close
Your cart is empty Subtotal $0.00
Checkout
close
Your cart is empty Subtotal $0.00
Checkout
More Information

Tag: editing apps

5 Best Photo Apps for Android and iOS

Posted on by Taya Ivanova

As photographers, we’re lucky enough to have access to hundreds of apps that promise to quicken our editing process, introduce us to new challenges, and improve our shooting experience. However, with the rise of so many innovative apps, it’s difficult to find ones that will satisfy all of our needs.

If you’re in the mood to experiment, learn new things, and put yourself out there, check out these 5 creative apps that cover a variety of interests: editing, competitions, time lapses, and planners.

Gurushots app

Gurushots

[Price: free]
[Platform: Android, iOS]

Gurushots is all about winning, gaining exposure, and meeting new people.

Almost every day, a new challenge is announced. Some challenges are exclusive to more advanced members, while others are open to everyone.

The point of the app is to submit your best work, experiment with new photography genres, and get to know other photographers. Though you can’t directly interact with other artists, you can follow them and vote for their photos.

Members receive points when they submit their work to challenges, receive votes, and get achievements. The more points and achievements you have, the higher your rank will be. Once you reach the Guru rank, you’ll be able to create challenges for other photographers.

Swaps, Autofills, and Keys are occasionally given out for free, but they can also be purchased for as little as $3. They will boost your photo’s exposure and increase your chances of winning.

You’ll love this app if you like joining a lot of contests, challenging yourself with specific themes, and winning prizes.

PhotoPills app

PhotoPills

[Price: USD 11.99]
[Platform: Android, iOS]

PhotoPills describes itself as a personal assistant in all photographic matters. It has everything a traveling photographer would want during a location scouting trip.

In addition to letting you know the location of the sun and moon at any time or place, it offers these tools:

  • Augmented reality – visualizations of the sun, moon, and milky way.
  • Awards – submit your best photos to win up to $6,600.
  • Time Lapse – this will help you figure out what exactly you need to create a stunning time-lapse.
  • Exposure guidance – exposure calculations that will help you find the right settings at any time of day.

If features like these excite you, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this app.

Huji Cam/ Kuji Cam app

Kuji Cam/Huji Cam

[Price: free]
[Platform: Android, iOS]

Kuji and Huji Cam are very similar apps that have become popular thanks to celebrities and their love for vintage filters. These apps are very fun to use, with various filters that will make your simplest smartphone photos look like psychedelic paintings with a retro twist.

The free versions will allow you to choose whether you want your photos to have date stamps, 3D effects, light leaks, or dust effects. The pro versions will give you access to hundreds of filters, remove ads, and let you edit an unlimited amount of images.

The main difference between the apps is the platforms they can be used on and their overall design. If you’re a fan of retro filters, this app will make your dreams come true.

Lapse It app

Lapse It

[Price: free]
[Platform: Android, iOS]

Lapse It is an app that will create gorgeous time-lapses for you. All you need to do is choose your settings, set up your phone, and press Capture. As soon as you begin, the screen will automatically dim to save battery life. You can stop the time lapse by simply pressing Pause or Stop.

As you can see in the screenshots above, the preview looks slightly warped. This is because the free version automatically lowers the quality of the video. The Pro version will let you make videos with a resolution of up to 1080p.

gif

If you’re an aspiring landscape photographer who enjoys experimenting with their phone, you’ll enjoy this app. I recommend buying the Pro version if you want to upload your results to YouTube and other social platforms, though.

VSCO app

VSCO

[Price: free]
[Platform: Android, iOS]

VSCO is a tremendously popular app that offers a variety of vintage filters.

This app is loved by many because of its endless features. Every filter and tool (such as grain) can be controlled with a slider. Once you create a look, you can save and apply it to other photographs.

VSCO’s premium version, VSCO X, offers exclusive tools like borders and over 130 filters.

You can go very far with mobile photography using the free version, though.

