{"id":22170,"date":"2025-12-03T16:59:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T16:59:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/?p=22170"},"modified":"2025-11-30T17:38:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T17:38:22","slug":"the-best-lightroom-alternatives-you-can-buy-outright-on1-photo-raw-max-vs-luminar-neo-vs-dxo-photolab-9-vs-capture-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/the-best-lightroom-alternatives-you-can-buy-outright-on1-photo-raw-max-vs-luminar-neo-vs-dxo-photolab-9-vs-capture-one\/%20","title":{"rendered":"The Best Lightroom Alternatives You Can Buy Outright: ON1 Photo RAW MAX vs Luminar Neo vs DxO PhotoLab 9 vs Capture One"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Lightroom Alternatives You Can Actually Own Outright<\/h1>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_7sw9eu7sw9eu7sw9-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"698\"><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s this daft idea that once you leave Lightroom you\u2019ll be crawling back within a year, waving your credit card and muttering apologies to Adobe. Utter nonsense. If you\u2019re an enthusiast who wants cracking image quality, a sane one-off payment and software that doesn\u2019t nag you every month, there are some brilliant options sat waiting for you.<\/p>\n<p>Here we\u2019re putting four of the big names under the spotlight: ON1 Photo RAW MAX, Luminar Neo, DxO PhotoLab 9 and Capture One Pro (perpetual). We\u2019ll judge them on three things that actually matter in the real world: quality, cost\/value and ease of use \u2014 and this time we\u2019ll show all the scores so the overall ratings don\u2019t look like they\u2019ve been pulled out of a hat.<\/p>\n<h2>Quick Comparison Table<\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Tool<\/th>\n<th>What it\u2019s best at<\/th>\n<th>Overall score<\/th>\n<th>Ideal for<\/th>\n<th>Not ideal for<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>ON1 Photo RAW MAX<\/td>\n<td>A proper all-in-one editing and effects hub<\/td>\n<td>79<\/td>\n<td>Enthusiasts wanting everything in one place without paying monthly.<\/td>\n<td>Users wanting the fastest possible workflow or the cleanest interface.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Luminar Neo<\/td>\n<td>Creative AI magic with almost no effort<\/td>\n<td>80<\/td>\n<td>Beginners and enthusiasts who want striking visuals quickly.<\/td>\n<td>Users who want forensic control, colour accuracy or deep batch workflows.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>DxO PhotoLab 9<\/td>\n<td>Pure RAW quality and noise reduction<\/td>\n<td>83<\/td>\n<td>Landscape, wildlife and technical shooters who want maximum fidelity.<\/td>\n<td>Casual users wanting playful tools and presets.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Capture One Pro (Perpetual Licence)<\/td>\n<td>The best colour workflow going<\/td>\n<td>84<\/td>\n<td><a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/tips-for-capturing-authentic-headshots\/%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Tips for Capturing Authentic Headshots\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"88309\" target=\"_blank\">Portrait<\/a>, studio and colour-focused photographers.<\/td>\n<td>Beginners or occasional shooters wanting something simple.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>ON1 Photo RAW MAX<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22187\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_7sw9eu7sw9eu7sw9-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"698\"><\/p>\n<p>ON1 Photo RAW MAX is the \u201cdo a bit of everything\u201d option. It handles RAW edits, layers, effects and file management in one place, which is lovely if you\u2019d rather not juggle two or three different programs. Think of it as a Lightroom-and-Photoshop-lite hybrid that you actually own.<\/p>\n<h3>What people like<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Strong masking tools<\/li>\n<li>Good effects library<\/li>\n<li>Solid all-rounder for editing and organising<\/li>\n<li>Lifetime licence option<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What people don\u2019t like<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Interface can feel busy<\/li>\n<li>Performance varies on older machines<\/li>\n<li>Learning curve for deeper features<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Key features<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Non-destructive RAW editing<\/li>\n<li>Layers and composites<\/li>\n<li>AI masking tools<\/li>\n<li>Effects and presets<\/li>\n<li>Photo management and browsing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Complete toolset in one app<\/li>\n<li>Good masking and effects<\/li>\n<li>Flexible workflow<\/li>\n<li>Lifetime licence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Interface clutter<\/li>\n<li>Performance may lag on older hardware<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Unique capability<\/h3>\n<p>Its big trick is being genuinely all-in-one. You can manage your library, tweak RAW files, add local adjustments and build layered composites without hopping between separate programs, which suits enthusiasts who want fewer moving parts in their setup.<\/p>\n<h3>Ease of use<\/h3>\n<p>For basic editing it\u2019s fairly straightforward: exposure, contrast, a bit of colour, job done. Once you venture into masks, layers and effects, the panels and options start to pile up and it can feel a bit hectic. Stick with it for a weekend and it quickly becomes more logical, but it\u2019s not the simplest tool here.