An in-browser photo-editing application method and system. The method may typically include retrieving an image for manipulation along with a set of image manipulation instructions at a client computer and engaging a manipulation to the image from the client computer. Then, the client computer records image manipulation instructions simultaneous to displaying user edits. The set of image manipulation instructions are transmitted to the server when a mirror of the user's manipulated image is desired on the server. The server performs the manipulation instructions on its own copy of the original image to produce the mirror image. Copies of the pre-manipulated and post-manipulated image as well as the manipulation instructions may be stored at several locations including the client computer, the server computer or even a remote storage computer.