Beginner vs Pro Lightroom Editing: Everyone MUST Try This!

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In this week’s episode, we discuss beginner vs pro photo editing, which is something that everyone must do every once in awhile. It's easy to under appreciate how far you've come in your photography journey as we often forget where we started. And, this challenge is a great way to remind yourself where you came from in order to see how much you've progressed. In this video, I'll take a photo from 2017 and re-edit it today in order to compare the differences to see how much I've improved over the past 6 years - and the difference is rather astonishing! I hope you enjoy this week's video and as always thanks so much for watching! - Mark D.
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[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

💥Question: Anyone else ever do this?

[@miguelvicente3996]

I haven't, but I feel inclined to do so now! Thanks

[@mike_s_media]

Abssolutely, as I've learned new techniques or as Lr/Ps have new features added I've gone back to old edits to see what I can do with past favorites!

[@johnanderson4069]

A few times.. but I've also found my composition and shooting has changed a lot over the last couple years. I end up wanting to reshoot the scene as well!

[@maurettibarbabietolo4646]

Yes, and there's always something I can do to emprove the image, every time I work on it! Great content as usual, thank you Mark!

[@rayganrambles]

I just did this yesterday! I hadn't touched lightroom in a couple of years and I liked the new edit I did, but I think it could use a little more work

[@GirdHerd]

Mark, I always enjoy your videos and 99.9% of the time I agree with you but I must say that I actually like your old image better than the new one. I like how dramatic the old one looks.

[@donforce808]

agreed

[@SkillBeatz]

Uff… I think the old one looks like a typical over-edited HDR-like insta-pic. But all up to taste!

[@mark_a_schneider]

Honestly, I like both edits. Totally different moods. Your original edit has a much bolder look, which isn’t bad. Maybe at the time of that original edit your mood / perception of the scene was completely different from the new edit? Mood and perception play such a big role in editing, and that is what makes it fun and also increases the artistry of digital photography.

[@curtsuneson6161]

I'm calling the police

[@IcetipsVideos]

I agree, I like both - VERY different! It just goes to show that one photo can contain many different images, depending on what you are looking for in it!

[@leonardmantooth8812]

Too like both the first one is very moody and the second is great edit also!

[@curtsuneson6161]

@@leonardmantooth8812 I'm calling the police

[@bobrutan4735]

That is something I always wanted to do...... Not only have we as individuals improved, but the software has as well. I need to go back 15 years and try this. thanks for sharing.

[@kenstickrod840]

I have a catalog called "Re-Edit". Every once in awhile I go through my photos pick some favorites and then of course re-edit using my improved skills (many learned from you, thanks). Every time the photo is a bit better, more depth, more color and improved composition via cropping. I totally agree with you to re-visit your favorites from time to time. In the least you'll get a "warm fuzzy" from the new improved photo. As awalys thanks again Mark

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

That's a great idea!

[@ericoconnor5416]

I’ve been doing this throughout the summer months as I tend to struggle with my creative edge in the field during the summer months.

[@brandonmjohnsonphotography]

That is awesome to see your progress. Also just seeing your progress in a year is awesome. I like the newer version of that sun through the trees better. I've watched so many of your videos. I believe I retouch a lot of my photos like you do in a lot of ways. Great work as always Mark!

[@Gu_Gus]

Id like the previous crop onthe latest edit. You can see the building in more detail.

[@lillirod]

Love the new edit, I do too! Thanks for the video!

[@annbiswas8138]

Fabulous. I learn so much about editing from watching the choices you make and your work flow. Thanks so much, Mark. The new version is amazingly better!

[@dillonbidjou]

This video is really inspiring! I’ll definitely add this to my routine. It seems like it would be very satisfying to see your improvement in front of your eyes.

[@brucedelorme5026]

What a big difference in editing Mark. Good exercise to do for then and now. All the upgrades withing Lightroom probably helps creating the difference from past to now.

[@michaelwhalen7154]

I like both editions!

[@fallonjasovsky1704]

I love how you have someone documenting your adventures so you have pictures of yourself in action in beautiful locations

[@danmckee4988]

Yes, I too have re-visited a few of my photos from several years ago now that my skills and experience in Lightroom and Photoshop have increase. And with the new features and tools in LR and PS in 2023, it’s like WOW, especially in LR masking!

[@photosinneighborhood]

I love the new paint look that I started to adopt to.

[@ThomasThornhill]

Thanks Mark. I love your teaching style.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

I appreciate that!

[@edwinshank7865]

Great job once again, Mark. Such an improvement.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks!

