Wanna know a secret? I do not currently own a computer, I do not know how to use Photoshop, nor do I own a DSLR camera (yet)… but I shoot and edit most of my blog photos myself.

I know… you’re probably reading this and thinking, “Dom, how in the hell?”

Because I lack resources and software, I’ve had to do lots of research and put my iPhone 6S to WORK.

Below are the top 5 apps I use to edit my blog photos… and because I really love y’all, they’re linked directly after the descriptions:

VSCO CAM

The above photo WAS taken with a DSLR by Karen of Sapiovision. Left: No filter, raw image. Right: Edited af.

All of the Instagram influencers use this app and I totally get the hype. The filters add so much dimension and depth to pictures! I really love the refinery tools as well–exposure, grain (trend alert!), fade, and saturation, et cetera–because I can blend my pictures perfectly so they’re cohesive. I really like that you can copy and paste edits as well, so if you have a series of photos you like, you don’t have to memorize all of your configurations whilst saving your pointer finger from early onset carpel tunnel.

APP STORE | GOOGLE PLAY STORE

SnapSeed

Do you remember this picture from my January Faves? On the left is the original shot taken with my iPhone 6S. Do you see how the bottom left corner is much darker than the rest of the picture?

I’ll be honest, this app is really complicated but truly amazing. I am still finding new ways to use this app to its fullest potential. What I typically use this app for (for now) is to balance my lighting in my flatlays. Because I’m working solely with sunlight, the lighting is usually inconsistent throughout the day. Particularly if it’s a cloudy day and I’m shooting items that cast greater shadows, I may not be able to get my flatlay as exposed as I’d like, and that’s when I take my talents to SnapSeed.

With all of that being said, please keep in mind that the goal is always to make sure your photos are properly lit when shooting so there is minimal editing necessary. There’s nothing like the glow from real sunlight!

APP STORE | GOOGLE PLAY STORE

FaceTune2

In the above selfie, taken with my iPhone 6S, I’ve removed the dark circles from beneath my eyes, I’ve added detail to my hair strands and to the flowers on my dress, enhanced the color of the foliage in the background, and smoothed out my chest imperfections and arm hairs.

Are you ready to take your selfies to the next level? I use FT2 primarily to edit my skin’s imperfections, whiten my eyeballs and to detail my hair strands. It’s pretty easy to get carried away in this app so you’ll want to save your changes as you go along. There’s a VIP option that I have yet to purchase but it comes packed with some pretty powerful tools! I’m this close to giving these fine folks sixty nine of my hard earned dollars so that I can relight my subjects, switch eye colors and edit my skin to Naomi levels of perfection. The only reason why I haven’t purchased this app outright is because back in the day, I purchased FaceTune 1, they discontinued the app, and didn’t credit me for the difference for FaceTune 2. Still, the 12 month membership is only $2.99 a month and totally worth it. I may go the subscription route as I delve deeper into self portraiture?

APP STORE | GOOGLE PLAY STORE

Photo Wonder

My friend took this picture of me using her iPhone 8 at the Museum of Ice Cream. In the above picture, I’ve elongated my legs, removed dark circles around my eyes and applied the ‘Natural’ filter.

I don’t use this app very often because I typically use it for full body pictures and hel-lo, where are my full body pictures?! (Answer: I haven’t found a tripod tall enough to capture myself in my full glory). Summer is on the horizon though! Bikini pictures here I come!

I love how naturally this app elongates my legs giving the appearance that I’m taller and longer. This app is a supplement to FaceTune2 because a lot of the beauty editing features are similar; in this app, they’re a little more exaggerated which is why I prefer editing my selfies in FT2. If you like a pop art, Kawaii feel to your selfies, definitely experiment with this app! It’s super cute and fun!

APP STORE | GOOGLE PLAY STORE

Real Bokeh

On the left is the original picture taken with my iPhone 6S. I took this picture for my Milani Matte Lipstick Mania post. On the right, I’ve sprinkled a bit of bokeh to give the picture more dimension and visual interest.

This is another app that I don’t use very often but won’t delete because I still find it essential (plus, I paid for it). I used to use it more often when I would create infographics for my former clothing boutique, Starcrush. I still use it occasionally to add a bit of flare to my flatlays and random selfies I post on Twitter.

APP STORE | GOOGLE PLAY STORE

Keep in mind, while these apps are absolutely wonderful and having them at your fingertips is super convenient, it still takes quite a while to edit photos on your smartphone or tablet. This is also why I don’t churn out blog posts like a factory yet–it’s a process. I encourage you to take your time whilst editing because beautiful pictures can make or break your blog!

What I love most about blogging is marrying text and visual imagery. For those of you who have commented in the past on my posts about my picture quality, THANK YOU! You all have no idea how much it means to me for you to see how hard I work on these photos!

I hope you found this post helpful! Do you currently use any of the apps I’ve listed? What tips and tricks do you have for the community?

Instagram is dead, but I love Instastories! Are we friends yet?