photoshop vs lightroom

at the beginning of our business, i edited strictly in photoshop. i brightened, contrasted, and saturated and that was it. i didnt know how to do anything other than that and i didnt even know how to begin to learn to do more. i thought my photos were – passable – but i didnt know how to be any better. as our business progressed, i was introduced to lightroom. this is how it was sold to me “it’s way easier than photoshop and doesnt take as long” and just like that, i was hooked. i’ve been editing in lightroom for the past three years, give or take a few months and thankfully, i’ve come a good ways from the brighten, contrast, saturate method. i’m happy in lightroom. i’m content in lightroom. i still terrified of photoshop.

recently, as i was downloading for the day, i was struck by the statement “i wonder if i could make my photos better in photoshop” at that moment, i compiled my list of excuses as to why i was doing just fine in lightroom. and those excuses held up for awhile. some of them are still holding, in all honesty, but i decided to at least try. i decided to ask a few of my friends and family to get in front of my camera so i could have some images to try to work on in photoshop,  terrifying as it sounded.

the following images are of the daughter of a friend of mine that i have spent the majority of my middle school/high school years growing up with. she was brought to me during a time when i felt i would never have a friend. she was brought to me as an answer to prayer. through our friendship, i learned so many things about life and about myself, and about being an honest, reliable, loving friend. now, she’s grown, has a home, a husband, a beautiful little girl, and a new puppy…she has a family – a beautiful loving little family. her sweet little girl wasnt so thrilled to have my camera in her face and i’m pretty sure i had to chase her around the entirety of the backyard. but i wanted these images…i needed these images.

this isnt something i normally do…actually, i think i’ve only done it once back when i wasnt sure who i was or the photographer i wanted to be. but i’m posting two different sets of images. the previous photos are edited as i normally do, happy as a clam in lightroom. the following photos are the same images that i also tweaked with an action or two in photoshop. if i’m being 100% honest, i’m afraid to like the photoshopped ones more. i’m afraid to have to change how i edit. i’m afraid that editing in photoshop will take so much more time than i’m used to in lightroom. i’m afraid of changing and losing clients along the way.

but, to name your fears is to conquer them…so i’m told. i’ve never really actively tried until now. so, i’m naming a fear. i’m afraid i will lose clients if i change the way i edit. fear named. now it’s time to conquer.

dwell in possibility…