Snapseed is a superior app for photographers on the go who edit images on a smartphone or tablet, and it’s available in versions for both iOS and Android users. This tool offers a wide array of features for beginners and experienced users alike, and it would be a great choice even if you had to pay for it.

Thus, the fact that Snapseed is free is an unexpected bonus. This quick tutorial from the Photo Genius YouTube channel explains everything the app can do and how to use it for optimum results—much in the same way that you edit images on the computer. If gimmicky filters and weird effects are what you’re looking for, Snapseed may not suit your needs.

On the other hand, Snapseed really can’t be beat for quickly accomplishing serious editing tasks on a mobile device—even though it’s intuitive and very easy to use. Instructor Paul Ferris puts it like this: “There’s a good reason this app is on the home screen of my iPhone. That’s because Snapseed is the number one photography tool for editing images quickly on the go.”

In barely nine minutes Farris describes his favorite Snapseed features and how he uses them to achieve pro-level results. In fact, there are a few tasks you can accomplish that would be more time-consuming or difficult to achieve in Lightroom or Photoshop. He first walks you through a basic edit and then demonstrates the versatility of his favorite Snapseed tools and techniques.

Farris pulls up a portrait captured in his hometown of Brisbane Australia. He’s unhappy with the colors, a shady area in the top left corner of the shot, and a few other attributes that need to be improved. The process begins with a discussion of several powerful presets that come with the app, then you’ll see why editing photos “manually” provides significantly more control.

You’ll see how easy it is to improve color temperature with Snapseed’s precise White Balance tool. Then Farris moves on to several other adjustments that are just as quick and effective for improving the impact of photos in various ways.

In most cases your enhancements are accomplished by swiping a slider to the left or the right, depending on exactly what you’re trying to achieve and Snapseed makes it a breeze to share your images via email, text, or via a quick upload to social media sites. There are also powerful options for converting color to b&w, making a variety of selective adjustments, creating HDR effects, and much more, which is why we love Snapseed too.

The Photo Genius YouTube channel is full of shooting and editing lessons, as well as discussions about gear, so take a close look when you have time to pay a visit.

We also recommend watching the tutorial we featured earlier with another image-editing expert who explains a simple solution for photographers who are dissatisfied with their post-processing workflow.

So you scouted out a promising location, used your best tools and techniques, yet the photos you captured are far less impressive that you expected due to problematic daytime light. You can return just before sunset and try again, or you can mimic a stunning Golden Hour effect by using the editing technique demonstrated in this beginner-friendly Lightroom tutorial.

Instructor Roni Sidu is an accomplished British pro specializing in shooting and post-processing tutorials for capturing spectacular moments in time. This 12-minute video is the latest installment in his series of straightforward Lightroom lessons for accomplishing a variety of common tasks.

Sidu’s method involves seven simple steps that result in a transformation that’s nothing short of remarkable. We’re pretty sure you’ll be convinced as soon as you compare his before/after images. And if you download the sample file with a link beneath the video you can make the changes yourself as they’re explained. Then it will be easy to apply the technique to any of your own daytime shots.

The process begins by darkening the photo in a somewhat surprising way. He pulls Lightroom’s Exposure slider all the way down until the image almost appears black. He then creates a mask and selects a Linear Gradient, drags it all the way to the top, modifies the Feather, and intersects his mask with the sky.

Now that you have a perfect mask of the sky, it’s time to Invert it so that Lightroom will create a mask of everything but the top portion of the shot. Then you can easily adjust various attributes in the lower half of the image. Sidu modifies exposure, tint, whites, saturation, and other variables that contribute to a vibrant and eye-catching sunset effect.

Next comes a quick enhancement with Lightroom’s Curves tool, followed by the addition of Texture to the familiar buildings in the frame. Now London’s iconic Big Ben and Westminster Bridge really come to life. There are a few more tweaks required for refining the edit, so be sure to watch until the end.

Sidu’s popular YouTube channel is a great source of information for outdoor photographers who want to elevate their image-editing skillset, so pay a visit when you have time to explore.

We also suggest watching another Lightroom tutorial we posted in which you’ll learn how to rehabilitate images with an ugly color cast that will ruin an otherwise great photograph.

Last week we featured a quick primer from the Patrick’s Boudoir YouTube channel, demonstrating how inexperienced shooters can capture alluring high-contrast images with a minimum of fuss. Patrick is back again today, this time with a quick tutorial using a seductive kneeling couch pose illuminated by window light.

Patrick is a Vienna-based portrait and boudoir photographer who prefers shooting with natural lighr, whether he’s working indoors our out. His quick tutorials are geared toward those new to this genre, and he this is how he introduces the video below: “We’ll show you ho to perfectly highlight a model’s legs and bum with an incredibly sensual pose that delivers gorgeous results.”

There’s a common theme running through all of Patrick’s simple lessons, with an approach involving window light setups without a studio full of complex gear. The idea is to get the job done in the comfort of your home using inexperienced subjects like a spouse, friend, or significant other.

Today you’ll learn how to create stunning highlights and shadows with nothing more than light streaming through a large window. There are several composition tips as well, along with a description of the best camera settings to use and an easy way to edit your images quickly and effectively with presets from Patrick’s app.

Another key consideration is how slight adjustments in body posture can greatly enhance the femininity of subjects with different physical attributes, and he demonstrates how all this works. The foregoing tips and techniques cover a lot of ground, but they take less than three minutes to explain.

We encourage you to visit Patrick’s instructional YouTube channel where you’ll find more quick lessons if you who want to give boudoir photography a try without all the encumbrances that that are typically required.

And don’t forget to watch the video mentioned above if you missed it the first time around.