<\/p>\n<h3>Performance<\/h3>\n<p>On a modern machine it feels fine, with occasional slowdowns when you pile on heavy effects or work with big layered files. On older laptops, you might notice more pauses while it thinks, so it\u2019s worth checking the hardware requirements if your PC is getting on a bit.<\/p>\n<h3>Who it\u2019s for<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Ideal: Enthusiasts wanting everything in one place without a subscription, and who don\u2019t mind learning a slightly busier interface.<\/li>\n<li>Not ideal: Speed freaks who value the cleanest, fastest interface above having every tool under the sun.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Scores snapshot<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Effectiveness<\/td>\n<td>82<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fit for purpose<\/td>\n<td>84<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Efficiency \/ speed<\/td>\n<td>70<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Reliability \/ consistency<\/td>\n<td>78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Creativity \/ innovation<\/td>\n<td>80<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Value for money<\/td>\n<td>88<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ease of use<\/td>\n<td>72<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Learning curve<\/td>\n<td>68<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Overall<\/td>\n<td>79<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Luminar Neo<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_510sx2510sx2510s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"698\"><\/p>\n<p>Luminar Neo is the fun, slightly show-off cousin. You feed it a dull RAW, press a couple of AI buttons, and suddenly you\u2019ve got something that looks like a glossy postcard. It\u2019s built for people who want eye-catching results with minimum faff, and it absolutely leans into that.<\/p>\n<h3>What people like<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Dead-easy interface<\/li>\n<li>Very fast creative edits<\/li>\n<li>AI tools for sky, portrait and structure<\/li>\n<li>Fun to experiment with<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What people don\u2019t like<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Less control for technical purists<\/li>\n<li>Workflow can feel siloed<\/li>\n<li>Some AI results feel overdone<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Key features<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>AI sky replacement<\/li>\n<li>AI portrait enhancements<\/li>\n<li>Structure and relight tools<\/li>\n<li>Preset-driven workflow<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Simple to learn<\/li>\n<li>AI boosts creative play<\/li>\n<li>Speedy edits<\/li>\n<li>Good one-time licence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Less precise control<\/li>\n<li>Can produce \u2018overcooked\u2019 looks<\/li>\n<li>Not as strong for pure RAW development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Unique capability<\/h3>\n<p>The AI tools are its party trick. You can swap skies, tidy faces, relight scenes and inject structure in a few clicks, which is brilliant when you just want a shareable result without wrestling sliders for half an hour.<\/p>\n<h3>Ease of use<\/h3>\n<p>This is by far the easiest editor in the group. The layout is clean, the tools are labelled in plain English, and you can get cracking without reading a manual. If you\u2019re allergic to complicated interfaces, Neo will feel like a breath of fresh air.<\/p>\n<h3>Performance<\/h3>\n<p>Day-to-day it feels quick, even on moderate hardware. Where it can wobble a bit is consistency: some AI adjustments look impeccable, others tip into \u201cInstagram filter\u201d territory, so you still need a bit of taste when pushing the whiz-bang effects.<\/p>\n<h3>Who it\u2019s for<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Ideal: Beginners and enthusiasts who want bold, creative images with the least learning and the least faff.<\/li>\n<li>Not ideal: Shooters who obsess over colour accuracy, subtlety and predictable batch processing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Scores snapshot<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Effectiveness<\/td>\n<td>76<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fit for purpose<\/td>\n<td>74<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Efficiency \/ speed<\/td>\n<td>88<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Reliability \/ consistency<\/td>\n<td>70<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Creativity \/ innovation<\/td>\n<td>92<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Value for money<\/td>\n<td>82<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ease of use<\/td>\n<td>92<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Learning curve<\/td>\n<td>94<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Overall<\/td>\n<td>80<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>DxO PhotoLab 9<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22206\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_o6y26qo6y26qo6y2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"698\"><\/p>\n<p>DxO PhotoLab 9 is for the pixel peepers and detail nerds. If you care about clean files, beautiful noise handling and lenses behaving themselves, this is where you\u2019ll be most at home. It\u2019s less about flashy effects and more about getting the best possible starting point from your RAWs.