09 Dec 10 Best Photography Apps for Instagrammers

The key to having a popular Instagram account lies in beautiful photos – and the key to beautiful photos lies in using the best photography apps for Instagrammers.

But what are they? Ever since I jumped on the bandwagon this summer, I’ve been get a lot of questions about my Instagram gallery and how I edit my photos. When I recently came across Expedia’s list of best holiday photo apps it got me thinking… why haven’t I spilled the beans yet?

That’s why I’ve decided to put together this list of the best photography apps for Instagrammers. I have personally used all of these and genuinely believe they’ll help you up your game!

[custom_headline type=”left, center, right” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true”]1. Snapseed[/custom_headline]

Snapseed is my all-time favourite photo-editing app… now. When I first installed it, I found it hard to use and only gave it a second chance because pretty much all my blogger friends insisted I should.

The interface is actually quite simple once you get the hang of it and the options are truly endless. You can even target specific spots with the brush, changing the saturation/exposure/temperature as you find appropriate.

Price: free

[custom_headline type=”left, center, right” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true”]2. Afterlight[/custom_headline]

Before I figured out how to use Snapseed, Afterlight was my go-to editing app. It doesn’t offer as much customisation as Snapseed but I also find it more intuitive and faster to use.

If your photo needs more basic changes (think contrast, temperature, saturation etc.) and you want to take advantage of some great filters, Afterlight might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Price: $0.99/£0.79

[custom_headline type=”left, center, right” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true”]3. VSCO Cam[/custom_headline]

VSCO Cam is definitely one of the best photography apps for Instagrammers. Some of the biggest names in the game use it! The filters are absolutely dreamy – think nostalgic vibes that make you feel like a fairytale character. I usually go with brighter, more saturated images but if you’re after a moody atmospheric gallery VSCO Cam is the app for you.

VSCO Cam is not just a photo editing app – it’s also a place to showcase your creations and look through other photographers’ galleries. It also has advanced camera controls including manual focus, shutter speed, white balance, and exposure compensation. Oh, and it’s free!

Price: free

[custom_headline type=”left, center, right” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true”]4. Facetune[/custom_headline]

I’m definitely against Photoshopping people’s faces beyond recognition, but every now and then I can’t resist the opportunity to make myself look like the Vogue version of Sabina. You know, those days when you want to crawl under a blanket and cover all the mirrors. Yup.

FaceTune is my dirty little secret. It makes your skin super smooth, your eyes bright, your teeth pearly… powerful stuff! It’s also great for whitening anything – from teeth to walls. I often use it to make the background whiter so it’s more than just a pretty face/app.

Price: $3.99/£2.99

[custom_headline type=”left, center, right” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true”]5. AfterFocus[/custom_headline]

AfterFocus is the perfect app for anyone who loves those shallow depth of field DSLR photos – read: blurry backgrounds – but doesn’t own a camera that can take them. FaceTune above has a similar feature called ‘defocus’, but if you won’t use its other features you’re better off just buying this cheaper app.

Price: $0.99/£0.79

>>Follow me on Instagram for more inspiration!<<

[custom_headline type=”left, center, right” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true”]6. ProCamera 8[/custom_headline]

Starting with ProCamera 8 we are moving away from photo-editing and toward photo-taking itself. You can actually edit within the app itself but I wouldn’t recommend buying it for that sole purpose – Snapseed is a free (and better) alternative.

It enables DSLR-style functions like setting ISO sensitivity, temperature, focus, exposure compensation, burst mode or white balance calibration. Its video functions include 240 fps slow motion capturing for iPhone6. It also lets you save photos in three file formats: TIFF, TIFF LZW and JPEG. It’s not the cheapest of apps but paying less than a fiver for a huge camera upgrade is a sweet deal!

Price: $4.99/£3.99

[custom_headline type=”left, center, right” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true”]7. PicLab[/custom_headline]

I rarely feature photos with text on them in my Instagram gallery, but if you’d like to share some inspirational quotes with your followers this is the app for you. You can create your own text or use the cute pre-made phrases available through PicLab.

The app is free but certain phrases or overlays have to be purchased separately. You also have to pay to remove the annoying watermark in the corner. But in-app purchases cost around $1 so it’s not a bad deal – and their overlay phrases are pretty kick-ass.

Price: free

[custom_headline type=”left, center, right” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true”]8. EyeEm[/custom_headline]

EyeEm is technically not an app for Instagrammers. Now that Instagram is no longer ad-free some people are looking to make the switch – which is where EyeEm comes in. It’s free, non-commercial and also available on tablets!

I’m not an active user myself (I just love Instagram too much) but there is some serious eye-candy in this app and a great community aspect. You can even get involved in their photo competitions and win some cool prizes.

Price: free

[custom_headline type=”left, center, right” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true”]9. Layout from Instagram[/custom_headline]

Layout is an app developed by Instagram with a very simple function. It allows you to create cute collages to feature in your gallery. It has pretty basic features but includes a few handy tricks like the ‘faces’ tab which will only show you photos of people.

It’s simple, fast, efficient and directly linked to Instagram. The only downside? At the moment it only creates square images, although Instagram itself now supports all formats. If you need non-square collages check out Photo Grid.

Price: free

[custom_headline type=”left, center, right” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true”]10. Instagram[/custom_headline]

I know people always complain about Instagram’s own editing software, but it works well enough for photos that only require small edits. I usually use a different app to edit my image and then go over it, adding a little bit of this and that directly on Instagram before uploading.

Price: free

What are your favourite photography apps for Instagrammers? Do you like to edit your photos in a particular style? Let me know and link your Instagram accounts below – I’d love to check them out!