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10 reasons why pros prefer Capture One

NOTE: This article discusses an older version of Capture One Pro. To learn more about our latest version, click here.

Capture One Pro is my must-have photo editing software for my professional wedding and portrait photography. It helps me edit large batches of images faster and create professional-grade photos for my clients – plus many other benefits!

In this blog, I’ll share 10 reasons why Capture One Pro is the go-to photo editor for professional work. Plus, I’ll share resources so you can learn more about the individual tools and features and discover them for yourself.

1. Customize your own Workspace

The ability to customize your own workspace in Capture One is an underrated but powerful feature – and one of my favorite things about the image editing software!

Every tool in Capture One is a “Floating Tool” and can be arranged anywhere on the workspace. You can move the tools around and customize each Tab to suit your workflow. My custom-built interface means I can quickly find the tools I need and cut down on my editing time.

I set up different Workspaces for different types of photography assignments – for example wedding shoots, portrait shoots, corporate portraits, etc.

Watch this quick tutorial to learn how to set up your perfect workspace.

2. Shoot directly to your computer with tethered capture

When I shoot portraits, it’s essential that the lighting is correct and super sharp – but it can be difficult to make sure of these details when looking at the LCD screen of my camera. That’s why I love Capture One’s tethered capture, which lets me shoot images directly into my computer and review each shot live.

Another advantage to tethered capture is that you can back up your files instantly, so you don’t risk losing your work. For professional photographers, time is money which is why it’s crucial to work efficiently.

This feature also allows me to apply the first color grading to the image, so the client can get a clear idea of my vision for the shoot.

Get familiar with tethered capture and how to manage multiple headshots

3. Get total control of your colors

With powerful color editing tools, Capture One Pro gives you complete creative control of the colors in your image.

The color editing tools let you adjust the hue, saturation and luminance of any color – independently of any other color in the image. You can even adjust the highlights, mid-tones and shadows of any color independently from one another. This means that you can change the hue and saturation of a green leaf in sunlight without affecting the green of the grass in the shade.

There is also a tool specifically for skin tones. You can sample a subject’s skin tone, and then use a set of sliders to make the hue, saturation and luminance more uniform. This saves me from going through complex and time-consuming retouching processes.

Learn more – and check out the other posts on color editing in the Learning Hub.

4. Adjust parts of a photo with Masks and Layers

This feature is a game-changer. I use Masks to select a specific area of my image to edit – without affecting the rest. For example, in wedding photography I use masks to make edits to the sky without affecting the people in the image. I also use Layers to control the impact of certain edits by adjusting the opacity.

Check out this masterclass on Layers and Masking.

5. Choose between Catalogs or Sessions

Capture One lets you manage your files using either Catalogs or Sessions, and you can choose whichever option best suits your workflow. I personally use Sessions.

Sessions is directory-based, meaning you create one Session per project. Catalogs are database-driven, so each Catalog is organized around a theme – for example I could create a Catalog based around wedding or portrait shots.

For my work, it makes sense to have one Session per job. When I finish a job or project and deliver the images to my client, I can back up the Session and delete it from my computer – this keeps the amount of files I’m working with to a minimum.

Unsure whether Catalogs or Sessions suit you best? Learn more about Catalogs or Sessions in this webinar.

6. Save hours with Shortcut Keys

As a photographer editing large batches of photos, every second counts. If I can save 2 seconds spent editing each picture by using shortcuts, I’ve saved more than 13 minutes when editing 400 pictures (which is not an unusual amount of photos when editing a wedding shoot). That means if I shoot several weddings, I can save hours of work time by using shortcuts.

Learn how to edit your own shortcuts to speed up your workflow

7. Export with ease using Process Recipes

Another great Capture One timesaver is Process Recipes – a fast way to export your photos for different purposes and destinations.

Think of it like a preset for export settings. Create recipes with specific settings for file naming, file format, export size – and process your photos using several different recipes at the same time. That means you can export the same photo with different settings for print and social media at the same time, instead of waiting for one export to finish before you start the next one.

Learn more about how to save time with Process Recipes in this short video.

8. Edit faster with Styles and Presets

Is there an adjustment setting that you use over and over? With Capture One Pro, you can save them as presets or set specific color grading as a Style, so you can easily access the same adjustment settings in the future.

