photography tips | favorite photo editing apps

Since buying my first iPhone - the 3G - in 2010, I have used my phone as my point and shoot camera.  I am still amazed how much better they have gotten over time and with each upgrade the photo quality just gets better and better. 

I have since upgraded to the 5 - albeit barely (the screen is cracked from a drop) - and usually have it nearby because you just never know what will happen that I need to capture.  at least that is my excuse for being on my phone a lot.  Anyway, after I get the image I want and before I post to Instagram or on the blog, I have three steps I go through to edit my iPhone photos. vsco cam, afterlight, and whitagram. 

 

STEP 1: vsco cam app. I only recently discovered vsco cam app in the past few months.  I upload the photo to my library then browse the filters to see which is the best.  I love their filters and in my opinion they are the best around.  While you can download the app for free, you will have to pay for most of the filters.  The cost for the different filters range anywhere from $.99 to $5.99.  They have specials for free or discount filters so I usually take advantage when that happens. 

image via google images

STEP 2: afterlight. I then turn to afterlight to adjust the brightness, contrast, clarity, saturation, etc of the photo.  This app is also a paid one - only $.99 - but is well worth it.  It's like having access to Lightroom or Picmonkey while on the go. 

image via google images

STEP 3: whitagram. Whitagram is another I just recently discovered.  I used to get so annoyed when I would upload my photo to Instagram and the gorgeous landscape I just captured is cropped into a square, eliminating a decent portion of the scene.  But with whitagram, you are able to keep the original size of the photo, with a white background, and upload it to instagram without any of the scene being cropped.  And guess what?!  This one is free.

 image via google images.

It only takes me 5 minutes, if that, to go through these steps before I hit the publish button in Instagram.  I want my photos to look their best when I share them with the world and these three apps help to accomplish that.  

What are your go-to phone photo editing apps?

What's your favorite?

Are you on Instagram?

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