<\/p>\n<h3>What people like<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Unbeatable RAW conversions<\/li>\n<li>DeepPRIME noise reduction<\/li>\n<li>Excellent lens\/camera profiles<\/li>\n<li>Natural colour and detail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What people don\u2019t like<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Steep learning curve for new users<\/li>\n<li>Less flexible cataloguing<\/li>\n<li>Interface feels technical<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Key features<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>DeepPRIME noise reduction<\/li>\n<li>Camera\/lens modules<\/li>\n<li>Local adjustments<\/li>\n<li>RAW processing engine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Best RAW quality<\/li>\n<li>Incredible noise reduction<\/li>\n<li>Natural colours<\/li>\n<li>Lifetime licence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Technical interface<\/li>\n<li>Slower with DeepPRIME<\/li>\n<li>Limited creative features vs rivals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Unique capability<\/h3>\n<p>DeepPRIME is the secret sauce. High-ISO shots that would normally get binned suddenly become usable, and older cameras feel like they\u2019ve been given a little second life. If you shoot wildlife, gigs or night stuff, it can be a game-changer.<\/p>\n<h3>Ease of use<\/h3>\n<p>The interface is logical but leans heavily towards the technical end. It feels more like a precision tool than a toy, which is brilliant once you\u2019re comfortable but can be a bit \u201ceyes-glaze-over\u201d for casual editors.<\/p>\n<h3>Performance<\/h3>\n<p>Image quality is outstanding almost across the board. The trade-off is speed when you enable DeepPRIME on big batches \u2014 expect slower exports, but with results that usually justify the wait.<\/p>\n<h3>Who it\u2019s for<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Ideal: Landscape, wildlife and quality-obsessed photographers who want the cleanest, most natural results possible.<\/li>\n<li>Not ideal: People who mainly want playful looks, quick <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/smartphone-photography-tips-for-beginners\/%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Smartphone Photography Tips For Beginners\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"87490\" target=\"_blank\">filters<\/a> or a very hand-holdy interface.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Scores snapshot<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Effectiveness<\/td>\n<td>92<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fit for purpose<\/td>\n<td>90<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Efficiency \/ speed<\/td>\n<td>72<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Reliability \/ consistency<\/td>\n<td>94<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Creativity \/ innovation<\/td>\n<td>60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Value for money<\/td>\n<td>78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ease of use<\/td>\n<td>68<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Learning curve<\/td>\n<td>60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Overall<\/td>\n<td>83<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Capture One Pro (Perpetual Licence)<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_547jac547jac547j.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"698\"><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Capture One is the most \u201cpro-feeling\u201d option in this bunch. It\u2019s fast, slick and incredibly strong on colour, which is why studio and portrait shooters rave about it. The perpetual licence means enthusiasts can now enjoy that without being locked into a subscription, as long as they\u2019re willing to tackle the learning curve.<\/p>\n<h3>What people like<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Industry-leading colour control<\/li>\n<li>Fast and responsive<\/li>\n<li>Excellent tethering<\/li>\n<li>High-quality RAW processing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What people don\u2019t like<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Steep learning curve<\/li>\n<li>Higher price<\/li>\n<li>Interface takes time to master<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Key features<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Advanced colour tools<\/li>\n<li>Tethered capture<\/li>\n<li>High-speed culling<\/li>\n<li>Layers and masks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Best colour workflow<\/li>\n<li>Superb performance<\/li>\n<li>Great for studio work and portraits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Steep learning curve<\/li>\n<li>Premium price<\/li>\n<li>Not beginner-friendly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Unique capability<\/h3>\n<p>The colour tools are the stand-out feature. Fine-tuning skin tones, nudging hues and building a consistent look across a shoot feels precise and controlled, not like you\u2019re wrestling a sledgehammer of a saturation slider.<\/p>\n<h3>Ease of use<\/h3>\n<p>Once you know where everything lives, it\u2019s fast and efficient, but it does assume you already speak \u201cphoto editor\u201d. New users can feel a bit lost at first, so expect a few evenings of <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/how-youtube-changed-my-life\/%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"How Youtube Changed My Life\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"157815\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube<\/a> and practice before it really sings.