TL;DR: Import your photos into Lightroom, then use the Develop module to adjust exposure, color, and detail in a logical order. Finish by exporting your edited image as a JPEG or PNG at the resolution you need.
Step 1: Import Your Photos
Open Lightroom and click the Import button in the bottom-left corner. Select the folder or memory card containing your images, choose “Add” or “Copy” at the top, and click Import. Your photos will now appear in the Library module, ready for editing.
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Step 2: Switch to the Develop Module
Click “Develop” at the top of the screen. This is where all editing happens. Your histogram sits in the top-right corner, the editing panels run down the right side, and your photo fills the center. If your screen feels cluttered, press the Tab key to hide the side panels temporarily.
Step 3: Fix Exposure and Contrast First
Start with the Basic panel. Adjust Exposure to brighten or darken the overall image, then use Contrast to add punch. Pull Highlights down to recover blown-out skies, and raise Shadows to reveal detail in dark areas. Keep an eye on the histogram—ideally it should stretch across the range without clipping at either end.
Step 4: Correct White Balance and Color
Use the White Balance sliders to warm up or cool down your image. For a quick fix, click the eyedropper tool and select a neutral gray or white area in the photo. Then scroll to Vibrance and Saturation. Vibrance is usually the safer choice because it protects skin tones while boosting muted colors.
Step 5: Add Detail and Sharpening
Open the Detail panel. Set Sharpening to around 40 as a starting point, then hold Alt (or Option on Mac) while dragging the Masking slider to sharpen only the edges, not the noise. If your photo looks grainy, use the Noise Reduction sliders sparingly to smooth things out.
Step 6: Crop and Straighten
Press R to open the Crop tool. Drag the corners to reframe your shot, and use the Angle slider to straighten a tilted horizon. Lightroom also offers overlay guides, which help you place your subject along the rule-of-thirds lines for a more balanced composition.
Step 7: Export Your Finished Photo
When you’re happy with the edit, go to File > Export. Choose JPEG for sharing online or PNG for higher quality. Set the resolution to 72 ppi for web or 300 ppi for print, then click Export. Your edited image is now saved and ready to use.
FAQ
Q: Do I need the paid version of Lightroom to follow this guide?
A: Most steps work in both Lightroom Classic and the free Lightroom mobile app, though some panels differ slightly between versions.
Q: What order should I edit in?
A: Work top to bottom: exposure and contrast first, then color, then detail, and finally cropping and export.
Q: Can I undo changes if I don’t like them?
A: Yes. Press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo, or click Reset in the bottom-right of the Develop module to start over.
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