Capture One also has a range of Styles – preset adjustments – developed in collaboration with major names in photography including Mastin Labs and Pratik Naik. They’re a great way to speed up workflows for professional photographers – use them as a starting point for your own editing or tweak them to speed up your process. Learn more about Styles in this free webinar

Image with Spectrum SP-03 Style applied

9. Software tailored to studios

Capture One also has a specific photo editing software designed for professional photo studios – Capture One Studio. With tools that automate data entry and colors profiled specifically for studio lighting, it saves photography studios both time and money and helps them shoot large volumes of photos, faster. Learn more about Capture One Studio

10. Designed with you in mind

One of the best things about Capture One Pro is that it’s designed with photographers in mind. The developers welcome feature requests, so if there’s something you’d like to see in a future version of the software, get in touch via Support or Social media.

If you don’t already have Capture One, download a 30 day trial and try it out.

Eager to learn? Access webinars, tutorials and expert help in the Learning Hub – completely free.

capture one raw photo editor express post by jakob boie sorensen feature image road between mountains

Capture One Express explained

NOTE: This article discusses an older version of Capture One Pro. To learn more about our latest version, click here.

Capture One Express is a free photo editing software for Sony and Fujifilm files – a simplified version of Capture One’s award-winning photo software Capture One Pro. It’s completely free to download and unlike a 30-day trial, doesn’t expire.

In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the basics of Capture One Express and also talk about the differences between the Express and Pro versions.

First, let’s start with why anyone would want to use a photo editor at all:

If you’ve got a Sony or Fujifilm camera, you’ve probably spent hours trying to nail that perfect, memorable shot from your holiday, birthday party – or anything else that you love to photograph. When you upload the photos to your computer and export them for printing or sharing online, you might be disappointed to find the moment doesn’t look as good as you remember it.

That’s because shooting with a camera is only half the battle – you need image editing software to make quick fixes to elements like brightness, shadows, colors or lighting and create a truly memorable photo.

It doesn’t have to be complicated – the auto adjustments and essential editing tools in Capture One Express can help you boost your photos in just a few clicks. Here’s a quick guide to using them:

Automatically boost photos

Want a fast way to improve your photos? You can automatically boost image elements like colors, white balance, contrast or brightness using Auto Adjustments in Capture One Express.

There are two ways to apply an Auto Adjustment:

1. Click the adjustments menu and select Auto Adjust.
2. Use the shortcut CMD + L on Mac or CTRL + L on Windows.

Then, select which image elements you wish to automatically adjust by selecting
Adjustments > Configure Auto Adjustments.

The other option it to click the A symbol in the right corner of almost every Tool. Capture One Express will then apply the tool in a way that fits your image as best as possible.

To undo an adjustment, select the single arrow or use the CMD + Z shortcut on Mac or CTRL + Z on Windows.

The red circle around A marks the Auto Adjustment setting in the specific tool – for example in the High Dynamic Range sliders shown here.

Instant color grading with Styles

Instantly transform the look of your photos with Styles – a layer of preset colors and adjustments that can be applied over any photo with just one click.

Capture One Express comes with some built-in Styles – scroll through and try them out on your photo to see which look you prefer. You will find them in the Styles and Presets Tool tab.

Scroll through the different Styles and find one that fits your photo best. You can also find some built-in presets, which is an easy way to adjust specific elements of the photo.

Although you can apply Styles to JPEG files, you will get the best result with a RAW file – simply change your camera settings to shoot in RAW instead of JPEG. To learn more about the benefits of RAW files, read our Why shoot RAW blogpost.

The photo straight out of camera, before any adjustments have been made.

The same photo with the Spring Style 05 applied and some added Auto Adjustments

You can also save a series of adjustments and edits as your own personal Style, so you can use it again on a later photo. Simply click Adjustments > Styles > Save User Style.

For even more creative possibilities, visit the Capture One Styles store to browse the range of Style Packs inspired by different looks – from seasonal colors, to black-and-white and film photography.

Express vs. Pro

Capture One Express is a simplified version of Capture One Pro – with the same fast performance and high-quality image conversion as in the award-winning Pro version.

