Since the dawn of the digital era, Photoshop has risen to become a ubiquitous and efficient tool for editing photography. Like many software programs, the online resources are endless and intimidating, making the self-managed tutorial seem out of reach. Our parent company, Artisan Colour has both a photo studio and in-house photoshop gurus who have some advice. Read on for some great photoshop tips for photographers to take their work to the next level!

Paul Bartell Digital Photography Awards

Digital Photography: A Two-Pronged Profession

While some aspiring photographers may hope to stay behind the camera, modern work in photography often requires technical proficiency with programs like Photoshop. To succeed professionally, or get the best results from amateur shots, some degree of familiarity with Photoshop is necessary.

When one of our professional photo retouchers ran a portrait company, he was able to delegate work between taking photos and processing them. As he expanded, he brought on a second photographer. In time, one of them was on the ground, snapping photos of weddings and portraits and he was behind the scenes, processing, and retouching digitally.

While the demand for professional photographers is declining, the need for those with experience in Photoshop, such as graphic designers, is slowly increasing. Professionals with Photoshop skills are needed.

Despite a recent resurgence in the popularity of using film, Photoshop competence is still important to aspiring photographers. In fact, many photographers who have taken a step back to using film still find it necessary to scan their images into Photoshop for digital processing. Composition, lighting, and working with subjects may all be skills to capture in the moment, but the expectation of digital skills is real across the market.

5 Photoshop Tips for Photographers

The reasons to get involved in Photoshop are obvious, and the ways to do so are widespread:

  1. Sign up for an online group, like KelbyOne. These groups may come with a low subscription fee but offer extensive tutorials and resources.
  2. Ask questions online. So many resources and forums are available, such as Photoshop Gurus Community Forums or the Adobe Support Community, make it easy to ask those with more expertise for assistance.
  3. Attend the Photoshop World Conference, where the Guru awards are handed out.
  4. Learn about complementary technical techniques, like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom or advanced plug-ins for Photoshop.
  5. Find an in-person friend or tutor to show you around. Most people who have learned the ins and outs of Photoshop are happy to assist others in getting rolling.

With simple steps, you can dive into Photoshop today. Let’s face it – it’s necessary for digital photography. Plus, printing the work you create has never been easier. Start your custom print project now using the HD configurator and feel free to email our team at support@artisanhd.com with any questions that you may have.