Elements vs Lightroom
 

Easy question - which one if I don't have either...?

It is not so easy. You can look at the differences here:

[url]http://www.adobe.com/ca/products/photoshopfamily/buying-guide-version-comparison.html[/url]

Or here:

[url]http://prodesigntools.com/difference-between-photoshop-vs-extended-vs-elements-vs-lightroom.html[/url]

The biggest thing is how you do stuff. I had Elements first but I wanted more features for Raw editing. Lightroom has the same Raw editing as CS. I also liked the simplicity of LR. In elements the proper way to do something is to open a new layer and apply the changes to that. In LR you do not have to do this (in fact it does not have layers without an add-on like Perfect Layers) you just edit because LR is non-destructive. LR only applies the changes and shows you. Changes can always be rolled back.

Take a look at the links for more detail. The second will have more from a user perspective.

hi not easy to answer and it depends what you want to do I use apples aperture (apple equivalent) for most things but i use elements if i need to cut out or apply layers. if its just a bit of editing then elements will be fine

I'm used to work on Photoshop at work.
I bought elements for home because I often use layers to adjust my pictures.

I have both, but really prefer element(9). I find it a lot more versatile and keeping track of what I have done and amending layers very straight forward, But it may simply be that as I had this before lightroom that I am more familiar with it. Look at what you want to do, then download trials/try
[url]http://www.adobe.com/uk/downloads/[/url]

I use both, LR for the RAW conversion, cropping, straightening and certain tweaking but as soon as I want anything more advanced which involves layers (colour popping, combining bracketed shots) then I launch elements from within Lightroom.