to do more with a particular shot. Like others here, all photo files are loaded into Photos and organized. It's easy to move a particular file (copy) into PSE for further work.

jrm21

kb6kgx wrote:

However, am I missing out by not using a "real" photo editing app such as Photoshop, Lightroom or some other such thing?

Simple answer - No.

Quote:

That, and one of the members of a press photography group of which I am a member, made this comment: "Why is he not using Photoshop?"

Snob meter has been activated. :) Opinions are like butts... everyone has one and they all stink. Photoshop is NOT a replacement for Photos. They do two different things. This person is obviously ill-informed.

Quote:

I'm not really interested in spending hours and hours tweaking this and that to perfect my images. Just something that might work… better.

Better is a relative term. I doubt you will fine something simpler than "Photos." If it's working for you, why complicate matters?

Quote:

Or, to put it differently, what would one of these other editing apps do for me that "Photos" can't?

Probably nothing. Some other editors have more and different controls. If you don't want to wade into the weeds, they offer you nothing of real value.

Quote:

So, I am looking for recommendations and for those that won't cost a bundle. I'm not looking to purchase something like "Final Cut Pro", but something that a non-professional who does not make his money from his photography could put to good use.

Final Cut Pro is a video editor (the big brother of iMovie) It won't help with photos.

What photo software you want to switch to depends on what you feel you are missing in Photos. If you are happy with your current workflow and results, the answer is - "don't switch." Certainly, don't let some snob affect your decision.

FYI - photoshop is an image editor. It will not organize or catalog your photos. In fact, you can use Photoshop, or Affinity, NIX, or just about any other editor along with Photos. Right-Click an image in photos and select "edit with."

MJPerini

Photography can be enjoyed at many levels there os no single right way to enjoy it.
You have experience with PHOTOS, it does all of the things you mention that you regularly like to do, and it does them pretty well.
If you find that Photos falls short of your expectations or preferences then it is fine to look elsewhere, and, as mentioned above, free trials are the best way to go until you find something that you like better.
But don't do it because someone else questions your workflow.
There are Lots of Applications that are far more powerful than PHOTOS, and many people use them. They all come with a new learning curve attached, and new expenses too. Only you can decide if it is worth it to YOU. And if you enjoy diving deeper into Post Processing. Do what makes you happy.
One suggestion above is to try RAW Power & the Affinity trial, that is in my opinion also a good place to start.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Regarding adding such things as title, caption, keywords and so on, I tried that in Photos with a raw file and then exported the raw file to a jpeg. The information did not carry over to the jpeg.

But when I tried it with the jpeg it did modify the correct fields in the file (EXIF).

Just something to be aware of depending on how you intend to use that feature.

Also, I noted that Photos uses "jpeg" instead of "jpg".

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Mark Sturtevant wrote:

I'm amused by comments like "Why is he not using Photoshop?" Or "You should use software X. It's worth the price!" People project themselves onto others all the time. But you do you, as they say.

That comment came from a board member of Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles regarding my submission to their quarterly photo contest.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

kb6kgx wrote:

I've been using Apple's "Photos" app, af... (show quote)

You are using goos software that seems to meet most of your needs. Maybe consider adding Luminar AI to your suite of solutions? It is very inexpensive (unlike Lightroom, etc., does not have a subscription model) and adds in as a plugin onto Photos and is so easy to learn and use a 5 year old can master it.

Good luck!

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

jrm21 wrote:

Final Cut Pro is a video editor (the big brother of iMovie) It won't help with photos.

I mentioned Final Cut just as an example of expensive applications that average folks like me don’t need.

oldmainer47

Hsch39 wrote:

If you go to info, here you can add captions to your photo. I also import all my photos into Photos Library. I use Affinity for post-processing.

On my apple devices, I use Affinity Photo for the more advanced editing on my Macbook Air and I have it on my Ipad if I need to use it. I also use Snapseed on my Iphone and Ipad for most editing tasks. Affinity is $50 and Snapseed is free from google. They are both great editors and will do a great job. I was a photoshop user for years and have not had a need for it and its very high cost. If you are using a PC at all - Affinity will work for you there also. Alas Snapseed has not been ported by Google to the Windows OS as far as I know. Good luck

oldmainer47

On my apple devices, I use Affinity Photo for the more advanced editing on my Macbook Air and I have it on my Ipad if I need to use it. I also use Snapseed on my Iphone and Ipad for most editing tasks. Affinity is $50 and Snapseed is free from google. They are both great editors and will do a great job. I was a photoshop user for years and have not had a need for it and its very high cost. If you are using a PC at all - Affinity will work for you there also. Alas Snapseed has not been ported by Google to the Windows OS as far as I know. Good luck
oldmainer47

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

kb6kgx wrote:

I mentioned Final Cut just as an example of expensive applications that average folks like me don’t need.

It's a goodie. I use Final Cut, and iMovie, depending on the level of power I need. Truthfully, iMovie is great for most casual video editing. Final Cut is a full-power pro app, and the fastest video editor on Macs.

Hsch39 Loc: Northbrook, Illinois

a6k wrote:

Regarding adding such things as title, caption, keywords and so on, I tried that in Photos with a raw file and then exported the raw file to a jpeg. The information did not carry over to the jpeg.

But when I tried it with the jpeg it did modify the correct fields in the file (EXIF).

Just something to be aware of depending on how you intend to use that feature.

Also, I noted that Photos uses "jpeg" instead of "jpg".

When exporting a Raw file make sure you include the check mark for Title, Keywords and Description and
Location info. It works for me.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Hsch39 wrote:

When exporting a Raw file make sure you include the check mark for Title, Keywords and Description and
Location info. It works for me.

Very interesting. It defaulted to having those checked. It worked. I did not uncheck them the first time. I have no idea what was different this time. I and all others with Macs thank you.