Learning Photoshop
This weeks question comes from Melissa:
I am just curious as to how you mastered photoshop!?! I just got it and got some “how to” books, but I find myself more frustrated then anything. Where did you start?? Did you take a class?? Do you recommend any particular book??
Thanks for your question, Melissa! I don’t know that I would call myself a photoshop “master”. Haha! But, I have spent the last couple of years really learning what I need to know about it. There are a ton of things you can do with photoshop that I have no idea how to use, but I know what I need to know to get my images the way I want them to look.
I did buy a couple of books in the beginning, but I just thought they were so old school (and boring!). So I went right to the source and invested in workshops with my favorite photographers. I first did a workshop with David Jay and then I did a workshop with Jessica Claire. Both were pricey, but I think those two experiences single handedly made me the photographer who I am today. And who better to learn from then those who you admire?
I also have learned a lot about photoshop from photography forums. My favorite use to be Open Source Forum, which is David Jay’s forum. I know there are a lot of great, new forums out there, but to be honest, I don’t have much time for forums anymore. I’ve gone to The Hideout Forum a couple of times and it looks really fun. I would find a forum where the people are nice and not critical where you all can learn from each other.
Lastly, there are a lot of great tutorials on You Tube. You can pretty much learn anything you want to know on there.
I think the biggest thing about photoshopping your images is to not get too crazy. There are so many things you can do, but do you really need to? Let your image speak for itself. Find your style and stick with it. It may take you awhile to find that style, but once you do you’ll know. Good luck!
About DrewB
I’ve started this blog as a way to connect with other moms who love photography. Whether you are a professional photographer who is looking for advice on how to manage your own business and your family or if you are a mom who is looking for tips on how to take better pictures of your kids, I hope that you can find some good information and be inspired!
Photoshop and I have a love/hate relationship. And for me learning it has been a slower process than I’d like. I think the thing that helped me to learn it the best was the TRA’s. Sounds crazy, but by playing with them, it forced me to play with other aspects of photoshop. I also have a photoshop book and I use that for certain things I want to do. Good to know that you tube will help! I’m going to try it.
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Ahhh, thank you so much for answering my email!! I am looking into a workshop and just saw your new post!! EXCITING!! Although I am in So Cal (Ventura County), so I dont think I can participate!! Thanks for the advice and LOVE the blog!! :0)
well i purchased the big book of photoshop when i first started and i gave it away.! my learning style is to watch someone do it and then i can do it. i cant read about it and then do it i get so mixed up. my teacher is lynda.com i have learned lots of stuff from them! videos and all hope that helps.
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I totally agree with all your recommendations. I first started learning Photoshop about 5 years ago–just before I got my first DSLR. The only things I could do were crop and a little dodge/burn (even these were iffy!) Over the last few years, I have totally taught myself Photoshop with online tutorials and trial and error. I have gone through several “phases” with my post-processing of images, but really just try to get a good clean look now. I first started using Photoshop to save images, now I know it is best used to enhance the beauty that is there already.
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A great website is lynda.com..They have video ++VIDEO++ (yay for those visual learners out there!!) tutorials on all sorts of programs! I have learned almost everything I know about photoshop from the tutorials. I follow along with the video. Some of the “techniques” on there I like and some of them I don’t but if you follow along you will figure out the basics and then learn how to tweak things to look the way you want them to…just food for thought!