If you enjoy editing and experimenting with different looks, you’ll spend many creatively fulfilling hours on this app.

 

What do you think of these apps? Let us know in the comments!

How to Take Better Photos With Your Phone: 4 Steps to Improvement

Posted on by Taya Ivanova

Fact #1: Almost all of us have smartphones. Fact #2: Almost all of us have used our smartphones to take photographs at one point or another.

Even if you’re not an avid Instagram user, there are many ways in which phone photography (commonly known as phoneography) can boost your creativity and observation skills. Phone photos, thanks to their ever-increasing popularity, are taking over both the real and the online worlds, compelling others to find something photogenic of their own to shoot.

/

What if you’ve already tried out phone photography but disliked the process? Maybe the camera in your phone didn’t provide you with enough options, giving you results that were either too bright or too dull. Perhaps you believed that shooting at night would be too problematic because of your phone’s limitations. If you could relate to any of these scenarios, give phoneography another shot; there’s a solution to all of these issues that might transform your hesitance into interest. Here are tips on how to take great photos with your phone.

Choose a camera app that matches your preferences

It’s very likely that the camera app that came with your phone isn’t being used to its full potential. Advanced settings often present in DSLR cameras – such as ISO and shutter speed – can be altered in phones, too. To make the most of these hidden features, you need a handy camera app. Here are a few great ones:

iPhone users can enjoy apps such as Manual ($3.99), Focus ($1.99), and VSCO (free). All of these apps enable users to alter their camera’s focus, ISO, shutter speed, white balance adjustment, and the list goes on. Apps like VSCO will let you edit your photographs with a variety of presets as soon as you’re doing with your shoot.

Android users have just as many wonderful options to choose from Camera FV-5 ($3.35), Camera360 (free), and DSLR Camera Pro ($3.52). Like the popular iPhone apps, these are capable of letting you take the best possible photograph before you even begin the editing process. If you’re not a fan of editing apps, these instant photo enhancers are the right tools for you.

/

Use a tripod

Phone tripods can be found almost anywhere. Nighttime photography enthusiasts, self-portrait artists, and landscape photographers often require the use of a tripod for their shoots. Since most phone cameras have timers, tripods can really come in handy for interesting phone photographs. If you like long exposure photography, for instance, then you’ll get great results with the help of an advanced camera app like Focus and with an affordable tripod.

/

Photograph everything

Once you acquire a better camera app, take photographs of anything that catches your eye. Most importantly, don’t forget to experiment and try out new things. The beauty of phoneography is that it’s always accessible no matter where you are. Take photos of details, landscapes, buildings, and people. The accessibility of this photography genre makes it easy to see what it’s like to shoot different kinds of subjects. If you’re a macro photographer, try photographing people. If you’re a portrait photographer, take photos of buildings. During these experiments, you’ll discover new creative worlds. As you do, your inspiration will grow exponentially.

/

/

Acquire an editing app that satisfies your creativity

This last tip is optional but useful for those interested in improving their editing skills. Many editing apps (like VSCO) have presets similar to the ones in Lightroom and Photoshop. By understanding the beauty of color correction and enhancement, you’ll find it easy to use editing programs like Lightroom. Thus, whether you use a professional camera or not, all of your artistic skills will strengthen. iPhone users can find their inner retoucher in apps like Enlight ($3.99), AfterFocus ($0.99), and Snapseed (free). Android users can enjoy the great editing features of apps like Pixlr-o-Matic (free), Photo Lab PRO ($2.99), and Pixlr Express (free).

/

/

Phone photography doesn’t have to take over your life or replace DSLR photography. Instead, it can help you take quick photos using a small device, enable you to find photographic potential almost anywhere, and encourage you to visit new places. To put it simply, phone photography is worth experimenting with. The knowledge you acquire as you take photographs with your phone will come in handy when you use professional cameras. Phoneography is just another reason to be more creative, observant, and imaginative.

Happy shooting!

Sleeklens