Ever wondered how influencers always seem to have perfectly lit, aesthetically pleasing photos on Instagram? It’s not just good lighting and angles — they’re also using powerful photo editing apps.
Why do influencers edit their photos?
Influencers edit their photos to:
- Create a consistent aesthetic or personal brand
- Enhance colours, lighting and sharpness
- Smooth skin or remove distractions
- Make content stand out in busy social media feeds
- Match trends or seasonal styles
Photo editing isn’t about being fake — it’s about creating polished, eye-catching visuals that align with the influencer’s style or niche.
Top apps influencers use to edit their photos
Here are some of the most popular editing apps used by influencers today:
1. Lightroom Mobile (by Adobe)
Best for: Professional-looking edits and colour grading
Lightroom is a favourite among influencers for its advanced yet user-friendly editing tools. It allows for detailed adjustments to exposure, contrast, saturation and tone.
Many influencers also use presets, which are one-click filters that keep their feed looking cohesive.
Key features:
- Preset support (custom or bought online)
- Professional-level adjustments
- Easy before-and-after preview
- Syncs with desktop version
2. VSCO
Best for: Aesthetic filters and minimal editing
VSCO is known for its high-quality filters that add a film-like quality to photos. It’s ideal for subtle, natural-looking edits.
Key features:
- Stylish, soft-toned filters
- Easy to use
- In-app camera and editing tools
- Clean interface perfect for quick edits
3. Snapseed (by Google)
Best for: Free, advanced editing
Snapseed is a powerful free app offering tools like selective editing, healing brush, and tonal contrast. It’s great for influencers who want full control over their images without paying for subscriptions.
Key features:
- Healing tool to remove objects or blemishes
- Selective editing for specific areas
- Curves and white balance tools
- No watermark or in-app purchases
4. Facetune (and Facetune 2)
Best for: Retouching selfies and portraits
Facetune is popular for smoothing skin, whitening teeth and enhancing facial features. While overuse can lead to unnatural results, subtle editing can make selfies look polished.
Key features:
- Skin smoothing and blemish removal
- Reshape and detail tools
- Makeup and lighting effects
- Widely used by beauty influencers
5. Tezza
Best for: Trendy, Instagram-ready filters
Created by influencer Tezza Barton, this app offers stylish presets and tools tailored to content creators. It’s especially popular for travel, lifestyle and fashion photos.
Key features:
- Aesthetic filters and grain effects
- Simple user interface
- Video editing options too
- Subscription-based access to full features
6. PicsArt
Best for: Creative edits and overlays
PicsArt is ideal for adding text, stickers, frames, or artistic effects. Some influencers use it to make carousel covers or stylised content for Reels and stories.
Key features:
- Background remover
- Collage maker and templates
- Artistic filters and double exposure
- Great for graphic-style content
Do influencers use more than one app?
Yes, most influencers use a combination of apps. For example:
- Lightroom to edit lighting and colours
- Snapseed to remove background objects
- Facetune to retouch skin
- VSCO to apply a final filter
This layered approach gives them more control and helps maintain a consistent style across their feed.
So, what apps do influencers use to edit their photos? From Lightroom and VSCO to Facetune and Tezza, the answer depends on their style, niche and editing goals. Whether they’re enhancing a product shot or perfecting a selfie, these apps help influencers craft scroll-stopping content that keeps their followers engaged.
