Where do I begin with Photoshop, there seem to be so many options?

Question

Photoshop is an amazing program, but it is designed for a whole range of visual professionals. As a photographer, you don't need to learn everything, and to get started, we just need to look at the tools that mimic a traditional darkroom, tools that allow you to lighten or darken just a part of your image, cropping tools, and retouching tools. I can teach you how to get professional results and give you a clear idea of what to tackle next to get the specific results you are looking for.

Answer 1

You're right. Photoshop has been around for so long, and grown so much in its features, that it is absolutely overwhelming to try to learn everything. I've been using Photoshop for 30 years and I still learn something new almost every day.

My advice on how to begin learning (whether it's Photoshop or any other topic) is to split it into three phases:

The first phase is to learn why you'd want to use Photoshop, versus another tool like Illustrator, InDesign, Canva, Procreate, etc. Each tool has a purpose and strength, and it's important to understand why you might want to pick one application instead of another to accomplish your task. A tutor can help you understand the differences between the applications so you can spend your time wisely learning the one(s) that will help you the most.

The second phase is a bit more mechanical: learning the interface of the application(s). What the buttons do. Where the Menus lead you. How to find and use the right tool for the job at hand. How to set up your Preferences, tool Palettes, and other settings to make your working environment logical, comfortable, and flexible. You don't need to learn how every single tool works right off the bat, but it's good to have a general understanding of the User Interface so you can move on to the third and final phase, which is...

Applying your knowledge from the first and second phase to a specific personal goal or project that you want to create. Maybe you want to make specific adjustments and edits to a photo you took. Maybe you're interested in graphic design and want to create a poster or flier. Maybe you saw a really cool image online and want to learn how to recreate it. It can be literally anything, but the important thing is to give yourself a specific, tangible, and realistically-achievable goal that has an end result (so that you know when you're done). Start with something simple.

Once you've decided on what your first project should be, then you can jump into Photoshop (or Illustrator, or InDesign, or Midjourney, or Procreate, etc.) and learn just the specific techniques you need to accomplish that goal. And you'll learn a lot more than you were expecting—and can then apply that knowledge to your next project.

If you need help getting started, I'd be happy to walk you through the first steps.

Answer 2

Hey! You don't need to be a professional to get started in Photoshop. I was in our position once. So, how about we get you started with the basics? Feel free to book something for us and let's get you on the right track.