Understand Your Histogram For Better Photo Edits

The histogram is more than just a graph—it’s your roadmap for shaping light and tone in your photos. Each slider in the Light or Basic panel directly connects to a region of the histogram, from deep shadows to bright highlights. When you understand how these tools interact, you’re not just moving sliders—you’re making intentional choices about the mood and balance of your image.

In this video, I show the link the histogram with Lightroom’s tonal sliders, helping you take control of your edits with purpose. This is just a small example of the techniques and analysis I dive into in my full course, Mastering Light and Shadow in Lightroom. When you know exactly what tonal range of the photo each adjustment affects, you become a stronger visual storyteller.