Keith's got a valid point, so I'll just answer the OP directly:
Hi!
im looking to start learning to edit my photo's and was wondering which program would be best?
The best image editing program is Photoshop.
is photoshop what i should be buying or is that jumping the gun?
Personally, I think that is exactly what you should be buying IF you can afford it and IF you plan to be shooting photos and editing them for a long time. It is, as I'm sure you already know, rather expensive, so if you don't think you're going to be interested in photography for very long, it's probably not wise to throw a lot of money at camera bodies, lenses, flashes, studio lights, modifiers, tripods, remote controls, bags, do-dads, gizmos, or software.
are there more basic programs to use for beginners?
That's actually two questions:
1. Are there more basic programs: Yes, there are.
2. Is that what a beginner should get? Not in my opinion. I went through a phase of trying very inexpensive software programs many years ago, trying to avoid the cost of Photoshop. I put a lot of time and effort into learning how to use those various programs, one by one, and I paid for each one of them. Each time, at some point, I wanted more abilities with my editing software, and found myself paying a little more to get a little better program. After years of that, I ended up at Photoshop anyway. Had I known then what I know now, I would have skipped all that time and effort and money, and just gotten and learned Photoshop from the outset. The time and effort and money I spent on those other programs was a waste of my resources in the end.
That said, you will find very few who are VERY experienced who have not made the jump to Photoshop at some point, as it is THE premier set of tools.
is it worth getting a more basic program to get to grips with editing?
Not in my opinion. See above.
any advice or info would be huuuuugely appreciated. thanks in advance, james.
You're very welcome.
