Do you struggle to get that perfect photo to posts on your social media channels? Do you lack the tools that most content creators have like a ring light for brighter photos, a professional camera, or even a phone with a good camera? Or you just don't have time to catch that natural sunlight or golden hour for better-looking photos?
Whatever your struggles are, know that you are not alone. Even with years of posting on my social media channels, I still struggle to get that "one" photo that will just feel right sometimes. And believe me, there will be just days that you won't like any photo you take no matter what.
But it's good to know that there are some apps out there that can help us step up our photography game. Today, I'm gonna be sharing some of the editing apps I used for my Instagram photo and video posts. Please note that I am not a professional in editing photos or videos, but with practice and persistence in learning these apps, YOU can be one. 😉
1. Lightroom
This app is what I usually used for all my photo editing needs. You can control your photo's color temperature and tint, adjust brightness, apply effects, and even apply presets that you have. I don't play that much in all of these settings right now because I was blessed enough to get presets from @nickypresets. She has a wonderful selection and I love using her Bright and Airy preset for my current feed. The bottom line, you have a lot of control over this app and it's user-friendly and not complicated to use at all plus it's free.
2. Snapseed
Just like Lightroom, this app is free and super easy to use too. Upon opening the app and uploading your photo, you are already given different filters you can choose from. But if nothing from them caught your detailed-eyes, you can go ahead and explore more of their different filters or manually edit your photo easily under Tools. You can tune up your image, adjust contrast and brightness or make it vintage-like, HDR scape, glamour glow, grainy film, or retroflux. My favorite feature in this app would be the vignette and lens blur. Lens blur was my most used feature in this app (before I bought my Mirrorless camera) as I sometimes don't like my background and with this feature, I can easily blur it.
3. A Color Story
I haven't tried this editing app as much as Lightroom and Snapseed but this is quite a favorite of a lot of content creators. You have access to limited but enough free filters and effects to choose from, then the rest of the selection within the app is paid ($2.99 or more). If you are just starting out, the free filters are already good enough. But, if by all means, you found something that calls for you and matches the aesthetic of your Instagram feed, go ahead and get it. It's only a low investment you have to make.
4. Fotorus
Do you need to do a photo collage, maybe a before and after, or wanted to beautify a photo? This free editing app can do that for you. It was actually one of the first apps I used when I was just starting out. Now, I still love to use it for a before and after photo collage and if I wanted to include captions within my photos.
5. Meitu
Do you have something in your photo that you wish was never there? Behold, this app can erase it for you! I discovered this app while watching some Tiktok videos and was amazed at how easy it is to erase unwanted things on your photo. Although I use this app mainly for that feature, it has more to offer. You can easily edit your videos in this app and make them extra with transitions, music, effects, stickers, and texts. This is what I used to create my low-key L'oreal Infallible foundation reel and my Statusphere Unboxing IGTV on Instagram.
6. Go Pro App
If you watched my previous Instagram reels (like this one), I made those videos using this app. I don't even have an account because I don't have a Go Pro camera but it lets me edit my videos seamlessly. When you uploaded your videos, it will automatically choose transitions and music for you but you can manually edit them on your own. It has limited capability I might say but it's perfect for a total noob like me who knows nothing about creating amazing videos like others.😁
Bonus:
StoryLuxe
This is another app I found from watching Tiktok videos. It's not an editing app that you can use to fully edit your photos but it's more like an Instagram story template app. It has some cool templates for your Instagram story although you have to get the paid version if you want to have more access. It's pretty basic and using it is a no-brainer. Just choose your template and upload your photos and your Instagram story is ready to go.
Canva
This is one of my favorite apps to use and many content creators would agree that Canva is one of the best free sites/applications where you can do so much more than editing photos. Canva offers tons of free templates for your Instagram feed post or story post. I love that they also have animated ones that can spice up your posts. They also have templates for Instagram story polls and questions you are free to use. It is super easy to use!
Have you tried any of these? Let me know your favorite editing apps to use!