A notable trend is emerging within the photography community: a significant number of professionals are moving away from Adobe Creative Cloud. This shift is driven by various factors, including Adobe's subscription-based licensing model, questions surrounding its AI training methodologies, and persistent dissatisfaction with customer support. Many photographers are actively exploring alternative software solutions, signaling a desire for different approaches to image editing and management.
One of the primary catalysts for this migration is Adobe's transition from perpetual licenses to an exclusively subscription-based service. This change has generated considerable frustration among users who prefer outright ownership of their software. The sentiment is encapsulated by feedback from online communities, where users express feeling trapped by what they perceive as coercive subscription tactics. For instance, a Reddit user bluntly stated, "Adobe's shady business practices of using grey and dark patterns on their subscriptions and respective UI to trick people into their subscriptions and then making it as hard as possible to leave." This highlights a deeper concern about the company's commitment to its user base when product quality alone isn't enough to retain customers.
Another significant point of contention revolves around Adobe's use of artificial intelligence. Some photographers are wary of how Adobe's AI models are trained, specifically expressing unease about the potential use of customer-uploaded images without explicit consent or compensation. A community member articulated this concern, saying, "The thing that makes me stay far from Adobe is that they are training their AI off of image libraries that people are hosting on their local machines. In other words, if they paid royalties there would be no issue. I don't like that." Despite Adobe's repeated assurances that its Firefly AI models are trained exclusively on licensed content, such as Adobe Stock, and public domain material, this mistrust persists among a segment of its user base.
Beyond licensing and AI ethics, a recurring theme is the perceived poor quality of Adobe's customer service. Many long-term users, like Montreal-based photographer Brad Hurley, report consistently negative interactions. Hurley, who switched to Capture One, commented, "I left Adobe long ago; I have nothing against subscription software and spend hundreds of dollars on software subscriptions every year. But in more than 30 years of using Adobe products, I never once had a good customer experience. Never." This systemic issue contributes significantly to users' decisions to seek out alternative platforms, even if it means adapting to a new workflow.
However, not all photographers are ready to make the switch. For many, particularly those in professional settings, the deep integration of Adobe products into their existing workflows makes a complete transition challenging. The ubiquity of Adobe's Creative Cloud Suite means that numerous assets and industry standards are built around its ecosystem. As one professional artist noted, "As a professional artist, I have to maintain both high standards to ensure quality artwork, and an efficient workflow so I can find images and manage information quickly in my library of 400,000 images that date back to the early 1970s... Lightroom's greatest strength is image management." The sheer scale of existing libraries and the comfort of established routines can act as a powerful deterrent against change.
For individuals, the decision to depart from Adobe is often a personal one, driven by a desire for tools that align with their creative vision without unnecessary features. Many photographers prioritize capturing the final image in-camera, minimizing the need for extensive post-processing. This approach makes much of the AI-driven "bloat" in Adobe's offerings seem superfluous. While acknowledging the challenges of adapting to new software, the sentiment is that breaking free from a perceived "toxic relationship" with Adobe can be liberating, even if it requires exploring alternative tools for various aspects of the digital creation process.
The extensive feedback from photographers, ranging from hobbyists to seasoned professionals, clearly indicates widespread discontent with Adobe's subscription model and the perceived lack of value in some of its AI functionalities. The collective voice suggests that Adobe may need to reconsider its strategy and listen more closely to the needs and preferences of its user community if it wishes to stem the tide of departures.