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As frustrating and tiring as photo-editing can be, I actually enjoy the process and take a lot of pride in it. I’ve used and abandoned a lot of photo-editing apps over the past few years but I think I’ve reached a point where I’m satisfied with the apps that I’m currently using. I’ve purchased apps, as well as in-app features, and haven’t gotten much use out of them, so I essentially wasted my money. I can’t stress this enough: You don’t need to spend your hard-earned money to make your content stand out and build on your hobby or your side-hustle. Here’s a list of my favourite photo-editing apps that are available for FREE on the App Store and Google Play.

1. Lightroom CC

I stumbled upon Lightroom CC a few years ago and have been using it to edit the majority of my photos ever since. There is a full (purchasable) version of Lightroom, which is called Lightroom Classic CC, but the mobile version is more than enough for me right now. Lightroom has a range of built-in presets but you can also create your own or purchase presets from other creators and apply them to your photos. Lightroom CC allows you to adjust things like saturation and hues by colours found in the photo, adjust tonality by using curves, and there is also the option to batch-edit (which is really handy for editing multiple photos with the same settings and location). I always shoot in RAW on my DSLR and, unlike a lot of apps that I’ve come across, this app actually allows you to process and edit RAW images. Of course, Lightroom isn’t the easiest editing app out there and it can seem pretty intimidating at first but, much like with anything in life, it becomes a lot easier once you familiarise yourself with it. Even though I’ve been using Lightroom for years, I’m no even remotely close to being an “expert” at using this app; I am always watching tutorials and reading up on ways to develop my Lightroom skills. I’d recommend looking up some videos on Youtube to get you started!

2. Unfold

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll recognise this app because I use it all the bloody time. Although Unfold has a few filters to choose from, it mainly serves as an Instagram Story template app. Unfold has purchasable template packs but you are able to download “CS1” for FREE when you download the app. Unfold launch limited-edition template packs from time to time such as the “HOME” pack, which was released when lockdown began. I have purchased “FF1” and I love this pack to death. Unfold’s templates are cropped to perfectly fit the Instagram Story aspect ratio but you can, of course, upload photos onto your Instagram feed (at the expense of it being cropped to fit a 1:1 aspect ratio). If you want to make your photos just that bit more interesting, download this app!

3. Snapseed

I used Snapseed YEARS ago, back when over-exposed, all-white photos was THE THING on Instagram. I only recently starting using this app again and I forgot how amazing it is. Snapseed allows you to get rid of things like stray hairs in your portrait photos, apply double-exposure and many more great features. Also, it’s pretty easy to navigate around so I love that!

4. VSCO

If you haven’t used VSCO, I’m judging you. Just kidding; good on you for not jumping on the bandwagon. I am not ashamed to say that I was once, indeed, a part of the “VSCO girl” club. VSCO is great because there are so many filters to choose from, making the process of photo-editing a whole lot easier. I’ve had an annual membership for the past few years (roughly £12) which unlocks even more filters, but the free version is just as great (in the example photo below, I use “M3”, which is a free filter). As I tend to use Lightroom a lot these days, I don’t use VSCO much for editing photos. However, when I want to edit in B&W, I almost always go straight to VSCO; they have some really great B&W filters.

5. Afterlight

If you want to add some extra details to your photos, to make them stand out just that little bit more, Afterlight can do just that. I use this app for its filters from time to time, but I mainly use it to add that “vintage” effect to my photos. Afterlight has a “Dust” feature, which you can add to your photos to give them that vintage feel. There’s also a “Light” feature which allows you to add light beams, of varying colours and styles, to your photos to imitate the effect of using a film camera.

Thanks for reading! I hope you’ve found this post helpful and hopefully you enjoy these apps as much as I do.

What are some of your favourite apps for editing photos? Let me know, down in the comments section.

As always, stay safe and stay positive.

Love,

JK ♡