When it comes to quick, accessible image storage and editing tools, Adobe Lightroom is the trusted tool for photographers around the world. Trouble is, the software can feel overwhelming to the uninitiated. That’s where we come in.
We’ve scoured the internet for Adobe Lightroom tutorials to help you get started on your journey. We’ve tried to find Lightroom editing tips that cover a broad range of different goals. It’s important to note here that Lightroom really isn’t as complicated as it first appears.
After just a few free Adobe Lightroom tutorials, you’ll be photo editing like a pro in no time! Read on to up your game.
Why People Choose Adobe Lightroom
If you’re looking for Lightroom editing tutorials online, chances are you have a good idea of why the software is worth using. For millions of users around the world, it’s the best option out there. Whether you’re a professional photographer editing portraits or a complete novice, there’s loads of reasons for giving Adobe Lightroom a go.
Why All Photographers Should Consider Lightroom
There’s loads of reasons that a ton of photographers trust Lightroom. This killer video from Peter McKinnon explains most of them. He explains precisely what makes the tool so versatile and easy to use. He also peppers in some of his expert tips and tricks for good measure.
If you’re a beginner wondering which editing tool to start using, you might like to check this video out.
It’s Accessible
Using an Android phone? iPhone? Mac? Windows PC? You’ll be able to use Lightroom on any one of these devices! The accessibility of the software is one of the things that makes it so popular. If you like to edit photos on the fly, the smartphone app can be particularly useful.
It’s a Great Photo Editing Tool
This is true of portrait photography, landscape photos, and so much more. While it doesn’t quite reach the levels of Photoshop in terms of detailed controls, it offers more than enough for most people. With just a few Lightroom tips from this page, you’ll have far more power at your fingertips than you might expect.
It’s Relatively Easy to Pick Up
One great thing about Lightroom editing tools is that they’re fairly easy to pick up after a Lightroom tutorial or two. Compared to Adobe’s heavier duty program, Photoshop, you shouldn’t have much to worry about here in terms of a learning curve.
Stick with it and you’ll be a master in no time!
It’s Included With Adobe’s Creative Cloud!
If you already subscribe to Adobe’s Creative Cloud then you have access to Adobe Lightroom for no extra cost. As cynical as it sounds, this is a huge reason that Lightroom has become as popular as it is today.
After all, users who already subscribe for apps like After Effects or Photoshop might as well take advantage of the other software that’s available to them!
Our Favorite Adobe Lightroom Tutorials for Beginners
Right, let’s get into it! The free Lightroom tutorials below are some of our favourites available. Whether it’s portrait retouching, Lightroom presets or anything in between, you’re bound to find a Lightroom tutorial that works for you.
1. Auto Mask Lightroom Tutorial
This fantastic video tutorial from Signature Edits tells you everything you’ll need to know to master the auto mask feature in Lightroom. You’ll learn how to recover the precious details of your backgrounds, mask unwanted colors in certain areas, and so much more.
In our opinion the video is super easy to follow and should get you up to speed as quickly as possible! Check it out:
2. Adobe Lightroom Tutorial for Landscape Photography
Looking for a free Tutorial for landscape photography in Lightroom? Check this one out.
Landscape photography is arguably one of the most versatile and rich genres of the art form. So many incredible photos are taken in landscape every day! In this easy-to-understand tutorial (from the YouTube channel of Mark Denney), you’ll learn 7 simple steps to help you treat your landscape shots with the respect they deserve.
This one is geared firmly towards beginners so look elsewhere if you already have a little experience with Lightroom!
3. Lightroom Basics
Want something that just covers all the basics in as little time as possible? This video from Photo Genius is well worth a look. The tutorial is around 20 minutes long but it covers a ton of ground in this time!
If you’re new to the program, we strongly recommend giving videos like this a go. They can help ease you into the software with just the right learning curve. If you’re pressed for time, watch it at 2x speed and then do a repeat viewing later in the day – this way you’ll strengthen your memory of the details in the same amount of time!
4. Adobe Lightroom Level Horizon
This is one of our favorite Lightroom tutorials. It’s designed to get you up to speed with using the app’s level horizon features. In short, there’s more than one Lightroom level horizon feature that can help you quickly straighten out the background of your images.
This snappy guide tells you about three options in just over 2 minutes! It’s well worth a look in our opinion.
5. Video Tutorial – Lightroom Presets
One of the quickest ways to transform your images in Lightroom is to use one of the program’s powerful presets. In just a few clicks, you can dramatically shape the way your work is perceived and the color temperature you use for your scene.
There are plenty of free preset options out there and a fair few paid alternatives too. The ones you go with are up to you! Take a look at examples online and make the choice that works best for you.
The tutorial below discusses some premium packs and how to use Lightroom presets in general. Whether you’re a pro photographer or complete novice, you should find something useful within!
