Photograpy Apps

[06Honda]

For the past couple of years the only editing of my images I have done is using iPhoto. I would like to be able to have a little more control of specific areas on a shot and was looking for some opinions on apps to use on my MacBook Pro. Strangely shooting Nikon I have never tried any of their software not sure if this is worth considering.

PS: I am almost done reading my D7200 manual :tranquillity:

 

[mikew_RIP]

No idea about mac stuff but i just cant get over what you can do in photoshop,i though i had an idea after having elements for over 10 years but the CC version is so much more.

 

[RON_RIP]

I photo or whatever they call it now is worse than ever and it is probably too late to get a copy of Aperture but I think you would be pleasantly surprised if you could. I have no experience with anything other than Picassa which did not work well on my Mac. You may be stuck with a steep learning curve with some of the other popular editors.

 

[BackdoorArts]

I used the Nikon free stuff for my first 4 months of shooting and got along fine. My brother suggested I download a trial of Lightroom (3.6 at the time) and my life was forever changed. I've said it before, and mounds of software trials and purchases later I'm still convinced that if I could only use one piece of software Lightroom would be it. Optimally, I think the Photoshop CC offering is an amazing product, even if you just ease into Photoshop, and the Nik tools would be my first choice for something on top of them.

Why Nik? Two things. One, Control Points. Nikon Capture 2 used to have them, and they are a color/luminance based way of isolating an adjustment. Two, pay once - period. I purchased the Nik Collection in 2012 and have never paid for an upgrade. I purchased the onOne Perfect Photo suite in 2013 (version 8) and just received my promo for version 10, each upgrade costing more or less what I paid for Nik, and honestly, outside of the mask and portrait tools in there I could live without the rest (and those as well - but I have 'em).

 

[sonicbuffalo_RIP]

Lightroom has definitely helped my photography. I still have lots to learn. I know @BackdoorHippie has advocated using lynda.com, and I completely agree. Use it for the trial and decide how long you want to subscribe. It's well worth it. It will teach you so much you probably didn't know.

 

[Eduard]

Absolutely agree with Jake's recommendations. Love the Nik tools but MacPhun and Topaz are worthy competitors.

FWIW The plugins I use the most are a combination from all three: Nik's Viveza and Color Efex, MacPhun's Snapheal and Noiseless and Topaz's Adjust and DeNoise.

If you start to use Lightroom, you owe it to yourself to look at the LR Mogrify plugin. It is the first thing I confirm is working when new versions of LR are released.

 

[Felisek]

Another one for Nik tools. Powerful and very easy to use. I use them with Photoshop CC, but Lightroom would do as well. Adobe Photography Plan includes both.