So what’s the difference between Express and Pro? With a full range of professional photo editing tools, the Pro version gives you complete creative control of your photo editing. For example, you can use Layers to adjust specific sections of an image without affecting the rest, apply advanced color grading, shoot directly into your computer with tethered capture, and customize your own workspace so you can quickly find the tools you need and edit big projects in a snap.

Check out the full list of Capture One Pro features.

Now you know all about Express, here’s how to get it:

Download Capture One Express (for Sony) or
Download Capture One Express Fujifilm

Launch the program, then follow these steps:

You’re all set!

Want to learn more about creating great photos with Capture One Express? Visit the Capture One Learning Hub for free webinars and tutorials on the free photo software. Have fun!

Editing on the road with Thomas Skou

NOTE: This article discusses an older version of Capture One Pro. To learn more about our latest version, click here.

As a photographer, I get inspired by freedom – being able to take the long way home and stop the car whenever I want. To be able to photograph cars, people, a battered road sign or a crooked house. I like being about to create photos out of spontaneous situations, and it gives me a kick when I manage to create something truly unique.

It’s important to me to always incorporate my own touch into my photos, no matter who I work with. I have eyes on all my fingers and am constantly thinking about pictures, lights, angles and possibilities. This is also why I love travelling and meeting strangers.

Being able to conjure up something unique such as the light, the lines or even an untapped vulnerability – that makes me stay in the profession and keep pushing the limits of what I can achieve through my camera and beyond in the post production and editing process.

As a photojournalist in my teens, my biggest fear was approaching people to photograph them for a portrait. But today, my on-the-road portraits tend to be freestyle and jumping into new things is a big part of my persona as a photographer (although my fashion shoots are typically planned down to the smallest detail.)

Capture One Pro helps me work on the road

Seeing beyond the camera and editing images in photo editing software is a big part of creating the perfect final photo. I use Capture One Pro to edit my photos for lots of reasons – the Layers, all those lovely grain effects for amazing black and white photography, and most importantly, – my workflow is automatically so much faster in Capture One Pro. This is really important to me because the majority of my work is done on the go.

Here are some examples of my editing process:

Layers are definitely one of my must-have tools: in this example, I am creating a Mask in a new Layer because the model’s legs are ice pale, while her face is dark from the hat shade. I fixed this by raising the exposure and brightness, adjusting the highlights and shadows, and finally adjusting the opacity for the most natural blend.

That’s not something I could fix in-camera – you need photo editing software to fix it, and the ability to create Masks so you can focus edits in specific areas and get total creative freedom.

In Capture One Pro, you can control any aspect of the black and white conversion so it matches the look you want. By turning up the Exposure Slider, I can increase or decrease the light all over the image. If I use the Brightness Slider instead, it only affects the shadows and midtones, but preserves the highlight.

I sometimes find it very useful to use both sliders to create a certain mood – for example, by decreasing the exposure and increasing the brightness to see the difference.

There are a lot of ways to reach the same result, for example the Curve Slider can also be used to add light and contrast. Often, an S curve can be a good starting point in a black and white conversion.

Remember that it’s often the sum of the smaller adjustments that contributes to the final image.

Making a black and white conversion in Capture One Pro is quite simple. In the Tools Bar you will find a Black & White tool. Make a simple conversion by clicking “Enable Black & White”. But it’s the ability to control every color channel along with with Levels, Curves and Basic Adjustments that can really make an image stand out.

If you want to be inspired and need a good starting point, then you also have the option of using Styles. A Style is a color grading preset, that will give you a starting point which you can then also tweak to suit your preferences. There are some excellent built-in Styles with Capture One, or you can buy all kinds of Styles Packs inspired by different looks, from cinema and film to the great outdoors.

Like that analog feel? Try to add Grain and experiment with different types, impact and granularity.

This is another example of using the Mask tool in Layers. Creating extra contrast and toning down the lazy clouds and crispy snow makes all the difference. You can add several layers to take control of every little part of the image, and you can also change the opacity in order to change the layer’s impact in the image.

For new photographers, my main photo editing tip is to have fun, play around, drink coffee, watch a tutorial and dare to try out your own crazy ideas; do a clean version and then a messed up, raw and grainy one. Just test anything out and play the day away – or see if you can replicate the look of something in a magazine.

