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It’s been over a year since I picked up my camera for the first time.
In that time, I’ve taken thousands of photos.
I’ve traveled to new places, captured the light in ways I’d never noticed before, and learned more about myself through photography than I ever expected.
But there’s one thing I haven’t done yet…
I’ve never edited a single photo.
Why I’ve Waited to Edit
I’ve had plenty of chances to edit my photos, but for me, this is intentional.
I wanted to see my progress in phases, to first learn my camera, my angles, and my style without relying on post-processing.
There’s something rewarding about looking at my photos exactly as they were captured, knowing they reflect my skill at that moment.
And now that I’ve reached a point where I’m ready to take my work further, I want to approach editing with purpose, taking photos with editing in mind.
I don’t want to go back and rework my old shots.
I want to move forward.
The Tools I’ll Be Using
If I’m going to learn editing, I want to set myself up for success. Here’s what I’ve decided on for my first editing setup:
1. An iPad
Yes, I could technically edit on my phone or computer.
But having an iPad feels like the perfect middle ground, portable, large enough to view the details, and now even more powerful with the iOS 26 update, which lets me use it like both a Mac and a tablet.
It’ll make transferring and viewing my photos so much easier, without the extra steps I’d have to take with my computer.
2. An Apple Pencil
The touchscreen aspect of an iPad already makes photo editing more intuitive, but an Apple Pencil will take that precision to the next level. I’ll be able to target exact areas of a photo, instead of editing everything at once and risking unwanted changes to parts I actually love.
3. Adobe Lightroom
I’ve seen so many photographers bring their visions to life through Lightroom, and I know it’s the program I want to learn. The range of tools, adjustments, and creative possibilities it offers is unmatched.
I’ve never used it before, but I’m excited to dive in and figure it out piece by piece.
Budgeting for My Setup
This isn’t a cheap next step.
Between the iPad, Apple Pencil, and Lightroom subscription, it’s an investment.
That’s why I’ve been planning and saving for it using my Monthly Budgeting Template, the same one I use to keep track of all my financial goals.
I know that when I’m finally able to make the purchase, I’ll be ready.
Why I’m Excited to Start Editing
Even though many of my photos already look edited thanks to the way I shoot, there are others where I know I could bring out more of what I saw in that moment.
The color of a sunset.
The shadows in a forest.
The depth of a mountain view.
Editing will give me the ability to emphasize those details, not to change what I captured, but to highlight the beauty I saw.
Final Thoughts
Photography has already changed the way I see the world.
Editing feels like the next natural step, one that will open even more creative doors for me.
When I finally have my setup, I’ll be sharing my before-and-after shots here on the blog.
Not just to show progress, but to document another chapter in my photography journey, one that’s been worth waiting for.