Ever find yourself with a great idea for a shot, but it just doesn’t come out quite right straight from the camera? Maybe the lighting isn’t perfect, or there’s something in the background you can’t control. Whether you need simple tweaks or advanced edits, knowing your way around Photoshop and Lightroom can make a world of difference.

Being comfortable with both Lightroom and Photoshop can be incredibly beneficial, helping photographers correct issues, bring out details, and fully realize their creative vision.

So, we’ve compiled the top 10 online Lightroom and Photoshop classes for photographers to help you bring your artwork to life.

  1. Free Photoshop and Lightroom Courses
  2. Paid Photoshop and Lightroom Courses
  3. Photoshop vs. Lightroom
  4. Do Photographers Need to Know Photoshop?

Top 5 FREE Photoshop Courses

Adobe Photoshop Tutorials by Adobe

Adobe’s own tutorials offer a comprehensive range from the basics to advanced techniques. These tutorials are directly from the creators of Photoshop, ensuring the most accurate and up-to-date information. Ideal for photographers at any level, these tutorials cover foundational skills and creative techniques.

Phlearn YouTube Channel

Phlearn’s YouTube channel, hosted by Aaron Nace, a world-renowned photographer and Photoshop expert, provides high-quality free tutorials on various Photoshop techniques. The channel is known for its engaging and clear instructions, making it suitable for photographers looking to enhance their editing skills through practical examples.

Udemy Photoshop Course for Photographers – For Complete Beginners

Udemy offers a selection of free Photoshop classes for photographers. One free course with positive reviews is this beginners Photoshop Course for Photographers with Kush Sharma, a Photography, Videography and Digital Marketing Instructor. The course covers only the most essential tools and functions in Photoshop that are used very frequently by photographers.

Envato Tuts+ Adobe Lightroom CC for Photographers

This course provides a thorough guide to Adobe Lightroom CC, tailored specifically for photographers. It covers essential topics such as importing, organizing, editing, and exporting photos, helping users to efficiently manage and enhance their image collections. With practical lessons and real-world examples, it’s perfect for photographers looking to streamline their workflow and achieve professional-quality edits.

LinkedIn Learning Photoshop Essential Training

This comprehensive course offers an in-depth introduction to Photoshop, ideal for photographers and digital artists looking to master the software. It covers essential tools and techniques, including image editing, retouching, layer management, and color correction. Taught by expert instructors, the course provides step-by-step guidance and practical examples, making it suitable for beginners and those seeking to refresh their Photoshop skills.

For more tips and resources to elevate your photography, check out our photographer resources page. Discover expert advice and take your skills to the next level!

close up of photo editing on computer screen

Photoshop vs. Lightroom

Photoshop and Lightroom are both powerful Adobe tools for photographers, yet they serve different purposes.

Photoshop is a versatile image editing software that allows for detailed manipulation of photos, including retouching, compositing, and creating complex graphics. It’s ideal for pixel-level editing and extensive creative control.

Lightroom, on the other hand, is designed for photo management and basic to advanced editing. It excels in organizing large photo libraries and provides non-destructive editing, meaning you can make changes to a photo without permanently altering the original file.

Both programs can complement each other in a photographer’s toolkit.

Do Photographers Need to Know Photoshop?

It depends on the type of photography you’re doing and the results you want to achieve. For beginners, simple edits like cropping can be made using your computer’s photo editor. For many photographers, mild to moderate edits in Lightroom are sufficient to achieve the desired image. However, for certain genres and styles that require heavy edits like spot removal and layering images, Photoshop is ideal.

While there are some negative opinions about Photoshop and image editing, especially when it comes to removing perceived body flaws or imperfections, photo editing is not inherently bad. Post-processing enhances your images allowing photographers to express emotions, subtleties, and mood not fully realized in the original shot.

Once you’ve perfected your photos with expert editing, it’s time to bring them to life. ArtisanHD can help you create stunning fine art prints that showcase your work in the best light. Explore all of our high-quality print products and turn your beautifully edited images into masterpieces ready to be displayed.

photographer in red jacket with black backpack photographing a mountain range