Posted by Justin Benson 5 Must-Have Wedding Photo Editing Apps for Photographers
The old adage is that “it’s a poor craftsman that blames his tools,” and while there’s some truth to that, we know the right tools make the work and the process better, more predictable, and even more fun.
In photography, gears and tools for photographers matter. Together, they allow us to do what we love to do.
From a sea of options out there, we narrowed down the bare essentials we think should be in every photographer’s toolkit.
Have a look at the list of 5 must-have wedding photo editing apps for every photographer!
1. Backblaze – Photo Backup
Every digital device stores your photos, documents, and other data on a small memory chip or a spinning hard drive, both of which can fail.
In fact, due to the nature of how hard drives work, they will inevitably wear out over time. It’s just a matter of when.
In photography, it is said that if you don’t have your data backed up in 3 different places, you don’t have your data backed up.
Typically, that means you have your local drive, a copy of that drive (preferably stored in a different physical location in case of fire or other disaster), and a copy in the cloud.
All the redundancies might seem a bit excessive, but the safety of your images is paramount to anything else.
However, if you’re going to cut corners, there’s only one you should cut – the second hard backup. But definitely keep a copy in the cloud, and arguably no one makes this easier than Backblaze - a trusted wedding photo editing app you need to have!
Backblaze Key Features
Backblaze does not bother you with the specifics of your backup plan, only that it is taking place.
When you first install the desktop client, it does not require you to select files and folders but instead simply grabs all the files and folders it considers important and begins transferring them to your Backblaze cloud backup.
The continuous backup and full-disk backups feature make Backblaze feasibly one of the most essential software for professional photographers’ businesses.
Backblaze lets you back up your computer and all attached drives for only $6 a month!
Not only that, but should the worst happen and your computers are stolen or drives fail, you are able to either download them all from Backblaze.
Or Backblaze will mail you a physical drive with all your data so you can quickly download it all again and then simply ship back the drive!
2. Adobe Lightroom – Management
When it comes to photo editing, Adobe Lightroom is the ubiquitous photography editing software and has been for over a decade. If you want to experiment with other apps though, here are some Lightroom alternatives to consider.
Together with Photoshop, which is among the best photo editing software for PC, they can accomplish start-to-finish editing, pixel bending, retouching, and asset management.
Thankfully, they are now sold together with the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription plan for $10 a month, and that subscription also comes with access to their mobile versions.
Lightroom highlights include but are not limited to:
- Most familiar digital asset management
- Mobile apps
- Seamless round-tripping with Photoshop
- Raw processing on desktop and mobile
- Cloud sync
- Global and local adjustments
- Largest library of professional Lightroom presets
If you’re looking for the most well-covered and common photo editing and organization app, Lightroom is it, and its mobile solutions are relied upon by professionals and the everyday creator alike.
As a photographer, we require software that can deal with heavy bulk edits, which leaves Lightroom a better option for us.
Learn more about the minimum system requirements for Lightroom to work efficiently and produce excellent results.
Adobe Lightroom Pricing
Adobe Lightroom comes in three different subscription plans, so you can choose one that is well-suited to your needs.
But if you wish just to use Lightroom and no other Adobe apps like Photoshop, then their Photography Plan is what to go for, and it’s $9.99 a month.
3. Capture One – Editing
If you’re looking for the professional’s choice of photo management and processing software, then Capture One is the benchmark.
Unbeknownst to many, Capture One has been around longer than Lightroom. It was developed to handle files from Phase One’s large sensor Medium Format cameras, considered the best in the world.
But lucky for us, Capture One is available and accessible to all for pretty much any camera in existence.
While Capture One and Lightroom are very similar, they each have advantages.
Capture One doesn’t yet have a mobile option (but rumors are they soon will), but it is also the industry go-to for tethered capture and the most accurate camera profiles and color control.
It is why in major fashion and product studios like Peter Lindbergh and Amazon, you will find Capture One is used. It is considered the best raw processor.
Plans for Capture One start at $9.99 a month, but there are brand-specific versions that are reduced in price and others that are free!
Capture One Key Features
- Speed Edit – It allows you to work without touching a slider on the interface and adjust multiple photos simultaneously.
- Color Balance Tool – The Color Balance tool adds color tints and adjusts luminosity individually for shadows, midtones, and highlights for precise color grading.
- Skin Tone Editing – Creates accurate skin tones without complex retouching.
