Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo

10 Apps to Step Up Your Insta Game

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter.

Recently, Instagram has taken some heat from consumers due to the nature in which users have been portraying themselves on the app. Claims state that the photos people post are misleading and over-edited, causing others to have a warped take on reality. Now that attention has been brought to the matter, consumers have a completely different take on social media posts, as they should. That being said, the average person isn’t using Instagram as a source of income. It’s simply another place for people to store and share their memories. So, why not make your digital scrapbook as aesthetically pleasing as possible? Below are a few apps that’ll easily bring your photos to a whole new level and help you to slay your feed.

Photo Editing

Courtesy: Youtube

1. Facetune

This app is a staple for beauty bloggers. Looking through the features, it’s easy to see why. Facetune allows users to instantly smooth their skin, make a pimple disappear and whiten their teeth all within seconds. If there’s a feature, such as your makeup, that you really want to stand out within a photo, the details option allows users to play with saturation and other enhancements without compromising the rest of the photo.

2. Enlight

Within Enlight, users’ options of editing tools are limitless. This is a one-stop shop for the ultimate mobile editing experience. Enlight’s Photo Mixer feature is being used in the image pictured above. It allows you to seamlessly merge photos for a unique, blended effect. If you’re a fashion blogger who is obsessed with OOTDs, the Photo Mixer is the perfect way to show off your amazing wardrobe.

3. VSCOcam

This app is one of the OG editing tools that showed up on the market. It’s loaded up with filters that are way more versatile than the ones Instagram has to offer. If you play around with it enough, you’ll be able to trick people into thinking that your basic iPhone selfie was taken by a professional photographer. VSCOcam is also ideal if you love the art of the Instagram feed because it displays your photos grouped together, so you’re able to see what the final product will look like juxtaposed with your other photos.

4. Rookie

Rookie is another app that lets you play with an obnoxious amount of filters. You’re also able to add soft light to your photos, which will help you to look as flawless as possible.

5. Afterlight

Afterlight is a pretty well-known app that specializes in lighting and filter adjustments. However, a really fun way to use it that goes beyond those two features is to make a Polaroid photo collage. You simply add a frame to the photos of your liking by choosing the frame that mimics a Polaroid picture. Then, after saving them to your Camera Roll, compile the pictures in an app like Photo Grid and you’ll have a perfect, artsy collage. This technique is especially awesome if you’re traveling a lot and have a bunch of photos to show off.

Video Editing

Courtesy: Kylie App

6. Boomerang

You’ve probably noticed an increase of random gifs popping up on your feed recently. Well, you have the new app Boomerang to thank for that. Trying it out, it’s clear to see why celebrities like Kylie Jenner love the app. All you do is hold down a button for a couple of seconds while moving around a little and the app turns your scene into a perfect gif. Personally, I want to capture a shot of myself popping a champagne bottle using this app. That would definitely be a dope post.

7. VideoOn

VideoOn is a simple way to edit videos directly on your phone. It allows you to put filters over your videos, put them in reverse, alter their speed to slow motion and more. This app is the one-stop shop for video editing.

8. InstaVideo Pro

Once you finish editing your videos in VideoOn, InstaVideo Pro is where you can compile all of your footage together and add music to the background. This would be another fun app to use if you’re travelling.

Photo Add-Ons

Courtesy: Youtube

9. VanillaPen

This app is unique because it allows you to add words and icons to your photos. You can adjust the size and the color of your add-ons to fit your exact needs. VanillaPen will give your photos a very personalized, poster-like feel.

10. Phonto

If you’ve ever wondered how YouTubers make their video thumbnails with emojis layered on top of them, this is the app they use. As demonstrated in the photo above, Phonto allows you to customize a photo with cute emojis. This app could also come in handy if your photo is bomb, but there’s something you need to cover up before posting it.

Her Campus at Florida State University.