Instagram is a great place to get exposure, but with over 1 billion accounts, there’s also a lot of competition. If you want to make sure your Instagram account stands out, you need to edit your photos like a pro.
If you want to learn how to edit photos, you came to the right place. Read on to learn more about photo editing for Instagram.
Photo Editing Tips for Instagram
If you want to edit Instagram-worthy photos that will captivate your audience and bring more viewers, then you need to take your editing game to the next level. These are some of the tips Instagram pros use to edit their photos.
High-Quality Photos
No matter how many filters you apply, you can’t achieve the best results without a high-quality shot. While you don’t need to use a digital camera to produce a high-quality photo, ensure you use the HDR mode on your smartphone.
You don’t need to have the latest smartphone as long as you shoot using natural light and shooting using the HDR mode.
Before editing a photo for Instagram, make sure the photo is at least 1080 pixels wide. Otherwise, if you choose an image that is too small, you will have a blurry image, and no filter will fix that.
Experiment with Filters
Once you have a high-quality picture as a canvas, it’s time to choose a filter. Instagram has plenty of filters to choose from depending on the look you want.
If you don’t want to rely on the available Instagram filters, you can try Lightroom presets.
Presets have been gaining popularity in the last few years because they allow you to edit a photo with one click. You can download thousands of presets (some presets are free) to your smartphone or computer.
Lightroom preset creators spent hours creating these filters, so you don’t have to. Using these professional presets is one way to give your brand a unique identity.
Experiment With the Lux Settings
If you have never used the Lux setting, you can find the sun icon above the photo center. The lux setting will help you adjust the exposure and contrast of your photo.
If you want to add more dimension and make the details of your picture pop, then you need to use the Lux setting.
When you move the lux scale to the left, you will decrease the intensity and contrast, which is a great setting to dim down a photo. Moving the lux bar to the right will increase the intensity and contrast, which will make the colors brighter.
Other Settings
Those who want to take their Instagram game to the next level will take advantage of all the other settings. For example, you have the option to adjust your photo, so you never have to post a crooked picture again.
Best Photo Editing Apps for Instagram
If you want to take your Instagram photo editing to the next level, you sometimes need more settings than what the platform offers. The secret to great photos are external editing apps many influencers rely on.
VSCO
For many years, Instagram users have been relying on VSCO to edit amazing photos. This app is available for iOS and Android users and features more than 200 preset filters with their full version.
If you don’t want to get the full version, you can access 10 presets for free.
Once you choose a preset, you will have the option to edit it further until you achieve the desired look.
Snapseed
Snapseed is a great photo editor you can use for Instagram. With this app, you can use JPG and RAW filed for more versatility.
Snapseed is also available for iOS and Android and includes more than 20 features and tools. Although Snapseed allows you to produce professional-looking photos, it’s relatively easy to use.
You can adjust the geometry, brightness, and other elements to produce a perfectly edited image.
Avatan Photo Editor
Avatan Photo Editor is another app available for iOS and Android users that allows you to take your photo editing to the next level. This app allows you to retouch your photos or customize your filters.
While you can use plenty of features with the free version, you can access more advanced ones when you purchase the full version.
A Color Story
As the name suggests, this app allows you to play around with your photo’s colors to produce a great image. When you download the free version of A Color Story, you will have access to over 20 effects, filters, and editing tools.
If you are a more experienced photographer, you can get the full version.
Layout from Instagram
Editing quality photos is more than adding filters. If you want to create collages and different photo layouts, you should give Layout a try.
Aside from allowing you to create collages, you can also filter and adjust your photos so they’re ready to post on Instagram.
A Design Kit
A Design Kit is a unique app that allows you to personalize your photos using fonts, stickers, textures, and other designs. This app has over 200 collage layouts, 60 font types, and over 200 design options.
With this app, you will get your photos noticed on social media. This app is great for businesses looking to incorporate more elements into their photos for marketing strategy purposes.
AppForType
If you have your filter game down and want to incorporate typography into your photos, you should try AppForType.
With this app, you will add frames, collages, designs, and typography to your photos. You will be able to create the best promotional photos for your Instagram feed.