Is it ok to edit your photos?

Or are photos best untouched by an editing app?

To take the question further:

Is it ok to edit photos using AI?

Take a look at my before and afters and I'll tell you why I love editing my photos (and why I think AI is ok for some stuff):

BEFORE

Unedited, straight out of camera:

AFTER

Edited in Lightroom Mobile, using all the bells and whistles:

Yes I even used the Remove Tool, and applied Generative AI to replace the ladder with some foliage:

Back in the old film days, the art of photography didn't end after the shutter was clicked. The photographer would go to the dark room and work with light and shadows to expose a photo onto paper in a very specific way. More care, attention and manipulation was involved before the final image was "finished".

That was before computers and AI.

That's why I don't think we should not edit our digital photos.

Just like in the film days, digital photography still requires the photographer to add their own personal touch to their image in post-production.

This is where Lightroom Mobile comes in.

It's an editing app that doesn't just apply filters or quick presets to your photos (though it does).

It's a sophisticated editing app that gives you full ability to add your own personal touch to all your phone photos.

You can adjust

brightness

contrast

colour

texture and "crispiness"

smoothing and sharpening, etc...

It also lets you remove unwanted objects! (like that ladder)

With the help of AI.

It also allows you to do masking - which is applying specific edits to specific parts of the image.

For example:

You can make your sun look more radiant and your shadows look more stark. Like this:

BEFORE

Unedited, straight out of camera:

AFTER

Edited in Lightroom Mobile, using the masking tool:

The masking tool lets you fine tune any part of your photo:

The creative possibilities are endless!

Here are more before and after photos using Lightroom:

Do you notice what improves after editing a photo?

1. It's less dull (better colour)

2. It's richer (the blacks are deeper and less grey)

3. More visibility (brightness and clarity is boosted)

4. Easier to read (the subject is more clear and defined)

The truth is, most people don't edit their phone photos.

---> But the ones that do, their photos stand out.

When Lightroom finally came out with a mobile app in 2014, I was all over it. It suddenly allowed my dull phone photos to look so much punchier and more polished. Without having to ever leave my phone!

It was quick and easy to use and suddenly made phone photography a legitimate platform for artistic growth.

To this day, I use Lightroom Mobile almost daily for my phone photos. My favourite thing is how quick and easy it makes my phone photos look pro.

No more using Instagram's filters (remember those from 2012?!)

I love how you can custom edit your photos and save them as presets so you save time editing future photos that look similar.

The best part, Lightroom's free version lets you do all that.

But if you want to take it a step further, you can upgrade to the paid subscription to get access to the Generative AI remove tool and the masking tools (the ones I used to remove the ladder and make the sun look brighter).

And in case you're suspicious of why I rave about Lightroom so much... it's not because of my affiliate link.

I've been using Lightroom since 2007 and LOVE it. I got this affiliate link a year ago because I realized I was already talking about this app so much. Because it's that good.

Go and have fun with Lightroom, and e-mail me if you have any questions about it! I read and respond to 100% of the e-mails you send me.

___________________________________________

Don't want to figure out Lightroom on your own?

I've got you covered with a pre-recorded Lightroom Editing Course for $25:

Lightroom Editing Course

Ready to learn even more live on Zoom with me?

I'll teach you all my favourite tips and techniques and answer your questions live on Zoom:

Register for my Zoom Workshops and Q&A Sessions

•••

Hi I'm Gabrielle. I run a full time photography business in Winnipeg, specializing in portrait and commercial photography. This newsletter started with my passion for helping everyday people realize their full photography potential. With a bit of technical and creative help, you too can take better photos with the phone camera you already have.

Find more of my resources here:

​Instagram • My Blog • Patreon • Lightroom Editing Course​

Gabrielle Touchette Photography

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