<\/p>\n<h3>Performance<\/h3>\n<p>In day-to-day use it feels snappy and robust, especially when culling and tethering on set. It\u2019s clearly built for people who hammer it day in, day out, which means enthusiasts benefit from that level of polish.<\/p>\n<h3>Who it\u2019s for<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Ideal: Portrait, studio and colour-focused photographers who want pro-level control in a perpetual licence.<\/li>\n<li>Not ideal: Casual users or beginners who want something forgiving and ultra simple.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Scores snapshot<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Effectiveness<\/td>\n<td>90<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fit for purpose<\/td>\n<td>88<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Efficiency \/ speed<\/td>\n<td>86<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Reliability \/ consistency<\/td>\n<td>90<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Creativity \/ innovation<\/td>\n<td>78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Value for money<\/td>\n<td>70<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ease of use<\/td>\n<td>70<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Learning curve<\/td>\n<td>55<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Overall<\/td>\n<td>84<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Head-to-Head Comparisons<\/h2>\n<h3>Most creative results<\/h3>\n<p>Luminar Neo is the obvious winner on pure creative punch. Its AI toys make wild transformations trivial, which is perfect for social media, travel shots and anything that benefits from a bit of drama. ON1 Photo RAW MAX isn\u2019t far behind thanks to its effects engine and layers, but Neo keeps things faster and friendlier.<\/p>\n<h3>Most natural-looking results<\/h3>\n<p>DxO PhotoLab 9 takes the crown for natural files. Its RAW engine and optics modules give you clean detail and believable colour straight out of the gate, which makes it brilliant for landscapes, wildlife and any work where subtlety matters. Capture One runs it close with lovely colour and tonality, but DxO\u2019s noise handling edges it. I use this for ISO1600 of higher shots, it just works on noise like magic<\/p>\n<h3>Fastest workflow<\/h3>\n<p>Capture One Pro is the fastest for serious shooting, especially if you\u2019re culling big sets or tethering to a laptop. It feels engineered for volume and speed. Luminar Neo is technically fast too, but it\u2019s more about quick one-off edits than grinding through a thousand frames from a wedding.<\/p>\n<h3>Best for high volume<\/h3>\n<p>For big jobs and bulky shoots, Capture One is miles ahead. Its culling tools, tethering and general responsiveness make it ideal for studio, events and commercial work, even if you\u2019re just an enthusiast who shoots a lot. DxO is solid but slower when DeepPRIME is involved, while ON1 and Luminar are better suited to smaller batches.<\/p>\n<h3>Best value for money<\/h3>\n<p>ON1 Photo RAW MAX offers the strongest value overall. You\u2019re getting RAW editing, effects, layers and library management in one perpetual package, plus a very healthy value-for-money score to back that up. Luminar Neo is also good value if your priority is creative fun over technical depth, but ON1 delivers more breadth for the spend.<\/p>\n<h3>Steepest learning curve<\/h3>\n<p>Capture One clearly has the steepest learning curve. It rewards the effort, but you do have to put that effort in, which shows in its low learning-curve score. DxO is also demanding in a more technical way, while ON1 sits in the middle and Luminar Neo is almost comically easy by comparison.<\/p>\n<h2>Final Verdict<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re an enthusiast looking to ditch Lightroom\u2019s subscription, you\u2019re spoilt for choice rather than stuck. Capture One Pro (perpetual) comes out top on the raw numbers thanks to its mix of quality, speed and reliability. ON1 Photo RAW MAX gives you the best all-round value in a single package. DxO PhotoLab 9 is the go-to if pure image quality is your hill to die on, and Luminar Neo is the easiest, most playful option when you just want great-looking images without a textbook.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Best overall (score-based):<\/strong> Capture One Pro (Perpetual Licence)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Best value:<\/strong> ON1 Photo RAW MAX<\/li>\n<li><strong>Most creative:<\/strong> Luminar Neo<\/li>\n<li><strong>Easiest to use:<\/strong> Luminar Neo<\/li>\n<li><strong>Steepest learning curve:<\/strong> Capture One Pro (Perpetual Licence)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So there you go.