Recommendation for Editing Software for a Newb?

[ksouza]

thank you all for your recommendations! I will look into all of it...

[jorf]

I decide on PSE8 (for about $60 then, I think you can download it now for $70 or so with rebates) and am happy with it. I end out mostly using the Adobe Camera Raw that comes with it but go into PSE for stuff too. It's just more of a learning curve. I subscribed to Lynda.com for a couple of months and did the courses on PSE8, ACR and (I think...) Bridge - which is the Mac version of "Organizer" with windows. I found them very helpful (once I got over the annoying nervous laugh of the ACR teacher!).

I just downloaded the trial version of PSE8 for my windows based netbook so I'll see....

Part of why I went with PSE8 was a "just in case" I ever felt the need for the whole photoshop thing.

[wsu_danielle]

I have PSE 7 (have not upgraded to 8 as of yet) and like it. I have been learning through trial and error, as well as (lately) many YouTube tutorials (SOOO helpful!!!). I bought it a year ago when it was on sale at Costco. I think that it will be a good step toward PS CS...whenever I decide to take that leap.

I would say, as others have to me, that YouTube is your friend. PSE is relatively easy to use when you get used to it and not too expensive (especially when on sale at Costco--keep your eyes peeled) so I would go with that.

I have a friend with LR that's been doing photography for about 10 years and I feel like my photos are already catching up to the quality/caliber of hers. (Catching up. Not there yet. ) At first I wanted LR really bad because I thought it would make my photos look better. I'm finding that taking good photos in the first place is the key. Who knew. I still might get LR, but not anytime soon.

HTH