- Black & White Tool – For a smooth result, it controls the black and white conversion while minimizing the amount of noise introduced.
- Before/After Tool – It helps you to review your edits in just one click!
Most professional photographers use Capture One for photo editing as it offers a variety of workflows and has a spectacular layers-based approach to local modifications.
Capture One isn’t only for studio photographers; it’s ideal for everyone who shoots raw and wants to get the most out of their raw data. Capture One truly stands out in this respect.
4. Aftershoot – Photo Culling & Editing
It goes without saying that we are fans of Aftershoot, but not without due cause.
Aftershoot is an AI culling and editing tool made by photographers for photographers.
Unlike other culling and editing apps, Aftershoot handles most of the work for you whilst still keeping your preferences in mind, and it’s always improving.
Aftershoot aims to do 90% of the work in 10% of the time. You simply drop in a folder of images to be culled or edited, take a few seconds to set your preferences, and then Aftershoot will sort through your images or edit them for you!
And all the metadata carries over into Lightroom and Capture One with one click!
It is the fastest, easiest way to find the best images in a set and automate your editing process!
Learn more about how it can help you streamline your workflow process and save you time to generate more business.
Aftershoot Key Features
- Automated and fast: Designed with photographers in mind, Aftershoot simplifies culling and editing with an intuitive interface.
- AI Precision: The more you use Aftershoot, the more it learns and adapts to your unique style and preferences.
- AI Masking: Automatically identifies subjects in your photos, ensuring the best images are selected
- Duplicate Grouping: Easily spot and group duplicates, so you can choose the best shot from a series.
- Adapts to Your Preferences: Fine-tune selections based on your photography editing style and workflow preferences.
- Shows Previews of Selections: Easily review your selections with convenient previews for quick decision-making
- Edits with 90%+ Accuracy in Your Unique Style: Delivers edits that match your personal editing style with minimal adjustments needed.
- Works with the Best Photo Editing Software: Seamlessly integrates with industry-standard editing tools like Lightroom, Capture One, Photo Mechanic and more, for a smooth workflow.
Aftershoot is easy to use, fast, and works with Windows and Mac OS, including Intel and Apple Silicon M1 Macs.
Aftershoot offers a 30-day free trial for photographers, so try it out now!
5. JPEGmini – Photo Compression
JPEGmini is an image size compression tool that is simple and incredibly effective.
Designed by the genus minds behind Beamr, JPEGmini is a drag-and-drop application that quickly compresses them whilst not sacrificing any perceivable quality level.
Unlike exporting from other apps at various quality percentages, JPEGmini will deduce exactly how much it can reduce an image file size by before it affects visual quality – and it does that and no more.
It has been tested against the best printers in the world and has come out successful. It is also able to be used as a plugin for Lightroom and Capture One, which makes it extremely convenient.
If you want to reduce your image file sizes whilst not giving up any image quality, there is no better solution than JPEGmini.
JPEGmini Key Features
- Reduces file size, not quality – It ensures you are using the best quality possible for your photos without constantly worrying about file size or speed.
- Fits into your workflow – When you export your photos directly from Lightroom, Photoshop, and Capture One, they will automatically be optimized by JPEGmini to the lowest file size possible without ever sacrificing quality.
- Reduce Expenses – Cut your image storage (i.e., flash drives, hard drives, and Client Galleries) costs when optimizing your images with JPEGmini.
- High Print Quality – JPEGmini does not alter the perceptual quality of your photos, you can print them at the same size you normally would, and the prints will look exactly the same.
Although it may not be a key tool for people who do not care about file sizes, those who publish images on their websites or fight against large files on their computers, tablets, and other devices should closely examine what the software is providing.
When you’re displaying multiple images, even a 20% reduction in the size of each image makes a big difference.
And the results from JPEGmini, especially when combined with regular optimization, are often significantly better.
Did we miss any wedding photo editing apps?
Selecting the perfect editing app for your wedding photography can significantly impact your post-production workflow. The ideal tool should not only enhance your images but also streamline your workflow. When choosing the right app, look for apps with an intuitive interface and easy navigation. You want wedding photo editing tools that allow you to make adjustments without requiring hours of learning.
Ultimately, the best wedding photo editing app is one that complements your photography style, enhances the quality of your images, and speeds up your workflow—allowing you to deliver beautiful, timeless photos that your clients will cherish forever.
Let us know what is your top photography software at hello@aftershoot.com.
Start using the best AI culling and editing software today! Start your FREE 30-day trial!