Using the guided edits, Elements will apply automatic edits like portrait, color, and exposure adjustments to your photo. PSE is marginally easier to use than Photoshop CC because it has a series of guided edits built in.

people who are subscription averse (PSE is the only one of these three programs that you can purchase outright.).

people who never want to consider becoming professional photographers.

hobbyists and scrapbookers who want to keep it simple and affordable.

Photoshop Elements works best for these groups of people:

(Side note: I also use Photoshop Elements extensively, but that is only because I teach it!) Who Should Buy Photoshop Elements? I also use Photoshop to create graphics for my blog. The remaining 10 to 20% of my images need advanced edits, like intricate distraction removal or sophisticated color adjustments. Lightroom is enough for 80 to 90% of those photos. I use Lightroom to organize and edit 100% of my photos.

Photoshop doesn’t have an Organizer to help you manage your images.

PSE doesn’t have all of Photoshop’s advanced editing options.

Photoshop & Photoshop Elements are essentially the same, except that: Lightroom is intuitive, easy to learn, and will edit groups of photos at the same time (that’s batch editing). Lightroom works completely differently from Photoshop CC and Elements.

Photoshop Elements organizes and edits photos and creates graphics.

Photoshop CC edits photos and creates graphics.

Lightroom organizes and edits photos, and can edit those photos in batches.

Ok, now that you know what I recommend, let me help you understand the differences between these three programs. What Do They Do: Lightroom vs Photoshop vs Photoshop Elements Photoshop Elements is essentially Photoshop CC “lite.” If you want Lightroom, you will have full Photoshop also, so there is no sense in getting Elements. They come together as part of Adobe’s Photography Plan. My reasoning is simple: you can no longer buy Photoshop CC without Lightroom Classic. I suggest that you get either (affiliate link) Photoshop Elements OR Lightroom Classic CC and Photoshop CC. I’ll tell you now, and then explain my reasoning below. I’m not going to make you read all the way to the bottom for my answer. My Recommendation: Lightroom vs Photoshop vs Photoshop Elements How many questions has it raised, you ask? Well, I get at least 42,512 emails per week asking me which program people should buy. Adobe has changed its product offerings dramatically over the past few years, raising many questions about which version of what people should buy.

Lightroom cc vs lightroom 5