As a fashion blogger Instagram plays a huge role in what I do outside of the blog, and how brands can find me. This means I am on Instagram throughout the day (more than I may like to admit), engaging with my audience and fellow bloggers, editing pictures and creating captions, searching new hashtags, and more.
In this post, I wanted to share the 3 apps that I use to edit my Instagram photos and how I create a cohesive feed. Whether you’re a fellow blogger looking for the best apps to edit your Instagram pictures or you’re just an Instagram lover wanting to learn how to take your pictures up a notch then this is the post for you.
Click here to read how I edit my Instagram photos in 2o20.
WHY IS A COHESIVE IG FEED SO IMPORTANT?
Creating a cohesive feed is one of the hardest things to do, in my opinion, but is well worth the extra effort. Instagram is a visual platform and we as humans are visual people. A cohesive feed is just more visually appealing, looks polished, and professional, and it seems like you have a direction for your brand.
A person who looks at your profile is more likely to follow you if you look legitimate, and brands are more willing to work with you too.
My favorite app to use to help with planning and creating a more cohesive feed is Planoly. It’s is a simple Instagram visual planner that also comes with Instagram analytics and a post scheduler so you can be reminded when your picture is ready to be posted.
Planoly is free in the app store, but you do have to sign up with a plan in order to use it. I pay $7 a month for my plan but consider it a small business expense to pay for the ease of planning my Instagram feed.
HOW I EDIT MY INSTAGRAM PHOTOS & THE APPS I USE
SNAPSEED (Free):
This is the first app I use to edit my Instagram pictures, and I only use a few of the functions of this app. My goal is not to entirely alter my photo, but just to enhance it. Snapseed does come with some pre-set filters, but I have another app I prefer to use for that.
Step 1:
I begin with Tune Image in the Tools menu to adjust the following – Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Ambiance (occasionally), Highlights, Shadows, and Warmth (usually towards the cooler tones).
If you hold down the screen and scroll down these are all of the options under Tune Image.
Step 2:
I adjust the White Balance and always opt for a cooler toned photo on the scale as this is just what I prefer.
Step3:
Lastly, I use the Selective Tool to slightly enhance objects in the photo I want to pop or that I feel have been overexposed/are too dark. For example, in this photo, I would use this tool to bring more attention to my handbag.
I will adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, and structure of my bag.
FACETUNE (Free):
Facetune is a widely popular photo editing app. However, it does have some negative connotations as some have used this app to “photoshop” their images creating false images of what they truly look like. That is not our goal here. Facetune has some great tools that can really bring your photo to life.
I use the following tools:
Whiten – This is great to whiten the whites of your eyes for selfies as it really makes your eyes pop and to whiten teeth (obviously). This tool is also really helpful to bring out the true white of objects in your photos such as coffee cups, white sunglasses or even an off-white wall to keep your aesthetic bright.
Detail – This is my favorite tool for the entire app. I run this over every object that I want to add depth too and it really works. I will run this over things like my hair, jewelry, shoes, my pupils, and eyelashes.
Smooth – This tool is really helpful when you have a crease or wrinkles in your outfit that you find distracting. I will also use this tool very sparingly to go my face where I have drier skin (hey, we all want to feel better about ourselves, right?)
COLORSTORY (Free, pay for non-basic filter packs):
This is the final app I use to edit my Instagram photos. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but I have gotten my process figured out at this point and can edit a photo in less than 5 minutes.
Colorstory is a free app, but you do have to purchase non-basic filter packs to create beautiful images. This is where I will finally use a filter on the photo. The other apps I use to enhance brightness, detail, and more. It is similar to Instagram filters where you set the level of intensity for each filter to create a customized image.
My favorite packs are Blush and Picnic. On every Instagram image, I will use the Sweet filter and Rose filter within the Blush pack. It provides a soft pink hue to my pictures, and that seems to be aesthetic at the moment.
That’s it!
You now have a beautiful Instagram image that you can post on your feed. Just create a caption, add relevant hashtags, and you are good to go.
I hope this post not only helped you learn about some great Instagram picture editing apps but also how to create a cohesive feed. If you have any other apps that you love for photo editing let me know in the comment section below!
