Photo Editing: The Tools You Need to Get Started

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In previous posts, we’ve talked a lot about how to create great video content, what gear to use when filming or photographing, and the tools to use for video editing. While video content does typically get more views than photo content, visual content, in general, is always a good idea. 

So today, we’re going to discuss photo editing: what it’s important and the programs you can use to do it.

Much like your video content, you want to edit your photo content for a variety of reasons. The obvious is that you want to put your best content out there. Now, not every piece of content has to be perfect and polished, but even the quick, day-in-the-life style photos you put out require a little TLC to make you stand out in the sea of social media posts. 

You want your photos to have a consistent look, and you want to make sure that they’re putting you and your brand in the best light possible. If you post blurry, over-exposed photos, people will scroll right past you without a second thought. You also want to make sure your photos are properly sized and formatted, so you’re not accidentally cutting off part of your subject.

Below, I’ve outlined the apps and programs I recommend.

On your phone

There are a lot (and I mean A LOT) of apps out there for editing photos. You can even edit photos directly in Instagram if you chose to. I don’t recommend it, but that’s another post for another day. 

VSCO - Apple and Android

If you’ve dabbled into photo editing at all on your phone, you’ve probably heard of VSCO. VSCO works off of a series of filters, much like Filterloop and Instagram, but offers in-depth editing as well. You can color-correct in-app, adjust your highlights and shadows (especially useful if you don’t have great lighting) and just offers better editing than your photos app or platform editors. 

VSCO has also developed somewhat of a cult following on Pinterest and Instagram, and searching either site you can find a great number of editing presets other users have built to achieve a specific look. In fact, we have a Pinterest board here at Changeover Media that’s full of VSCO filter combinations we’ve used or like. 

VSCO is a free program, though there is a paid version as well. I personally have a year subscription, since I use it for both my work and personal photos. VSCO also offers an iPad version, if you prefer a bigger screen.

Filterloop - Apple and Android

Filterloop is a little lesser known than VSCO but is still a very powerful tool. When I first started out on Instagram, I used Filterloop the most. It’s similar to VSCO in that you can choose from filters or edit the photo outright, but Filterloop also allows you to layer filters. This is great for more creative photos. 

While I did use Filterloop a lot in the beginning, I was turned off by having to pay for each filter pack as they came out. Filterloop offers quite a few for free, but it just wasn’t enough for me. The app itself is still very powerful, though, and definitely worth mentioning. 

On your computer

For those of us that prefer a bigger screen, or want more control over editing, looking for programs on your computer is the way to go. 

Adobe

Adobe offers two great photo editing software, Lightroom and Photoshop. Lightroom can handle pretty much any photo edit you may need, while Photoshop is best for more creative editing and adding text or graphics to your images. 

Lightroom is fairly easy to use, and there are plenty of tutorials out there on how to use it. Photoshop can be a little more complex, but again, there are plenty of tutorials and classes out there. 

If you are interested in online classes for Adobe, consider signing up with SkillShare. Using the link below, you can get two free months. I personally use SkillShare for my own learning purposes, because they offer classes on just about anything you can think of. 

Click here to get your two free months of SkillShare.

The only downside to the Adobe programs is that they are subscription-based, so if you’re looking for a program you’ll be able to use without paying a lot, this may not be the way to go. You can subscribe to the full Abobe Suite, which has InDesign, Illustrator, and all the bells and whistles a designer needs, or you can now subscribe to just Lightroom and Photoshop. 

GIMP - Windows

GIMP is a free program available on Windows. While there is a lot you can do with this editor, it is a little difficult to understand and get a grasp of. Personally, I always worked within the Adobe ecosystem, and never really got around to learning GIMP, but it is a great (free) alternative to those willing to put in the time to learn it. 

Polarr.co - Online

Polarr.co is a newer editor I came across not too long ago. The system itself gives a walk-through of how to work it, and there’s a lot you can do with it. Best of all, it’s free for everyone. The only downside I could see in this program versus Adobe or GIMP is that the latter two allow you to save presets and get presets from others. If you’re using this for one-off edits or bulk editing on a single day, however, Polarr.co could be just what you need. 

Canva

Canva is not a photo editor, but it is worth mentioning in this post. Canva is a free online and mobile app editor that allows you to create social posts, flyers, brochures...just about anything! It’s designed for people that need a little more than a basic photo, but can’t afford a graphic designer or don’t want to take the time to learn a new program.

Canva is incredibly easy to use and very versatile. They also boast a HUGE library of templates to choose from, so you can work in it even if you’re not the kind of person bursting with creative ideas. They’ve also recently begun supporting animated graphics, so you can add an extra touch to your posts. Canva even offers its own Canva Design School which teaches you the basics of the program. 

While Canva is free, there are paid graphics and a pro version. The pro version offers a greater variety of photos and graphics, and more templates as well. 

Outsourcing your photo edits

If you’ve decided that photo editing just really isn’t for you, consider outsourcing your photo edits. Just like what we covered in our video editing tools blog post, you’ll want to ask an editor for their portfolio to make sure they’ll be a good fit. 

It’s also helpful to let the editor know your style or the look you want to go for. If your social feed has a particular theme or feel to it, screenshot your feed and send it to them, or send them examples of other photos you have used. This helps the editor better understand what you’re looking for. 

Some basic tips

Photo editing really isn’t that difficult, especially if you use the phone apps above. Some general things to keep in mind are your color correction or white balance. You want to make sure your whites are white UNLESS it is a creative choice to not do so. If that is the case, you’ll want your entire photo to have this look, so that it looks intentional and not like a mistake. 

Below, you’ll see examples of color correction and white balance (featuring one of the Changeover pups, Elvis). The first photo is warm-toned. In this instance, the warm tone works fine as a creative piece, but you’ll see that the whites are all tinted a yellow-orange tone. The middle photo is neutral and properly white balanced. You can see the blue in the truck as well as the yellow in the storage crate behind him. The last photo is cool-toned, and doesn’t really work even as a creative option. The whites are obviously off and the entire photo is just too tinted.

warm-toned

proper white balance

cool-toned

You’ll also want to make sure your image is straight unless, of course, it is a creative choice not to do so. Generally speaking, a straight photo is more appealing to viewers, whereas crooked photos can leave a viewer feeling unsettled or uneasy. Be sure you’re also cropping when necessary, to eliminate unwanted items. 

Below, you’ll see an example of cropping to remove unwanted items. You could see my reflection in the bumper, and the license plate was rather distracting, so I cropped the photo closer to Elvis to remove these things.

original photo

cropped photo

I hope this post has helped you, and that you find a photo editing solution. If you have other program or app suggestions not covered here, or if you have suggestions on other topics to cover, let us know in the comments below. You can also find us on social media for any questions you may have.