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Instagram has, in the years since its inception, blurred the lines between art and social media, allowing anyone with a smartphone to become a photographer. A precise science has grown behind Instagram, particularly as users expand on the platform for notoriety, so-called Instagram fame, and the monetizing of their popularity.
Part of the science behind the Instagram formula is filters that change the color and aesthetic of the picture. Instagram has its own set of filters but there are various apps which come with their own filters and editing tools. Though these filters and apps won’t make you Insta-famous – that takes time and dedication – picking the right filter can help you garner more likes and attention to your photos. Here’s a brief guide to Instagram’s filters and other apps available in the iTunes app store that will help elevate your Instagram game to another level.
If you particularly like the filter presets provided by Instagram, then Clarendon is probably one you regularly use. If not, you should give it a try! A study done earlier this year found that Clarendon is the most used Instagram filter in the United States, followed by Gingham, Juno, and Lark. According to Huffington Post, which Instagram filter you want to use to maximize likes can depend on what you’re photographing, but Clarendon is a well-liked and popular filter that should help boost likes.
A photo posted by Afterlight (@afterlight) on Jul 25, 2016 at 3:48pm PDT
Afterlight is a fairly popular editing app which gives users all sorts of fun features and filters they can apply to their photos. The app costs just 99 cents in the App store, though if you’re hesitant about paying money for Instagram filters, you can always check out their Instagram account for a preview of what you’re getting.
For singer/songwriter Jennah Bell, music is her love letter to the world. I am always drafting and re-sending. I imagine I ll spend my life trying to find the right words. Link in bio. MAX (@max_journal) | A #VSCO Original Photography by Rog Walker
A photo posted by VSCO (@vsco) on Jul 15, 2016 at 2:17pm PDT
VSCO is an easy-to-use editing tool that, much like Afterlight, provides different, minimalistic filters and editing tools for your pictures. VSCO is free and the company has created a community of users within the app. You can get a preview of VSCO’s filters on its Instagram page, or you can check it out for free in the app store.
A photo posted by Darkroom (@usedarkroom) on Feb 19, 2015 at 2:56pm PST
Darkroom similarly allows users to edit their photos and add different effects and coloring, but with more sophisticated features. Be sure to check out the app – which is available for free in the app store – if you’re searching for something a bit more serious or heavy-handed.
A photo posted by Repost (@repostapp) on May 12, 2016 at 8:34am PDT
Though Repost isn’t a photo editing app, everyone who loves Instagram should have it downloaded. Repost allows you to do exactly what it sounds like: repost others’ photos and videos while still giving credit to the originator. Think of Repost as the re-tweet function of Twitter, except for Instagram. Now you won’t have to screenshot your friend’s pictures to repost them, or wait for them to text the photos to you.
Over the years, many apps have allowed you to edit or stitch pictures together in a collage. Instagram finally responded in 2015 with its own app, available on both iTunes and Google Play. Layout from Instagram is an app that allows you to create collages from the pictures on your phone. It’s easy to use and has a sleek design, allowing users to post multiple pictures without spamming your timeline.
A video posted by Instagram (@instagram) on Jul 18, 2016 at 5:09pm PDT
Boomerang is a fun app that Instagram released this past October, accompanying various other Instagram spin-off apps. Boomerang essentially allows you to create fun, short, mini moving pictures from videos and post them to your Instagram timeline. You know how pictures move in Harry Potter? It’s kind of like that, but for Instagram. The app is free and available on both iTunes and Google Play, so be sure to check it out if you’re looking to add some fun to your timeline.
