Here is another vote for Julieann Kost. Her videos are logical, well done, etc.
Here's one man's opinion (mine...the most important opinion, in my opinion!): LR and PS are avail via a monthly subscription. That is a two-edged sword. On one hand you get cutting edge updates (which I find very useful) but on the other hand, Adobe could, at any moment, raise the subscription price and then you'd have to make a decision to continue with that model or not. I chose the subscription model for the consistent updates and leading edge tech in the programs. The masking capabilities alone have, quite literally, changed my photo game.
With regard to elitists (I think that was the term used), an ad hominem attack is not informative. I am not a pro, don't much care about status (who even knows what I use or do? If I were concerned about status I sure would not be using the gear I do.) or anything else. Results matter and I am sure one can get to the mountain top using a variety of software programs. The question is, "which one do you want to learn and why?" What I do find helpful is to look to accomplished photographers and learn from their accomplishments and methods. It also might be helpful to you to take a look at some folk's photos avail here on on their website before taking their advice.
In my camera club, comprised of some very accomplished photogs, most of them us LR and PS. Some do not, but most do. This becomes somewhat important in that some of our seminars focus on LR or PS.
If you follow an organized learning structure on LR, it will greatly enhance your enjoyment of this hobby. If you followed Julieann Kost, for instance, and internalized her lessons, in the order presented, you will find LR is an extraordinarily powerful tool once you learn the basics. Again, for me, to be able to organize my photos, search my photos, edit my photos beyond what I ever imagined, has been a source of enjoyment. Once I had the, "ah ha" moment with LR of its full breadth of features, then I transitioned to a LR fully.
I remain bewildered at people who want the "easy" way of doing things. If easy is good, then fine, but it is not often the case. Elegant is not often easy. In fact, it is often achieved through hard work and study. As (I think) Arnold Palmer said, the more he practiced the luckier he got.
As photographers we pay thousands of dollars in gear trying to achieve some level of artistic competence, but so often people balk and a few more dollars for software or simply want to have something "simple" to edit their photos. Well, LR, to me, is easier now (I am still learning...in fact last night during a session, I learned something and the most recent LR update changed the color management thing a bit..so I have to study a bit). In fact, I often use the "auto" feature in LR to get a very good starting point on edits. One click and I am nearly there. If it is a simple shot for a family album, I leave it at that. How is that difficult? Of course, I often get into multiple steps of editing using the power of LR and I think my pics are better for it.
Go through some lessons slowly and you will find that you too, will understand LR and have a degree of satisfaction for doing so.
And, regarding last night, my camera club session was facilitated by a retired news photographer. He was a professional user of Photoshop for years. As in editing 40 photos a day in PS. He did a demo in LR that almost exactly mirrored my little workflow. He said that he can accomplish editing in LR in a few minutes what he used to do for hours in PS when he was a pro. And, he also said he had to up his photography game once he started submitting photos for critique to our club and other competitions! He does very little in PS anymore, even though he is an absolute expert in it. He lives in LR.
My opinion, start out with LR. Ignore PS for now (if not forever) and learn. In half a year's time, you will be glad you did.
Enjoy
Here is another vote for Julieann Kost. Her video... (
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