Editing in 2025

Editing in 2025: A Moving Target for Photographers

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You can’t turn on any device today without hearing the letters AI.

I recently bragged to my grandson that I was using ChatGPT — he shrugged and told me it was old news. That burst my bubble!

As a digital photographer, I believed the magic lies in both capturing the perfect shot and refining it through editing. But in 2025, editing feels like a moving target. Every month there’s a new update, tool, or AI feature that reshapes how we approach our workflow.

A couple of years ago, when Lightroom (Mobile) added the Local Adjustments button, I made the jump from Lightroom Classic to Lightroom (Mobile). Now, I keep my photos on a drive and, optionally, in the cloud. Thankfully, Lightroom Classic, Lightroom, and Photoshop RAW all work similarly enough that the transition isn’t as scary as it once seemed.

Still, it’s a lot to keep up with.

To stay sane — and inspired — I follow a handful of photographers and educators who help me navigate the ever-changing landscape of digital photography and editing.

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My Go-To Photography Teachers and Resources (2025)

🎓Brian  Matiash— matiash.com

Brian's free tutorials are easy to follow, and he offers in-depth paid courses too. If you use Lightroom, his insights are gold.  He is an Adobe employee.  He teaches Lightroom - not Lightroom Classic.  If you are a classic user - don’t worry - other than the catalogue most is the same.

📷 Tim Grey — greyphoto.com

I’ve been receiving Tim’s - Ask Tim Grey daily email for years. Early on, I used to joke that I only understood every other word — hopefully that’s improved!  Tim covers everything from file management to editing workflow and also publishes a paid online magazine and courses.

🍽️ Joanie Simon — The Bite Shot on YouTube

Joanie is a food photographer whose videos are both entertaining and educational. Even if food isn’t your subject, her lighting and styling lessons are universal.

🌅 Matt Kloskowski — mattk.com

Matt has a talent for making complex editing topics approachable. He offers both free and paid lessons and reminds us that perfection isn’t the goal. That’s something every creative needs to hear now and then.

🏞️ Nick Page — Landscape Photography Podcast

Nick is an amazing landscape photographer — and an even better storyteller. Karen Littlefield and I met him in Moab. He was as genuine as he is talented. His podcast and tutorials are full of real-world advice and creative inspiration.

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A Final Word

The art of photography — seeing the world through your own eyes — hasn’t changed. But the way we edit certainly has. Staying curious, flexible, and willing to laugh at the pace of change might be the best skill we can develop.

Thanks for reading and please share who your go to photographers are. Mary