<\/p>\n<style>\r\n.lwrp.link-whisper-related-posts{\r\n            \r\n            margin-top: 40px;\nmargin-bottom: 30px;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-title{\r\n            \r\n            \r\n        }.lwrp .lwrp-description{\r\n            \r\n            \r\n\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-container{\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-multi-container{\r\n            display: flex;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-double{\r\n            width: 48%;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-triple{\r\n            width: 32%;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-row-container{\r\n            display: flex;\r\n            justify-content: space-between;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-row-container .lwrp-list-item{\r\n            width: calc(12% - 20px);\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-item:not(.lwrp-no-posts-message-item){\r\n            \r\n            max-width: 450px;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-item img{\r\n            max-width: 100%;\r\n            height: auto;\r\n            object-fit: cover;\r\n            aspect-ratio: 1 \/ 1;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-item.lwrp-empty-list-item{\r\n            background: initial !important;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-link .lwrp-list-link-title-text,\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-no-posts-message{\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n        }@media screen and (max-width: 480px) {\r\n            .lwrp.link-whisper-related-posts{\r\n                \r\n                \r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-title{\r\n                \r\n                \r\n            }.lwrp .lwrp-description{\r\n                \r\n                \r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-multi-container{\r\n                flex-direction: column;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-multi-container ul.lwrp-list{\r\n                margin-top: 0px;\r\n                margin-bottom: 0px;\r\n                padding-top: 0px;\r\n                padding-bottom: 0px;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-double,\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-triple{\r\n                width: 100%;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-row-container{\r\n                justify-content: initial;\r\n                flex-direction: column;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-row-container .lwrp-list-item{\r\n                width: 100%;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-item:not(.lwrp-no-posts-message-item){\r\n                \r\n                max-width: initial;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-link .lwrp-list-link-title-text,\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-no-posts-message{\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            };\r\n        }<\/style>\r\n<div id=\"link-whisper-related-posts-widget\" class=\"link-whisper-related-posts lwrp\">\r\n            <h3 class=\"lwrp-title\">Related Posts<\/h3>    \r\n        <div class=\"lwrp-list-container\">\r\n                                            <ul class=\"lwrp-list lwrp-list-single\">\r\n                    <li class=\"lwrp-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/business-profile-shoot-mark-broscombe\/%20\" class=\"lwrp-list-link\"><img width=\"480\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/MG_0582.jpg\" class=\"attachment-480x480 size-480x480 wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/MG_0582.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/MG_0582-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/MG_0582-75x50.jpg 75w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/MG_0582-650x434.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/MG_0582-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><br><span class=\"lwrp-list-link-title-text\">Business Profile Shoot &#8211; Mark Broscombe<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"lwrp-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/coast-trinity-leeds\/%20\" class=\"lwrp-list-link\"><img width=\"480\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/MG_0428.jpg\" class=\"attachment-480x480 size-480x480 wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/MG_0428.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/MG_0428-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/MG_0428-66x50.jpg 66w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/MG_0428-650x496.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/MG_0428-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><br><span class=\"lwrp-list-link-title-text\">Coast &#8211; Trinity Leeds<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"lwrp-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/hdr-photography-isnt-bad-people-are\/%20\" class=\"lwrp-list-link\"><img width=\"480\" height=\"363\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/HDR-flat-detail-high-contrast.jpg\" class=\"attachment-480x480 size-480x480 wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/HDR-flat-detail-high-contrast.jpg 1399w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/HDR-flat-detail-high-contrast-300x227.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/HDR-flat-detail-high-contrast-1024x774.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/HDR-flat-detail-high-contrast-66x50.jpg 66w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/HDR-flat-detail-high-contrast-650x491.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/HDR-flat-detail-high-contrast-1000x756.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/HDR-flat-detail-high-contrast-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><br><span class=\"lwrp-list-link-title-text\">HDR Photography isn&#8217;t Bad &#8211; People Are!<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"lwrp-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/leading-lines-how-to-use-lines-and-paths-for-powerful-composition\/%20\" class=\"lwrp-list-link\"><img width=\"480\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/0168-Manchester-Workshop-2022_04_02-by-McFade.jpg\" class=\"attachment-480x480 size-480x480 wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/0168-Manchester-Workshop-2022_04_02-by-McFade.