If you don’t already have Capture One, download a 30 day trial and try it out.

Eager to learn? Access webinars, tutorials and expert help in the Learning Hub – completely free.

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Capture One RAW photo editor blog Jesper Palermo feature image new york street through broken wire fence

Jesper Palermo gets creative with color

NOTE: This article discusses an older version of Capture One Pro. To learn more about our latest version, click here.

“Color is everything”

Color is everything. Coloring is what sets a mood and helps tell a story – it keeps the viewer intrigued, and good color processing via photo editing software is a huge part of being a good photographer. For me, it’s about making an image come to life.

I often try to create a cinematic feel with my photography series – dark tones, moody vibes with contrast and popping colors, but with lightened and toned shadows. Photos where the white isn’t necessarily white and the tones can do the magic.

Of course, for bigger commercial jobs my “moody” color grading doesn’t always perfectly suit – but it’s important that I include a degree of my own look in the post processing. I try to blend my personal color grading with my more commercial, “correct” color grading and try to create my own vibe.

Must-have tools for color grading

To achieve my exact vision and vibe, a good RAW file is always necessary – and of course, good photo editing software! My toolkit of choice is Capture One Pro – since day one I have been very interested in coloring and expanding my color grading skillset, which is why I chose the software with the best possible color tools.

For example, I can’t live without the Advanced Color Editor, the Color Picker tool and the lovely sliders. I never finish an image without turning a knob or two in those tools. I love it!

The Linear Gradient Mask is another go-to. I almost always play around with it when working on the depth of an image. I often have the Linear Gradient Mask in mind when working on specific photos, and I use it to help me shape my vision of how it should look. I use it to darken or lighten the gradient, and it’s amazing every time – and the Linear Gradient Mask has really great possibilities.

When it comes to preset adjustments in Styles – my advice would be to follow your own vision and start playing around with the color tools yourself! Get creative and try things out. I love playing around with the Capture One Styles, but I always end up changing them up a little, making changes to opacity and color so you end up with a completely different look than the one you began with. It gets me inspired for the final look of my images.

My color grading process in
Capture One Pro

It’s a bit tricky to explain my work process as it is never quite the same every time – I’m still learning and having fun with the RAW editing software! But there are a few things I almost always do:

When I first import the image into Capture One Pro, I make basic adjustments to “correct” the image and then play around with sliders, tabs and color grading tools. I like to experiment with the different choices available in Capture One Pro to mix up the coloring in my images. I try to create a look in my head, and then execute it on-screen with the color grading tools.

Sometimes I play around with Styles, but I never end up choosing just one – I always tweak them to fit the image or suit my style.

More reasons to edit in Capture One Pro

Besides the advanced color grading tools, there are tons of other reasons I prefer to edit my photos in Capture One Pro. Here’s just a few:

I can redesign the entire interface and personalize my workspace. It’s genius! I love being able to scale back to the tools I can’t live without and ditch the few that I barely use.
Floating tools for the win! It just makes it so easy and enjoyable to slide around in the editing. Plus being able to drag the tools out and pop them bigger for more precise editing is just perfect!

I can export multiple files at once for different outputs, like print or Instagram. It’s a clever touch!

There are really a ton of reasons to choose Capture One Pro as your go-to photo editing toolbox, but I would say the main reason is: you simply get a cleaner and better file from your export – you will improve yourself as a photographer because your final photos simply look better.

In Capture One Pro, highlights and shadows are cleaner, while color gradients – they are simply beautiful. I was once a pro user of Lightroom, but after shooting tethered directly into my computer using Capture One Pro and switching to it as my go-to software, I have been so much happier with the final result.

The Advanced Color Editor is just beautiful and works like magic – once you get around to using it properly. Play around a bit and see for yourself – it won’t take long!

Stay true to yourself

Whether working on my own series or commercial projects, I always try to be curious about new ways of editing images and be willing to experiment and explore – but of course, my mission is always to have my own personal touch, a subtle hint of Palermo. The most important thing as a photographer is to never stop – never settle. Open your eyes, be curious, be nerdy!

If you don’t already have Capture One, you can download a day trial and try it out.

Eager to learn? Access webinars, tutorials and expert help in the Learning Hub – completely free.