16GB is worth it for Lightroom and Photoshop.

Yes, noticeably.

8GB can handle a single file and not much else. The moment you open a second photo, start stacking layers in Photoshop, or let Lightroom build previews for a big import, you’ll hit the swap file and your machine will slow to a crawl. It’s not about whether it works — it will. It’s about whether you want to wait ten seconds every time you do something.

16GB keeps everything fluid. You can have Lightroom, Photoshop, and a browser open without feeling like you’re running a marathon in mud. If you shoot raw or work with any kind of brushwork, the difference is immediate.

Don’t cheap out on RAM for image editing. Future You deserves better.