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/0168-Manchester-Workshop-2022_04_02-by-McFade-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/0168-Manchester-Workshop-2022_04_02-by-McFade-75x50.jpg 75w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/0168-Manchester-Workshop-2022_04_02-by-McFade-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/0168-Manchester-Workshop-2022_04_02-by-McFade-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><br><span class=\"lwrp-list-link-title-text\">Leading Lines: How to Use Lines and Paths for Powerful Composition<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"lwrp-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/tvr-bng-at-sherburn-in-elmet\/%20\" class=\"lwrp-list-link\"><span class=\"lwrp-list-link-title-text\">TVR BNG at Sherburn in Elmet<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"lwrp-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/exposure-cheat-sheet\/%20\" class=\"lwrp-list-link\"><img width=\"299\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Exposure_infographic.png\" class=\"attachment-480x480 size-480x480 wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Exposure_infographic.png 621w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Exposure_infographic-187x300.png 187w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Exposure_infographic-31x50.png 31w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Exposure_infographic-50x80.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 299px) 100vw, 299px\" \/><br><span class=\"lwrp-list-link-title-text\">Exposure Cheat-Sheet<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"lwrp-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/why-i-love-seo-utils\/%20\" class=\"lwrp-list-link\"><img width=\"480\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/0229-Leeds-at-Night-2024_09_29-by-McFade.jpg\" class=\"attachment-480x480 size-480x480 wp-post-image\" alt=\"Long exposure of Leeds cityscape at night with illuminated &quot;Playhouse&quot; sign creating a dynamic effect.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/0229-Leeds-at-Night-2024_09_29-by-McFade.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/0229-Leeds-at-Night-2024_09_29-by-McFade-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/0229-Leeds-at-Night-2024_09_29-by-McFade-1024x817.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><br><span class=\"lwrp-list-link-title-text\">Maximizing Online Potential with SEO Utilities<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"lwrp-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/2015-photography-review-11-november\/%20\" class=\"lwrp-list-link\"><img width=\"480\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/CT2A6484.jpg\" class=\"attachment-480x480 size-480x480 wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/CT2A6484.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/CT2A6484-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><br><span class=\"lwrp-list-link-title-text\">2015 Photography Review 11 &#8211; November<\/span><\/a><\/li>                <\/ul>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lightroom Alternatives You Can Actually Own Outright There\u2019s this daft idea that once you leave Lightroom you\u2019ll be crawling back within a year, waving your credit card and muttering apologies to Adobe. Utter nonsense. If you\u2019re an enthusiast who wants cracking image quality, a sane one-off payment and software that doesn\u2019t nag you every month, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22186,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"no","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[808,54,17,427,14,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-equipment-and-kit","category-lightroom","category-musings","category-photoshop","category-tips","category-training"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_5ss3j5ss3j5ss3j5.jpg",1280,698,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_5ss3j5ss3j5ss3j5.jpg",150,82,false],"medium":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_5ss3j5ss3j5ss3j5.jpg",300,164,false],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_5ss3j5ss3j5ss3j5.jpg",1280,698,false],"large":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_5ss3j5ss3j5ss3j5.jpg",1024,558,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_5ss3j5ss3j5ss3j5.jpg",1280,698,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gemini_Generated_Image_5ss3j5ss3j5ss3j5.jpg",1280,698,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"McFade","author_link":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/author\/admin"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Lightroom Alternatives You Can Actually Own Outright There\u2019s this daft idea that once you leave Lightroom you\u2019ll be crawling back within a year, waving your credit card and muttering apologies to Adobe. Utter nonsense. If you\u2019re an enthusiast who wants cracking image quality, a sane one-off payment and software that doesn\u2019t nag you every month,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22170"}],"version-history":[{"count":1934,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":141136,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22170\/revisions\/141136"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}