Pixiq

Some of the hardest questions I get asked about, as far as equipment goes, deal with computer hardware and software.  ”Which should I use? Do I need the best? Mac vs. PC? Aperture or Lightroom?  Do I still need Photoshop? etc…”

There really is no way to give a comprehensive answer to all of these questions because it all depends.  It depends on your specific needs.  Your clients’ needs.  Your budget.  Are you pro or amateur?

So today we’ll look at the basics which will, hopefully, help get you closer to the answer for your needs.

Now before you drop a truckload of money on computer hardware and software it’s important to consider what you really need.  Not necessarily what you want, but what you need.  Try to keep your investment in perspective.  It’s very important to have a fast processor and plenty of storage space, but the newest and best in computer hardware is very expensive.  Try to keep your purchasing decisions in line with your actual requirements.

Do you need the best?

If you’re a professional photographer you really do need top of the line equipment.  It doesn’t have to be new per se, but it does need to be fast enough to keep you away from the desk and doing what brings in the money; marketing and photographing.

If you’re an amateur or semi-pro you really only need basic hardware.  You’ll want something that’s fast enough for fast loading and fast processing of your images with enough storage space for your image files.  Keep it simple, but fast enough, and you’ll be able to save some cash for the equipment that gets you closer to your photographic goals.  This may be an upgraded camera body, new lens, or a better tripod.

Mac or PC?

This debate can be argued until the cows come home (remember I’m from Texas).  Most often I’ll argue that you’ll want a Mac.  Apple has done a really good job of creating a computer that crashes less often, has less viruses/malware/spyware to worry about and deal with, and seem to last longer.  This equals less time in front of your computer and more time doing what photographers do.  All of these are my own experiences so mileage may vary.  The downside of all of this goodness is the premium you’ll pay by purchasing a Mac.  They are more expensive for “comparable” machines and this alone may limit your options.

Before we get heated in the comments about this particular issue understand that I work on Macs and PCs.  In fact, right now I’m working on this article on a Dell inspiron 1525 laptop running Vista.  It’s not the fastest, doesn’t have the best screen, but it does get the job done most of the time.  Plus it’s way less expensive.  I have and will continue to spread my photographic workload between the PC side and the Mac side.  It helps keep things in perspective and offers a little more understanding and supportability to those readers who are on the PC side fo things.

My PC doesn’t really crash as often as most people would claim but there are good reasons for this.  I don’t use this computer to download and run many software programs.  It’s used for work.  Writing, updating websites, and editing photography.  Okay, I may watch some videos on Hulu, and occasionally check in on Facebook, but that’s mostly all this computer does.  If you can get by with a computer strictly for work purposes and avoid adding bloated software and visiting websites that add bad stuff to your CPU then you’ll be fine with a PC.  Just keep it a work horse.

Aperture or Lightroom?

This one’s a little tougher for me to answer because I don’t use Aperture.  I’ve tried it and like it, but ended up sticking with Lightroom because I like the fact that I can switch between all of the Adobe products I use with ease between my Mac and PC.  If you’re on PC you don’t have the choice of Aperture but the Mac users have to decide.  You’re best bet is to try them both.  They each come with trial downloads so I would give them both a whirl and see which one feels better for you.  They have many similarities and differences.

Do you still need Photoshop?

This will depend on what your final output needs to be.  If you’re a pro photographer I’ll say yes.  If you like to push pixels and explore all of the things you can do with editing your images then yes.  In the past 3 months I can count on one hand how many times I’ve opened up Photoshop for photography editing. It’s just not what I need these days.  On the Mac I use Lightroom for everything and on this PC Elements takes care of my needs.  Back when I was shooting portraits and weddings for a living I used Photoshop all the time, but I’m willing to bet that even if I were still doing that full time I would not be using Photoshop quite as much.  Still, it would be needed.

For those of you who are just doing photography as a hobby; taking pics of your kids or grandkids or just capturing life, I would actually recommend just using Adobe’s Photoshop Elements.  You get many of the editing tools you’ll need and it also helps you keep your photographs organized and tagged plus it’s only about $100.  Highly recommended as a stepping stone.  It’s all I use on the Dell.

There is the option of Gimp.  Gimp is a free open-source image editing software program that does much of what Photoshop does so you’ll save yourself $700.  It is not quite as powerful or feature rich as Photoshop, but will probably get you what you need.  Once again, it’s free so it’s worth a look.

Do your research and ask a friend.

In the end, it’s all about looking at your needs and your budget.  Also, consider that most people get their tech support from friends and family.  So if you’re super smart tech savvy cousin or best friend uses a Mac or Pc ask it might be a good idea to ask them their opinion.  If you stick with what they work with they’ll be able to offer help and advice when you run into trouble.

Did I miss something?

There really isn’t a way to answer every one’s questions within one article so here’s where I open up the comments section to questions and suggestions from you.  If you have a specific question please ask, and if you see a question that you have an answer or opinion on please respond.