6. Lightroom Tutorial – Black and White Photo Work
There’s nothing quite like the drama and flair of a good black and white photo. Adjusting the white balance and other elements of your scene can work wonders if you know what you’re doing. That’s where we come in! This killer video from Evan Ranft runs through some great techniques for working with black and white images in Lightroom.
The good news here is that many of these techniques are transferrable to other photography genres too!
7. Split Toning in Lightroom
So, what is split toning in Lightroom? In short, split toning is a surprisingly underutilized Lightroom tool that allows users to tweak the highlights and shadows of an image independently. This means you can tweak the darker elements of a scene without worrying about what it will do to the brighter areas of your image.
Sean Dalton covers the topic very well on his YouTube channel here:
8. Lightroom Grainy Matte Effect
A matte or grainy matte effect can be exactly what your image needs to elevate it from ‘meh’ to incredible! This is a pretty easy effect to achieve with just a little know-how. Wondering where to start? Check out this fantastic Lightroom video from Signature Edits.
We think it does a great job of covering the topic in enough detail. It discusses how to add a matte effect, how to create your own matte preset, and how to add it to the tone curve in Lightroom. Great stuff in our opinion!
9. Adobe Lightroom Tutorials –Image Organization
One feature of Lightroom that we haven’t really discussed yet is how great the software is for image organization! If you’re a professional photographer – or even just a hobbyist with a ton of pics – having somewhere convenient to store and organize your photos can be a real Godsend.
While the storage and organization features of Lightroom are pretty easy to get to grips with, it can take a second if you’re brand new to the program. This tutorial from PHLEARN on YouTube explains how to quickly and effortlessly put Lightroom to work!
It covers importing, sorting, and much more. Check it out:
10. Lightroom Tutorial – Tone Curve
Mastering your color temperature, contrast, and color details in Lightroom means mastering the tone curve tool. While the tone curve can seem super intimidating at first, it’s actually fairly straightforward once you get the hang of things!
Using tutorials like the one below from Signature edits is a good way to go. It does a great job of teaching you everything you need to tweak things to your heart’s content. Understanding the tone curve can pay dividends in Lightroom. You’ll be miles ahead of other newbies and will have increased control over the final look of your photos.
11. Lightroom Tips – Adjustment Brushes
One of the primary ways you’ll be working with your images in Lightroom is with the program’s ‘adjustment brushes.’ Without the right adjustment brush, you’ll find it hard to achieve the results you’re looking for. Luckily, they’re designed fairly intuitively and can be picked up and mastered without too much effort.
We’re big fans of this tutorial from Ed Gregory. It’s a few years old now but still holds up in our opinion. It covers a whole lot of ground in less than 15 minutes and should teach you everything you need to know to get started with the right adjustment brush.
12. Lightroom Full Workflow Tutorial
One reason that so many photographers trust Lightroom is that it offers everything you need to cover your entire workflow. From taking images to the fine details of post processing, you can become a much better photographer if you master all the tools that the software has to offer.
This tutorial from THAT ICELANDIC GUY offers a ton of insight into the photographer’s general approach to using the program. You’ll learn how to start using the app like a professional and get to grips with the bulk of its settings, retouching tones, and additional presets.
Beginners and pros alike will find plenty to appreciate here.
13. Spot Removal Tool
No, this tool isn’t specifically for removing acne – although you could definitely use it for this! The spot removal tool in Lightroom lets users remove practically anything they don’t want in their scene. Editing with this tool can feel a bit fiddly at first but it’s well worth the effort in our opinion.
Photographers around the world use this kind of tool to elevate their work to where it needs to be. The tips in this video from THAT ICELANDIC GUY are worth paying attention to. They cover most of what you’ll need to know when starting out.
14. 10 Lightroom Tips You Should Know
Clickbaity title aside, we’re big fans of this video from Peter McKinnon. It’s perfect for beginners who are first getting to grips with how Lightroom works. When working with your photos, it’s important to have an idea of what the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ are with your editing software.
If you ask us, this video is well worth a watch. It’s only 15 minutes too!
15. Portrait Photography in Lightroom
A good portrait image can make an impression that lasts a lifetime. A huge part of getting this kind of result is editing your photos the right way. If you know what you’re doing, Lightroom can offer exactly the levels of control and flexibility that you need.
This tutorial from Lucy Martin does a great job of explaining what you’ll need to get started:
Free Lightroom Tutorials – Final Thoughts
We hope you find the videos listed on this page useful! Our final piece of advice would be to emphasize how important practice is when picking up a new skill. The more you can actually sit down and work with Lightroom, the easier it will be to polish your pics to perfection.
Whenever you’re stuck on a problem or wondering what to do, check out the rest of our site for helpful tips, tricks, and buyer’s guides.
Happy editing!
