After years of using Adobe Lightroom for my photography workflow, I made a decision that saves me $120 annually while delivering the editing capabilities I need. Here's my journey from being a devoted Lightroom user to discovering the power of Pixelmator Pro.
The Photography Software Dilemma
Like many photographers, I started my journey with Adobe's Creative Cloud Photography plan, using both Lightroom and Photoshop. While Lightroom's powerful features and user-friendly interface served me well, I found myself questioning the value of paying $10 monthly for software I used only occasionally.
Why I Initially Chose Lightroom
Photography software is a crowded space, with countless options for enhancing our photos. My journey began in Photoshop, where I relied heavily on presets purchased from Creative Market. The process was straightforward: open a RAW photo, experiment with presets, and add finishing touches.
Some of my best-selling stock photos emerged from this workflow, but I soon realized I had become overly dependent on presets. While presets are excellent time-savers, they limited my ability to develop a personal editing style.
That's when a friend introduced me to Lightroom. The appeal was immediate – it offered Photoshop's power but with a more intuitive workflow. Since I already had the Creative Cloud Photography Pack, which included both Lightroom and Photoshop, the transition made perfect sense.
Check out my Pixelmator Pro editing guides →
The Subscription Dilemma
Despite Lightroom's excellence, I faced a growing challenge: I wasn't editing photos frequently enough to justify the monthly subscription. Over a year, I used Lightroom roughly 20-25 times while paying $10 monthly. Free alternatives like Snapseed couldn't match Lightroom's capabilities, but the cost-to-usage ratio became increasingly difficult to justify.
Discovering Pixelmator Pro
The same friend who introduced me to Lightroom suggested trying Pixelmator Pro. Based on his reliable recommendations, I downloaded the trial version. The experience was so impressive that I purchased the full version from the App Store for a one-time fee of $39.99 – equivalent to just four months of Lightroom subscription.
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What Makes Pixelmator Pro Stand Out
The Best of Both Worlds
Pixelmator Pro brilliantly combines Lightroom's intuitive retouching capabilities with Photoshop's advanced manipulation features. The quick selection tool exemplifies this fusion, offering incredible precision with an intuitive interface. The tool adapts seamlessly to object boundaries, making selections both efficient and enjoyable.
Machine Learning Magic
The integration of Apple's CoreML technology sets Pixelmator Pro apart. The ML Enhance feature provides an excellent starting point for editing, though I sometimes prefer starting from scratch. The ML Match Colors feature is particularly impressive, allowing me to match color grades from any reference photo through a simple drag-and-drop process.
The Trade-offs
While Pixelmator Pro excels in many areas, there are some Lightroom features I miss. The availability of tutorials is currently limited compared to Lightroom's vast learning resources. However, since core photo editing concepts transfer between platforms, adapting to Pixelmator Pro's workflow was relatively straightforward.
The manual addition of adjustment controls and the absence of Lightroom's album feature are minor inconveniences that I've learned to work around. These small trade-offs are well worth the financial savings and powerful editing capabilities Pixelmator Pro offers.
Is Pixelmator Pro & Photomator Right for You?
If your photography workflow mirrors mine – occasional editing with a focus on quality results – Photomator offers exceptional value. The one-time payment model, combined with its comprehensive feature set, makes it an attractive alternative to subscription-based software.
However, if you're deeply integrated into Lightroom's workflow and use it frequently, switching might not provide significant benefits. The decision ultimately depends on your specific needs and usage patterns.
If you're considering making the switch, feel free to consider my Preset Pack, which includes the amazing presets I use daily for retouching my photos.
Capri Preset Pack 👈
