10 Must-Have Photography Apps

Posted: 8/19/2013

Last week we listed the 10 must-follow photography blogs and after I was doing working on it, it got me wondering that in today when everything is getting compact and easily accessible from anywhere, why is it that many photographers still consider a DSLR (which is a huge in size) as the best instrument to take pictures.

As I have previously mentioned I'm myself an amateur photographer but honestly speaking I don't use a professional camera, what I use is either my iPhone or a digital camera. Well, the obvious reason behind using them is that I carry them both around with me and both involves no extra baggage and to my surprise, when I did some research on what are the instruments that people these days majorly use to take pictures I was surprised that iPhones were on the top of the list. Not that it's the best instrument to take photographs but it's because of the fact that almost everyone has an iPhone. As simple as that!

Contrary to the belief that the pictures clicked using the smartphones don't come out that good, the iPhone's camera can be used to click nice pictures. For example - Checkout Manon Wethly' high speed photographs of Airborne Beverages, she has clicked all these photographs using her iPhone and these images are just wow!

Coming to the point, just clicking pictures through your iPhone is not enough, if you want to infuse life into your pictures you need to use certain photography apps like Instagram, etc. and to save you the time, we thought of compiling a list of some easy to use iPhone photography app and the timing couldn't have been more better. Today is World Photography Day!

1. A Beautiful Mess

A Beautiful Mess is a wonderful photo and video app created by Red Velvet Art LLC.

This app allows users to take/upload photos, add filters, borders, text, doodles and phrases to them and share with family and friends.

This app is worth $0.99 and is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 6.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

2. AfterLight

If you want to do some quick editing to create perfect images then you must download the AfterLight (created by Simon Filip).

This is a very simple and easy to use app. very similar to Instagram, this app allows users to take/upload photos, add filters to them, adjust their brightness, saturation, exposure and highlights. You can share your edits with friends and family through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr or send them via email.

This app is worth $0.99 and is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 5.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

3. Camera+

If you're into iPhone photography then Camera+ is no alien app for you. This app is brought to you by Tap Tap Tap and offers you neat editing tools like crop, adjust, effects, and borders.

The best thing about this app is its clarity feature, that infuses life in any dull image.

This app is worth $1.99 and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 5.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

4. Photo Editor by Aviary

Photo Editor by Aviary is a powerful photo-editing app that allows users to edit photos easily with the right type of tools.

This is a free app and is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 5.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

5. Pic Collage

So you love making collages, have you ever used the PicCollage app by Cardinal Blue.

PicCollage lets users instantly arrange photos into frames, add filters and cutouts. You can easily import photos from Instagram, Facebook your device's gallery and create awesome collages.

This is a free app and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 5.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

6. PicsArt Photo Studio

The PicsArt Photo Studio app by PicsArt is a photo-editing app that brings out the artist inside its users.

Form quick fixes to adding effects, this app is a must-have app for anyone who's into photography.

This is a free app and is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 5.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

7. Pic Stitch

Pic Stitch is a photography app created by Big Blue Clip, LLC.

With over 200 different layouts and 13 different photo aspect ratios, this app allows users to add multiple photos into one framed picture.

This is a free app and is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 5.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

8. Pocket Light Meter

Pocket Light Meter by Nuwaste Studios is one hardcore photography app that helps you measure reflected light and allows you to calculate reciprocity.

This is a free app and is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation), iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iPad (3rd generation), iPad Wi-Fi + 4G, iPad (4th generation), iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (4th generation), iPad mini and iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular. Requires iOS 4.3 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

9. Snapseed

Developed by Nik Solution, Inc., the Snapseed app allows users to edit images, add effects and turn them into high-quality photos.

VSCO Cam is a photography app created by Visual Supply Company.

This app allows users to apply their basic photo-editing skills and share them with friends on social networking sites.

This is a free app and is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 6.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as we enjoyed compiling this list for you. Happy World Photography Day!

Note - We have knowingly not included Instagram in this list since most of us here are already Instagram junkies.

Did we miss out your favorite app, leave us its name in the comment section below.

Stay tuned for more of these handy and helpful lists from E-junkie.