Hey all,

My 11 year old, has informed us that she is interested in photography and wants a camera and editing software for Christmas. The camera we have handled, but I don't have the slightest clue about software. Have researched on line and am frankly more confused than when I started.

This will be for her to tinker with to see if she wants to get more serious about, I don't think we need Super high end software. Thinking something less than $100 (Would be happier with much less if doable).

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

I like Affinity Photo for Windows. It is available for the PC, Mac and IOS. It is nearly as good as Photoshop at a mere fraction of the price. There are also an absolute ton of free online tutorials. At $49 it is a deal and watch for sales from time to time. The learning curve is rather steep but it’s the nature of photo editing.

Photoshop Elements is also pretty good for editing photos. Low cost as well.

Check out Gimp. It's a free software. While not in the same class as Photoshop, you can do some amazing things to a photograph with it. Download it and give it a try.

Chuck

Photoshop is the industry standard. Get a low cost version. If she really gets into she/you can step up using student pricing.

Which camera and buying new? Most cameras come with a basic editor that might be a good starting point until she decides she really wants to get in to it.

What computer OS? I have an install license to download some Corel editing software that was bundled with a camera purchase from Adorama. Will see if I can find it, I think I have both Windows and Mac version codes, just need to find the coupons.

If interested, it is yours at no charge. Can’t vouch for the programs as I haven’t used them, but no risk involved at that price.

Adorama charges $200 for it stand alone so it should get her started

https://www.adorama.com/csboemdlc07.html

If interested, shoot me an email as I forget things these days...

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
Which camera and buying new? Most cameras come with a basic editor that might be a good starting point until she decides she really wants to get in to it.

What computer OS? I have an install license to download some Corel editing software that was bundled with a camera purchase from Adorama. Will see if I can find it, I think I have both Windows and Mac version codes, just need to find the coupons.

If interested, it is yours at no charge. Can’t vouch for the programs as I haven’t used them, but no risk involved at that price.

Adorama charges $200 for it stand alone so it should get her started

https://www.adorama.com/csboemdlc07.html

Wow that is very generous of you! It will be a Sony camera that is step above a point an shoot (Did not come with software), and we use windows 10

Corel Paint Shop is a pretty good tool. I used a version of it before it was bought out by Corel. I have mored on to Adobe Lightroom, but Paint Shop does a nice job.

flashguy

Photoshop elements is a good place to start.

Photoshop (the full version) is now only available via monthly subscription at $9.99 per for individuals.

I use Photoshop and then use Topaz labs plugins for photoshop.

I know a lot of people are recommending Photoshop, and for serious photo EDITING, it is absolutely the industry standard, but for photo management and what you might call photo "processing," (adjusting colors, exposure, cropping, printing, etc.,), I think Adobe Lightroom is by far the better tool.

Not because it can achieve better results, but because all of the photo processing tasks are so much more streamlined in Lightroom. Photoshop is intended for a lot more than that, which weighs it down with a whole bunch of stuff that isn't relevant to "I want to get my pictures off my camera, make them look good, and make nice prints from them."

quote:

Originally posted by lizardman_u:
Photoshop elements is a good place to start.

Photoshop (the full version) is now only available via monthly subscription at $9.99 per for individuals.

I use Photoshop and then use Topaz labs plugins for photoshop.

I'll add my two-cents...

When I first started, I went with Paintshop Pro...

As I progressed, I quickly realized I needed to move to Photoshop/Adobe. Classes, clients, aftermarket plug-ins, support etc. all revolve around Photoshop or Lightroom

It was painful...the learning curve that is. I had wished I just bit the bullet and went with Photoshop from the start.

Fast forward...and as quoted above, you can get monthly subscriptions to the top end Adobe software.

Since your daughter is only 11, get the monthly...see if she sticks with it and extend the subscription as required.

You/she will be glad you started with the gold standard in the photo editing field.

Between Photoshop and Lightroom...Id start with Lightroom. Add Photoshop when she gets some chops or wants to seriously manipulate photos.

If she is starting off, she doesn't need the horsepower of Lightroom or Photoshop. The free programs will help her with basics. Photoshop Elements is probably a good place to start.

Try Topaz Labs Studio 2. Easy to use and on sale now for $69. If she doesn't like it, it can be returned for full refund within 30 days.

As others have said, start with Lightroom. It's a decent program for the price. I have Photoshop, but it requires a HUGE learning curve, if you don't have someone offering a beginner's course in the area. Good for her to be interested in photography!!!

Lightroom and Photoshop are both subscription based software now. You get both for a single monthly subscription price. $10/ month last I checked.

Lightroom isn't a simpler version of Photoshop. They do different things, and behave differently. Lightroom is non-destructive photo management. Photoshop is a bitmap editor.

Somethings are easier and faster in PS, others are better done in LR. They work together as an eco system.

I would check out Affinity Photo as a low cost PS alternative. Photoshop elements is annoyingly hamstrung.

Photoshop Elements is a good place to start. It can still be had without a subscription.

I would look into a student version/price. Adobe often offers deals for students/teachers.

I was a huge fan of Apples early Aperture Photo editing software. When they no longer supported it Affinity Photo was recommended. You can find many online tutorials about each of the tool selections and adjustments, as well as the tutorials that come with the software for just about any task you'd like to preform. It was a fine replacement for Aperture and I'd recommend it. Check out Youtube tutorials with Affinity Photo, you can get as creative as you would want.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Lightroom and Photoshop are both subscription based software now. You get both for a single monthly subscription price. $10/ month last I checked.

Lightroom isn't a simpler version of Photoshop. They do different things, and behave differently. Lightroom is non-destructive photo management. Photoshop is a bitmap editor.

Somethings are easier and faster in PS, others are better done in LR. They work together as an eco system.

I would check out Affinity Photo as a low cost PS alternative. Photoshop elements is annoyingly hamstrung.

I have Adobe Creative Cloud for $10 per month and that includes 20 GB free cloud storage. You can drop it at anytime I believe. You can do a ton with Lightroom. It also comes with the classic versions too.
Does the Sony camera output raw files or only jpeg? You can do more corrections with raw files than with jpegs, regardless of whose Progream you use. You can use it on 3 devices. iPhone included.

If the kid is interested in graphic design, then Photoshop. If she's interested in photography, then Lightroom.

quote:

Originally posted by Keystoner:
If the kid is interested in graphic design, then Photoshop. If she's interested in photography, then Lightroom.

Actually, graphic design is almost always done in a vector graphics program like Adobe Illustrator rather than a raster graphics program like Photoshop.