My Top 3 Photo Editing Apps
Top Picks for Photo Editing Apps
Full transparency friends: Even experienced photographers feel a little naked when it comes to sharing our work sooc (straight out of camera). I believe that even the best photo can be made better with a little bit of editing.
Since we’re not all photographers but love to take photos of our kids, our vacations, or special day-to-day moments, I’m sharing a few of my favorite photo editing apps.
A Color Story
Image from A Color Story
Why I Like It
A Color Story has a wide variety of filters that range from moody film to (my fave) bright and airy. And there’s a bonus of making micro-adjustments, like changing the hue of your greens or popping your yellows and oranges for fall color.
I also love the effects — grain, fog… All the things. It’s hard not to go crazy on every photo when you have so many beautiful possibilities!
You can save your favorite editing workflows. I use a specific look and feel and don’t want to hunt for it all the time.
What’s Missing
This app can be a bit cumbersome if you’re not used to editing workflows or used to using this app, initially. There are a few simple tweaks that I want to make (contrast, exposure) that I somehow always have to stumble to find.
Many of the filters are paid so you’ll be upping your subscription fee or buying a few here and there.
With so many options, it can be overwhelming if you haven’t already chosen your style of editing.
Photo: Socialbakers.com
I realize this reco seems so basic with the many image editing options on the market like VSCO and more. But in the business world we use a mantra: Keep it Simple. Instagram is my simple, go-to image editing app.
Why I Like It
It’s free.
Did I mention it’s simple? You can use the built-in filters (and adjust the strength of each) to get the look and feel you like. And you can hide filters you don’t use, which means faster access and a more consistent look for your work.
You can still make editing adjustments, like toning down highlights or lightening shadows.
What It’s Missing
Some finer micro-adjustments. I like to edit my greens (Ohio greens can sometimes skew a little neon at times) and Instagram lacks hue, luminance and saturation adjustments for me to tone them down.
I’d like a “bright and airy” filter that doesn’t slap an odd hue of orange or super contrasted feel to images. I’ve figured out my workarounds but I find that I often have to use another program or two to compensate for my editing style.
Lightroom Mobile
Photo from: Adobe
If you’re a photographer and already use Lightroom, you know the benefits of syncing to a mobile app. But as a novice photographer or image editor, you’ll appreciate Lightroom mobile’s user interface.
Why I Like It
The ability to make intuitive, easy photo edits using adjustment sliders. I personally like the interface better.
More advanced ability to do finer editing for specific needs like contrast, shadows, etc. vs. Instagram.
The ability to share so many different apps immediately from the phone is a really nice feature for photographers that want to use the image edits for branding and marketing.
What It’s Missing
This applies to the other editing apps as well, but if you’re used to using ANY photo editing program, you’ll notice that Lightroom mobile lacks what the full program offers:
Spot healing
Gradients
Lens corrections
Selective color channel editing
But this may not matter for less experienced users.
I use all three of the editing apps I listed but since I photograph well out of camera and can wifi my photos to my phone, I rely heaviest on Instagram.
Worthy Mentions
I also like VSCO but find many of the filters to be too “overedited” for my liking. But hey, I’m just one person with a style I love so try experimenting to see what works for you.
Tips for Editing Your Photos
Don’t Over-Edit
When a photo feels too unreal or skin tones are totally off-color, it can be a huge turn-off. While the darker, moodier film look is beautiful, rosy skin tones take on an orange or muddy yellow look.
Every photographer has a look unique to them but even the most creative photographers know when to stay in the lines.
Find Good Light
It’s hard, if not impossible to fix a photo shot in a poorly-lit area. Get outside, use window light or set up a ring light to get a better look.
Remember the priority: Good light first, background or scene second.
Way too many a photo has been taken with a beautiful, backlit scene and you can’t see the people in the photo (it’s how your camera understands light). A backlit scene = underexposed faces so much that even the best editing app is no match. Expose your images well so the adjustments enhance.
What are your favorite photo editing apps and why?
