donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

And I downloaded Lighroom to use it and absolutely hate it. I can find no instructions to start out with - what I do find seems to be so confusing.

Anyone have a suggestion of a good program ?

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Before giving up on LR - Here are some FREE resources - Intro - basics to advanced - The catalog (file handling) -
Offered in video and text options... Some are older versions, but the concept is the same and they still build a solid foundation to start with.

Into to LR - an excellent video that covers the package - it's almost 2 hrs long so be prepared for that.

How Lightroom works: Where it keeps your images and presets, and how to back up

LR Catalog FAQ

Loading Images Into Lightroom: Training Tutorial

Adobe Lightroom 5 - Training Videos by Anthony Morganti

Learn Lightroom- Adobe Video Tutorials

Tutorial Video - 10 Tips for Optimizing your photos with LR

Cleaning Up Your Mess in Lightroom


Info offered in textbook style...
Photo Editing in Lightroom 101


Training from Light Stalking - How to Get Better at Lightroom and Post Production

The Modules of Adobe Lightroom

A Killer Collection of Adobe LightRoom Tutorials

3 Lightroom Tweaks to Get Your Landscape Photographs to Sing

3 Easy Lightroom Adjustments to Add Drama to a Landscape

5 Simple Lightroom Tactics to Improve Almost Any Landscape Photograph

Create Perfect Portraits in Lightroom Using These 6 Classic Retouch Techniques

The Ultimate List of Keyboard Shortcuts for Lightroom with Free PDF file to download...

Hope this helps...

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Check out Julianne Kost. She has some online tutorials that might help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l35F8Sy01dY&feature=youtu.be

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Have you tried googling: utube lightroom getting started

There are tons of videos available for free on utube. Also, significant amounts of training videos are available from Adobe's site. Lightroom is not software you learn by trying, no matter what level of experience you think you have in image processing and / or computer software. When you find a presenter you like, check their other videos. From the initial search results, consider videos from Anthony Morganti.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

Thanks Shellback. Appreciate the info, but to put all that effort into trying to use it , is in my opinion ridiculous.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

Dive in - the water's warm! Once you follow a tutorial it doesn't take long to learn the basics and build from there.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

If you are intent on ditching Lightroom, you could look at PS Elements, which has a free trial.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Step back and consider if you should be shooting RAW. All RAW images require edits and technical and artistic skill by the photographer / image editor to be successful. Maybe you should stop until you have a better understanding of the journey you're considering.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

============================================================================
I'm thinking , I'm thinking !
There use to be some really great programs that were simple and easy to use, then the experts took over.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Yes, it's called learn how to use Lightroom. If you "downloaded," it's probably an older rev that is not nearly as functional.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Here is an incentive.

I recently did a real estate shoot - a motel at a vacation destination.

Came back with about 200 images.

Using an import preset that applies auto adjustments to tone, saturation black and white clipping, clarity dehaze, shadows and highlights, and auto color balance and lens profile, and a basic preset value for sharpening, I was able to instantly view and cull the images with high-quality previews. within 20 mins I had proof quality images for the client to see. I shared them on Dropbox, and an hour later he selected the 15 shots he wanted for his website. I spent another hour or so, meticulously going over each image, first in LR then in Photoshop, making local corrections and adjustments, and he had his package.

Frankly, the proofs were probably "good enough" for web viewing, but he mentioned that he would be using the images for his brochure, so I took the extra step to make the images a bit better.

There is no software I have ever used to get me from the card to delivered product as fast and with the level of quality provided by the LR/PS combo. Capture One comes close, and On1 Raw is pretty good, but not as fast, easy or complete.

I have done second shooting work at weddings and come back with over 1000 images. I have had proofs ready for client review in 90 minutes.

Yes, LR's catalog is not exactly intuitive. But once it clicks for you, you will do one of these - and be on your merry way with the knowledge that you have the best photo editing software solution on the planet . . .

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I agree. One suggestion to add: Don’t try to attempt too much too quickly. The basics are pretty easy, but it takes time to develop real skills. You would take a Ferrari out for a few Sunday drives before you entered a road race with it.

I’m still a beginner but I enjoy learning it!

Andy

traderjohn Loc: New York City

You do not have to do everything he suggested at once or in a day. Give it a shot.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Thanks for sharing!

ELNikkor

in 5 minutes, my son cleared up all of my first frustrations; now, I love it!