Pin this photo so you can reference this post later!
Excellent tips!
I love using Snapseed to edit my photos for Instagram @karla_travels
I also use VSCO and sometimes I use the photo editor on PicMonkey!
It’s important to be consistent and have a variety of images too!
Author
I never thought to use PicMonkey for Instagram 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing!
Nice! Thanks for sharing, will definitely check some of them out.
Author
Thanks for commenting! I hope you enjoy those apps too 🙂
Cool post. I’ve always wondered how much effort goes into those prettt Instagram feeds.
Author
Thanks so much! It is a lot more work than people think behind the scenes, but it’s also fun to create beautiful images 🙂
Love your picks – I’m obsessed with Planoly!
xo Erin
Author
Thank you! Isn’t Planoly great?! I’ve tried other Instagram planning apps but still, prefer it 🙂
Thank you for sharing this stuff! I have spent hours trying to tune my Instagram feed and play around with different apps (Snapseed, VSCO, Facetune, etc.) It’s nice to have some guidance!
Author
I’m happy you enjoyed it! I think for the moment I’ve found my routine, but there is always rooms for improvement 🙂
Ooh I love Snapseed and have heard great things about A Colour Story!
Author
I’m happy you like the same! It’s always interesting to know what other apps blogger use 🙂
I love using snapseed and facetune as well. VSCO is my absolute fave.
Author
I’m happy we use some of the same apps! I used to use VSCO, and I know so many swear by it. Maybe I should give it another try 🙂
Lightroom is also great and is a free app on your phone! 10x better than paying a couple hundred bucks for it on your computer and still get top notch quality photos.
Author
I use Lightroom for my blog photos, but never thought to use it for my Instagram photos. Thanks so much for the tip!
Thank you for sharing the info!
Author
Thanks for commenting! I really appreciate it 🙂
This is so helpful! I don’t have any apps on my phone to edit my pics, I do them all on my laptop but Id love to be able to do it just from my phone! Thank you!
Author
Thank you so much! I’m so happy this post was helpful to you. I never thought to edit my Instagram pictures on my computer. Good tip!
VSCO and A Color Story are my two favorite apps for editing photos. Your pictures are so pretty and crisp. Also, your feed is so cohesive, I love seeing beautiful feeds. Thanks for sharing your tips, I’m always looking for new Instagram tips!
Great post! x
Michelle
dressingwithstyle-s.com
Author
Thanks so much Michelle! I really appreciate your sweet comment. I’m always looking for new tips as well. You can never stop learning 🙂
I’ve been self-taught and just started reading up more! Your pics look great!
Author
Thanks so much! I’m self-taught as well. Just read a lot of posts like this and tried so many different things on my own until I found what I liked 🙂
I love reading “how I edit my instagram” posts! I struggle with keeping a cohesive feed…I do find that when I get on a roll and stay cohesive for a while that my insta performs a lot better. I am currently in a struggle trying to figure out what cohesive look I want to achieve so my insta is mess at the moment which is driving me crazy hahaha.
I love the sweet filter on color story!! I use facetune and VSCO to edit my pics 🙂 xoxox
Author
Thanks so much for sharing! I know exactly how you feel. I had a hard time creating a cohesive feed for a long time. Then one day I noticed I started to put a lot of the same colors in my photos and just went with it 🙂
Thanks so much for these editing tips!
Author
Thanks so much for commenting!
Awesome post! Learning how to better edit photos is on my to—do list this month! I will definitely check out these apps. I have been using VSCO.
Author
Thanks so much! I’m happy this was helpful to you 🙂
I use the same apps!
Author
I’m happy we use the same!
I am a huge Instagram fan and appreciate all of the great tips you included in this post! Thanks!
Author
Thanks so much! I’m happy you enjoyed the post 🙂
I use Snapseed and Instagram filters, just that.
Author
Thanks for commenting! It’s interesting to hear what everyone uses.
Hello, Cristina! I’m glad I discovered your blog! :*
Author
Hi Amy, thank you! I hope you enjoy what you read 🙂