[@annettelanni4820]

I just returned to Lightroom after years of giving up. I'm an oil painter and I think you have a fantastic appreciation for composition and color. Thanks

[@frankoley6826]

Great exercise Mark, Thanks! Going to go try this now.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Enjoy!

[@kcphotogeek6207]

I do this as well and get a kick when new tricks I’ve learned make dramatic changes to old pics. Also good to see how much newer tools and updated software can help your older images. Denoise software is a lot better now than it was 5yrs ago

[@rlfisher]

I really like re-imagining my images. Usually, but not always, I like the new one - with new skills and creativity - better. Love your videos every week, buddy!

[@HR-wd6cw]

One thing to consider/keep in mind is that while how you edited the scene overall, some aspects of LR has changed over the years (especailly the last 5-10 years) where they are (in some cases) using different math which produce a slightly different result for the same type of edit (say how it impacts the highlights or shadows or contrast, or some of the other tools like Clarity and Dehaze). But I think this can be a good exercise too.

[@markh2719]

Another great video Mark. You are definitely a born teacher! I always learn something from watching your videos that I can then incorporate or try on my own photos.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much Mark!

[@markallemang7745]

Several of us got into a discussion of this at a recent photo workshop I attended. I was surprised I was the only one in the discussing that does this. Not only do photography skills charge, editing skills change, program capabilities change (like AI denoise), my sense of what looks good changes too.

[@jeffschreifels8651]

I've re-edited some of my favorite photos several times. It really is fun to apply new things I have learned from you and other photographers. Your videos are much appreciated as I have learned a lot from you.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Great to hear!

[@johndoherty6448]

I liketo think that I've improved a bit, especially with theuseof masks.Thnks,Mark.

[@philipboyle9962]

Hi Mark Im an amateur photographer for nearly 2 years based in Ireland. I sold a telescope that I never used and bought a camera thinking I would make more use of it. I havent looked back since devouring books courses tutorials etc and taking as many photos as I could. I want to thank you for your wonderful videos and help advice that you give to us by far the best on any social media platform. Your passion for photography shines through you and you are a great mentor for me to learn from. Thanks again and take care. Philip

[@user-sx2vr5wf3q]

WOW! Sweet!

[@mike_s_media]

The thing is it's subjective! Neither edit is bad and you could have started with the 2023 edit and worked towards the 2017 edit to show progression just as well. I like both edits and think they convey two different perspectives. That's one of the great things about editing, you can really shape and define the mood of a photo to whatever YOU want it to be!

[@PrinceJvstin]

I decided to take a 2021 image and reedited for my Patreon subscribers, inspired by this idea. Thanks Mark!

[@chadwoodhouse1905]

Excellent video. I feel like editing is my weakest link, so I am always looking forward to another editing tips video.

Thanks for this very good video … and the tip! Something else I do to see how I improve is to print my 10 best photos each years so I can compare through years.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tammyhudsonphotography3637]

Definitely improved!!!

[@lucasseuren4180]

This was so helpful. It feels like you went from over editing in a way, where you use all the features (contrast, texture, clarity, dehaze, etc.), which is definitely what I tend to do, to a more soft-handed approach. With the original, you see more of the work you're doing, but it's definitely not necessarily better.

[@kirstymcleod6647]

absolutely! some of my edits from 10 years ago make my eyes bleed! It's fun to redo, and save for another 10 years 🤣

[@thedarkslide]

This is a worthwhile thing to do across one's library of older work because the capabilities and features of Lightroom have drastically approved over the last couple of years. You can edit images with more refinement and sophistication than back then.

[@13MoonsOverMayhem]

Wow! You went from horror film to Thomas Kincaid! I like them both. :)

[@tomtomasik5869]

Just got back from Acadia and was processing a very similar lighthouse picture. ( not a lot of room there to get much of an original composition) I have to say, my first go around with the edit looked a bit like your image from 2017- a bit " crunchy" -moody but crunchy. I will walk thru your processes and see if I can get a more "natural" look to the edit.., Very happy to see this video. Thanks for putting it out there

[@URSENIORUTUBER55]

Great exercise. Just switched from Windows to iMac for my post, and am currently going thru the the pangs associated with transition. Got tired of the slow responses of Windows…….I was on my way out the door to a local NWR (Bombay Hook NWR) on the Delmarva to take a break from the toil of this transition. When I get back this eve, I’ll give your tutorial a try….Thank you for sharing ……Mike

[@Leadmeoutdoors]

Great video!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnclay7644]

informative video

[@kairoarolsen1255]

I liked the new edit, but I prefer the old crop.

