I stopped using the word "PHOTOSHOP". Here is why.
In my career as a photographer I have learned that a large part of the population knows little about photography.
As soon as you say the word Photoshop, these people associate Photoshop with 'fake' and your pictures are not 'real' photos! How crazy is that?
If I then say that I'll edit the photo a bit without using the word 'Photoshop', then suddenly it's all OK. So from now on I say I edit them in Capture One Pro. People don't know this RAW editor anyway, so it must be okay. However, I see little difference whether you use Capture One, Lightroom, Photoshop, Camera RAW, ON1, DXO or another program.
The only difference is Photoshop has many more possibilities, but if you only use a part of these extras in of Photoshop, there is most likely no difference with, for example, Lightroom.
I once had a little friendly discussion with a press photographer who said they weren’t allowed to use Photoshop. I told him that it doesn't matter what program you use. Only the result counts. What is the difference if you make the picture brighter in Photoshop of Lightroom. Absolutely nothing.
Using the skin softener in Lightroom makes the overall brushed part softer and blurrier and the result is much worse compared to artisanal work in Photoshop. Yes, I call the cloning of imperfections artisanal work.
It gets even worse when many women of all ages are using apps to make them look younger. Sometimes it goes so far that the person no longer resembles 'their' original at all.
It seems logical to me when a skin shines too hard you adjust this? It seems logical to me when someone has red ears or nose you equalize the skin colors? It seems logical to me if the white balance of your camera is too blue you modify this? It seems logical to me if the model is darker when you adjust the background? It seems logical to me if someone has a sore on the face you get rid of this? It seems logical to me when a dress is not flattering because of the wind and therefore the model shows thicker you start pushing the dress towards the model? It seems logical to me that you clone away a construction crane? I can give you at least 50 more reasons why there is nothing wrong making a photo better.
Is this photo over orocessed? I think not.
Long live Photoshop, but don't use the word.