Images are a key component of any POS software or any online business, and high-quality photography can improve the perceived value of your products, their desirability and boost the credibility of your store. However, that doesn’t mean you need to blow your budget on a professional photographer. Instead, there are plenty of online photo editing tools that can give your images the same standard but without the expensive price tag.

Let’s start with the free photo editing tools which are ideal for start-ups and businesses that with extremely limited budgets.

GIMP

GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. This free cross-platform editor offers a range of sophisticated tools to make your images sharp and compelling. As well as retouching, editing and drawing there are a variety of other customisation options and 3^rd party plugins.

fotor

With a massive international community and a selection of new features and filters, fotor is one of the best free photo editors around. The ‘high dynamic range feature’ allows you combine three images with different exposures, taking the best light and tone from each photo. You can also edit directly on your browser.

PicMonkey

One of the best features in PicMonkey is the ability to collage, which is great if you want to show off multiple aspects of your product. You can also collate different pictures together to make a banner image for your website.

PIXLR

PIXLR is one of the most popular free online image editors and therefore it is no surprise that it is now available as an app as well as a desktop tool. From simple fixes to comprehensive creative effects, there is a wide range of options when using PIXLR.

Photo Editor by Aviary

Editing photos on the go has never been easier thanks to this free app that lets you edit photos on your phone. From fixing red-eyes, enhancing image quality to adjusting the lighting, it can all be done with just the touch of a few buttons.

Adobe Photoshop Express

Photo editing is fun, fast and simple with Adobe Photoshop Express which has slightly fewer functions than the Touch version. Basic editing plus the ability to share on social media makes this software the perfect choice for a quick fix on an almost-perfect product photograph.

If you have a little more money in your creative/marketing budget then you may wish to consider purchasing one of the great number of paid online photo editor tools. Prices range considerably depending on the software, but here are some of the best ones that we have found.

KeyShot

One of the most expensive editors on our list, KeyShot costs $995, but is well worth the money. An image rendering piece of software that can create high-definition models and visuals that are so compelling they look like real photographs. It is very popular with some seriously big brands that use it for creating epic marketing materials. If the price tag still seems a little high, take advantage of their free 14 day trial and see if you are impressed.

Pixelz

Used by more than 5,000 retailers and recommended by eBay and Rakuten, Pixelz can be used to edit images for as little as $1.45 per image which is great for creating kick ass product photographs on a budget.

Tucia

If you don’t want to spend time editing your own images then considering sending them to Tucia, which has edited over 3.7 million photographs to date. Simply select which tier of service suits your requirements and send Tucia your images. There are even free revisions meaning you can be sure to get your pictures exactly as you want them.

fiverr

Fiverr allows you to find a freelance editor with the specialist expertise that you need. Listing yourself as an editor costs just $5 so you may have a great deal of options available to you. Choose to filter through editors by ‘recommended’, ‘high rating’ or ‘express gigs’.

Photoshop Touch

If you are looking for a quick and easy editing on your phone then Photoshop Touch may be the ideal solution. Just $4.99 for the app, which is available on both iTunes and Android, you can filter, layer and make a multitude of adjustments in minutes.

Photoshop Elements 12

Right at the cutting edge of image editing, this top of the line software is unsurprisingly not the cheapest option when it comes to online photo editors. However it does offer an extensive range of options and is straightforward to use. You could also consider using Photoshop CC which will set you back just $9.99 per month.

Photoshop Lightroom

If you want to edit images in batches then Lightroom may be the perfect solution for you. It retains a large number of the features seen in Elements, but is specifically designed with organizing and editing at large scale in mind.

Camera+

A bargain app at just $1.99, Camera+ can improve the capabilities of the shooting modes on your camera phone. Whether you wish to add lightstreaks or shoot macro images with incredible details, Camera+ can optimize any pictures taken on your phone.

Shopify Experts

If you are looking for a serious professional then consider reaching out to Shopify Experts. Yes, you are going to have to pay them more than a few dollars, but the majority of them will have extensive knowledge about how to maximise the potential of your product photograph.

Portrait Professional

If your website images feature real people then consider using Portrait Professional. From relighting to make up to face sculpting, you can have complete creative control using this incredible retouching software.

MisterClipping

Specialising in high volume image editing on a budget, MisterClipping removes the backgrounds on your photos, which it does manually rather than by automation. Prices vary between $0.95 and $9.95 per image and you can take part in the free trial first to ensure you are happy with the service.

Digital Tutors

One of the very best learning resources online when it comes to photo editing has to be Digital Tutors. It offers lessons and advice on a range of different photo editing software, plus general guidance when it comes to creating seriously good digital images.

With such a large variety of photo editors online, there really is very little excuse for poor product photography. Make sure that your products stand out from the rest by utilising the resources in this article and creating epic images that truly sell themselves.