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I have saved up a few hundred dollars, and I am trying to decide what to spend it on. I have a lot of options, since I have very little equipment or accessories. I was wondering what your thoughts were on what the order of priority should be...
Basically, what I have right now is a Nikon Coolpix 8700 and one hot light with stand and shoot-through umbella. Not a lot. After having had the 30 day free trial with Corel Paintshop Pro, I have realized that I do need some sort of editing program, so my first instinct is to spend a couple of hundred on the older version of Adobe Photoshop (CS2). Even though Paintshop is cheaper, I understand that Photoshop is the industry standard, and I would rather just get that. But another way to go would be to invest in some proper lights/backdrops, which would be enormously helpful to me in practicing portraiture and still-life; and a third way to go would be to just sock it all away and continue saving for a DSLR... which is going to take a while, and would mean that in the meantime I would not have an editing program or lights.
So, even though I think getting a proper camera is probably the most important thing, I am leaning toward Photoshop. Anyone have any thoughts or advice?
hil26
Photoshop has one hell of a learning curve and can be very daunting (not sure of that word), the latest photoshop elements should have all you need for the time being, and its loads cheaper, and when the time comes you can upgrade a little cheaper to cs2/3 by having it. Paint shop pro is also extremely good and will do all you will need, but you will need the later version if you are shooting RAW files.
From what you say my thoughts would be
elements or psp
then spend the change on some kit for your studio shots - I feel you will get more satisfaction this way
creators
I absolutely agree with Dave, for my three pence worth. Personally I use Paint Shop Pro and Elements more than CS2, most of my editing being done in PSP. The equipment will give you the better pictures and require less editing.
Blue
Thanks dudes. That's sound advice, I think.
I am trying out the free trial of PS Elements, so far I think I like it better than PSP, so I might go with it. Stay tuned for more questions about it, though.