[@mozzamhosein6476]

Always enjoy your videos, you share such valuable information to improve to improve our pictures. Do you ever use plugins, like TK panel? Thanks a mil.

[@tectorama]

Another thing that I've found, is if you are editing a lot of photos in one go when you are tired. Go back and have another look the next day. I have also been looking at photos I took several years ago and re-editing them. Lots of them were pretty awful and were well over exposed, and many out of focus, which I have now deleted.

[@steveeb9567]

Editing is an on going learning process...I think we all have to go through the learning curve. It's so it so easy for the untrained eye to be 'heavy handed'. With your new edit I would harden/add blue to the sky. I'm not wild about the yellow and orange on the horizon either, looks a bit un-natural.

[@jameswestii454]

Thank you for this video. Can you recommend a color calibration tool for my 16” MacBook Pro M1? Something that has no issues updating itself to newest versions. TY

[@robertmontgomery9602]

Hi Mark, I really like the new edit... one question- how did you get rid of that darker blue area in the sky on the upper left?

[@mikedodsonlabview]

Great video as always. There are several photos I want to go back and re-edit. This process will help. By the way, I’ve tried a couple of times to download the free color calibration course and have never received the discount code. Help!

[@brianbeattyphotography]

re-editing is a great exercise. another good one to track progress is to save your favorite 10 images each year and then compare the years from time to time.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

That's a great idea!

[@mikeuptonphoto]

I had a photo of a lemur from 2010 when I first started photography. I edited it with absolutely no discipline on the sliders and had the vibrance and saturation sliders cranked up so it was this disgusting, oversaturated green mess. Re-edited it last year, and it actually looks like a good photo now. Realistic colors, properly colored, everything looks great.

[@andrejilavsky2080]

I was wondering which camera and lens you used to take this picture? Was it GFX? It would be great to try those adjustments on this same photo.

[@gregtowns549]

I have to say Mark, you have changed my opinion on the benefits of negative dehaze.

[@user-wo2go6ro2p]

Is that a picture of English Falls on the wall there? Sure does look like English Falls.

[@jamesbarnes3063]

All the time, you look to the past to improve you future

[@willreichelt2564]

Hi Mark. I habeen following you for nearly 4 years now. I find your tutorials helpful; however, my eyesight problems makes it very difficult to see everything you are doing. Most of the selections you make are lost to me, I just cannot see what you are doing most of the time. This is regardless of whether i am viewing from my 55" LED TV or my computer monitor. Would it be possible for you to increast the size of your pointer or better yet adopt the selection magnification similar to what Anthony Merganti employs? Like you stated in a video of yours a few months back our eyes are not getting better. Cheers, Will

[@Trogan2148]

Silly question. How do you make the image smaller so you can apply masks from the side of the image like he does here?

[@MrPhillipgraham]

Top left, change the zoom to say 25% etc to reduce the image size. Click on the little Chevron icon.

[@simonpayne7994]

Wel, well, well. I think the old version has quite definitely a much better composition than the new version. On the other hand, the old version is a little overdone and too contrasty. But the old crop undoubtably leads to a better composition.

[@danrichman1]

Interesting. If you would go more slowly on your before-and-afters, it would better help viewers appreciate the differences. Thanks!

[@chrispark11]

lol, the old version of the fence picture was nicer. New version lower portion is too dark with a harsh line, and the image looks overly edited.

[@krzysztofelektryczny8206]

Hmm sorry to say so but you actually made almost log flat image from it

[@casual257]

The puddle in the foreground is very distracting. My eye keeps going to it!

[@mstraitefamily]

I preferred last years. Sorry. There is this myth that as you 'progress' in photography that you will progress to a more simple look. I just don't buy that. Its ok for photos to have zing. Yours last year had way more zing, and I liked that.

[@richardnugent7035]

Mark, you flip back and forth between before and after MUCH too quickly. We do not have time to SEE the changes let alone evaluate them… slow down, man! Same goes for moving the cursor over the menu items. Please remember that some (many?…most?) of us are not completely conversant with all of the menu selections.

[@jdub1963yahoocom]

This is a great exercise for sure. That mid-tone luminance trick is one I'll need to try soon. Hope Italy has been fun. Talk soon.

[@keithsr.]

Excellent video. I definitely prefer the new edit .

[@nnix]

Far better edit, but the former comp is better! Maybe a little more room on the right, though. Love your stuff