With a wide variety of products out there, choosing the best photo software can be a daunting task. The term best, however, is a subjective word. In this case, best denotes what is most excellent for you and not necessarily the software with the most advanced features and control. For example, if you are interested in taking pictures at a party or simple events with friends, a point and shoot camera with auto-focus and auto-flash is more practical than a very advanced DSLR camera.

You need to decide beforehand as to what type of editing you really want to do with your pictures. Make up your mind if you just want to goof around and make the pictures look funny or add effects. You can also choose to edit your pictures and add them to a professional catalogue. Set a cost limit depending on the purpose. These two factors will help you narrow down your search for the right software.

Once you have a list of prospective products, shortlist the ones that provide you with a shareware or time-limited version. Armed with this shortlist, visit forums that deal with photo editing software and talk to its members about the software. Also, you can also read reviews and use the shareware versions that are downloadable. This should help you decide and get a clear idea as to what you can expect from the product.
Finally, keep in mind that generally, the more advanced the product, the longer it takes to learn it. The more knowledge you have in leading up to a purchase, the better informed you will be in making that purchase.