Alright, let’s dive in, because I know a lot of you are stuck in the “do I need Lightroom, Photoshop, or both?” rabbit hole while your hard drive is screaming under 10,000 unedited images.

Why I’m Team Photoshop

I’m a layers girl. I’m talking composites, face swaps, eyeglass glare removal, background replacements, and detailed cleanup that requires surgical-level precision. Lightroom simply can’t handle that. Photoshop lets me work in layers, blend images seamlessly, and make advanced edits that transform an image completely.

After 25 years, Photoshop feels like home. Lightroom? I’ve never needed to learn it because Photoshop and Bridge cover everything I need, including batch edits when necessary.

What Lightroom Does Well

Look, Lightroom isn’t useless. It’s excellent for photographers who need quick batch edits, exposure tweaks, and consistent color grading across hundreds of images in a session. If you’re a photographer shooting high-volume sessions, like weddings or school portraits, Lightroom can save you hours.

Plenty of photographers use Lightroom for their everyday workflow and outsource their heavy Photoshop work to someone like me. It’s a smart system if you don’t love living in the details and want to keep your editing efficient.

My Honest Lightroom Gripe

It’s not super user-friendly to me. But maybe it’s because I’m that old dog who likes her old tricks. Could I learn it? Sure. Do I need to? Nope.

If You’re Just Starting Out

Are you planning to become an outsource editor? Learn Photoshop first. It gives you a wider range of services to offer your clients, including advanced retouching, composites, and corrections Lightroom can’t touch. Once you’re comfortable, you can add Lightroom or Bridge for batch editing to speed up your workflow.

If you’re a photographer, decide what you want your editing workflow to look like. Do you love the art of detailed editing, or do you want to get your edits done quickly and consistently? Lightroom can handle your batch edits, while Photoshop can help you with advanced, image-specific fixes when needed.

A Real-Life Example

A client once asked me to change the background for a wedding ceremony photo. She sent multiple shots of the empty venue, and I had to blend them to replace the cluttered background in her original image. It took over two hours and 26 layers to make it look seamless and natural. Lightroom could never.

When to Use Both

The truth is, many photographers find using both Lightroom and Photoshop together gives them the best of both worlds. You can use Lightroom for your initial culling, quick color corrections, and batch edits, and then switch to Photoshop when you need to perform more complex edits that require layers, detailed retouching, or compositing.

Using both can streamline your workflow, saving you time on the front end while still allowing you to provide high-quality, detailed edits on the back end.

Tips for Choosing the Right Tool for You

• Identify Your Needs: What kind of photography do you do? High-volume sessions or detailed, fine art work?

• Test Both Platforms: If you can, try using both Lightroom and Photoshop on a few projects to see which one aligns with your workflow.

• Consider Learning Photoshop First: If you’re planning on offering editing services to others, Photoshop will give you more flexibility.

• Use Lightroom for Efficiency: For photographers looking to speed up their workflow, Lightroom can be a lifesaver for batch editing and color corrections.

Final Thoughts

Lightroom and Photoshop aren’t enemies—they’re tools for different needs. Lightroom is for quick, consistent edits across many images. Photoshop is for advanced edits that require precision, creativity, and layers.

For me, Photoshop is where the magic happens. And if you want to offer high-quality, detailed edits to your clients (or to yourself), it’s worth mastering. Don’t be afraid to try both and find what works best for you. Remember, your workflow should serve your creativity, not the other way around.

Ready to Learn Photoshop Without the Overwhelm?

If you’ve decided Photoshop is the right choice for your editing journey but feel intimidated by all the buttons and panels, I’ve got you covered. My Photoshop for Beginners Course is designed to get you comfortable and confident in Photoshop without overwhelm, even if you’ve never opened the program before. You’ll learn exactly what you need to start editing your images like a pro, with clear, step-by-step guidance (and maybe a few laughs along the way).

✨ Click here to check out the Photoshop for Beginners Course and take the next step toward mastering your editing workflow with ease.