Best Photo Editing Apps for Instagram. Six of the Best Apps
You don’t need professional cameras or editing skills; you just need a few good mobile apps. I know what it’s like to not have enough money to buy a fancy camera. For years, I have asked for a nice Canon camera and as many Christmases and birthdays passed, my dream of having a professional-quality camera did as well. In this article, I will share the best photo editing apps, specifically for publishing on social media platforms, like Instagram.
First off, it can feel very defeating when you know that you have a knack for content creation and photography, but don’t have a nice camera. However, luckily for us, technology is changing rapidly, making it easier for us to create awesome content on a tight time schedule and budget.
In order to create authentic, genuine content that has your own personal touch to it, mastering an editing style is the most obtainable and realistic way to do so! So without further ado, here are a few of my absolute favorite photo editing apps at the moment:
Afterlight 2
Snapseed
VSCOx
FaceTune 2
PicsArt
Unfold
The Best Photo Editing Apps:
Afterlight 2 — this one is my favorite mobile apps for applying filters, creating a dusty effect, and adding some artistic elements, such as double exposure to a photo. Double exposure is when you lay a photo on top of another photo to create a two-dimensional piece of art. Side note: Yes, I know it’s just Instagram, but in a way, it’s art.
One of my favorite aspects of the app is the “selective saturation” tool because it allows you to adjust the colors in the photo. For example, if your photos have more of a blue tone in them, you can increase the blues in your photo! The same goes for colors that you do NOT prefer in your photos; you can decrease that color in the photo as well.
Download it here:
Example of double exposure effect using Afterlight2, with also a slightly dusty effect
Snapseed — I don’t really use Snapseed all that much, except for when I want a really cool, customizable double exposure. For example, when utilizing Afterlight 2, you can only overlay the double exposure on your photo so that it covers your photo; however, with Snapseed, you are actually able to move the image wherever you’d like! See the example below for what I mean.
Example of double exposure utilizing Snapseed. You are able to move the image around and place it wherever you’d like, while adjusting the opacity and transparency as well!
Most Versatile Filters: VSCO
VSCOx — VSCO is known to be one of the best photo editing apps AND it is free on the app store; however, I purchase VSCO X because you get so many different filters. These work best on photos that are shot in bright light!
I edited this with VSCO, with the “SUM1” filter, which is great for adding some red tones to your photos! I also added a grainy film to the photo to make it look like vintage film.
The Best App for Blemishes, Etc.
FaceTune 2 — FaceTune 2 is a couple dollars on the app store; however, it’s highly worth it. This one is great for fixing ANY blemishes. You may be thinking that you don’t have any pimples or rashes on your face, but this app also fixes faulty camera blemishes like glare, red-eye, too shiny, etc. Literally this one does it all. Just don’t go too overboard or you’ll look way too edited. And nobody likes a fraud. Jk do you.
Here’s just a FEW examples of what you can do on this crazy app! I don’t really use the face “tuning” aspect because most of my shots are farther away. And the app needs to be able to make out a clear face in order to adjust things on your face (which you don’t need because you’re beautiful).
The Best App for Adding Art:
PicsArt — This one is sort of a social networking app, as well as one of the best photo editing apps! It’s super cool because you can direct people to your Instagram (top secret tip– I think…). Anyway, this app is awesome for adding some paint strokes to your photos. For example, you can utilize these stickers if you want to hide part of the photo, such as an alcoholic drink, etc. In all honesty, this app is also great for your brand as well because you can make photo collages on it! Adding your own unique touch to your photos will spice up your Instagram and make you unique and recognizable as a content creator!
Example of using a paint stroke to cover part of a photo (’cause you know you have to keep it classy girl)
The Best App for Cool Templates
Unfold — Unfold is actually an app for Instagram stories; however, I love the look on my Instagram feed too. Likewise, you don’t actually edit the photo with this app; instead, you are able to place your photo in artistic/vintage photo frames. As a result, this will give your Instagram a unique, different aesthetic to it, which I’m all for.
This frame is from the FF1 templates — Inspired by Analog Photography
Download these apps and you’ll be off to an awesome start on your journey to making beautiful content for your blog or small business. Honestly, the best way to learn is by trial and error and finding your own unique editing style, so go take some pictures and play around!
Thanks so much for reading!
