Free Photography and Photoshop Programs for 2021

Free Photography and Photoshop for free! Here are a couple free and completely legit programs for you to get started with in 2021. And the Free places to go to learn how to use them!

You just started in photography. You need free editing software. There are like a Ka jillion choices. Who do you trust?

You can trust me, that’s where to start. I have been through it all. Sites that say they offer free software but it’s only a trial or the editor just sucks or you just don’t like the layout. Then you have to LEARN the new software but who are you supposed to get that information from!!!

I personally use four different editors because not all software is built the same. Some, I have found, work well for some of my needs and other editors for other things such as. If I have a wedding I need something that will help be speed through the my work flow. If I am doing just some simple work I need something that I can make it quick and sleazy. And the same for photoshopping, and crucial part of professional editing.

Later I will go through what paid software services I use but today we will focus on the free software and who can teach you to use it. Note that these options work for Mac or Windows and are available for PC or Tablet. Here we go.

#1 Darktable

Darktable is both FREE and NON-DISTRUCTIVE that handles RAW format for photo editing. So you don’t need to pay and Darktable will not destroy your photo, instead it’ll make a copy for editing and leave the original alone. It also can handle RAW format which everyone reading this should be using. RAW files are huge and few programs can handle them but if you want to be able to have full control over your edits than you need to shoot in this format. Remember you can never go back so use RAW to make sure you can edit all aspects of the photo.

Darktable has every tool you need for editing. I mean everything. I have used it for years and I still don’t know everything about it but it can handle huge work flows, has a easy to use system and while there are some glitches they are far and few between. Just make sure to save your work in case there is a glitch and you get stuck just remove the program and redownload it, I mean it’s free right.

Now you have your program but holy crap that is a lot of tools and I have no idea where, when or how to start using them. That’s where Rico Richardson comes in. He is, in my research, the YouTube master of Darktable and has a huge playlist for this program. He is a great guy, we have talked, and a great teacher. Just take a deep breath and after a bit of a learning curve you will be editing like a master.

#2 Rico Richardson

#3 GIMP

GIMP is a FREE, NON-DISTRUCTIVE photoshop editor. It may not have the A.I. intelligence that Photoshop has but it also doesn’t have all the rules, I’ll get to that comment later. There is a bit of a learning curve but unless your going to become the greatest graphic designer ever, this is all you’ll need.

Gimp is easy, fun and has so many option you can use this as a photo editor too. Gimp has the power to edit details like eyes or whitening teeth and has a easy drag and drop system, along with being able to export your image in any size. I still use Gimp and I love it and where do we go to learn to use this editor…..

#4 Logos By Nick

Nick is amazing just go through a few of his tutorials and you’ll be designing like a pro in no time. Nick opened a lot of doors for me and when photography is slow, I have a whole new skill set to fall back on!

#3 Photopea

Photopea is a cheap knock off version of every major photography and graphic design editor out there. And it works…kind of. It’s great for simple editing but I wouldn’t recommend editing your first wedding with this. What is is good for is making transparent backgrounds of your images. It’s a dirty cut out, but if your just trying to get it done and published or making a simple Ad, flyer or banner or just need to have a transparent background for your logo Photopea is free and easy.

There you go! These are the best options the best teachers and from here you can start going Pro!