As the library of apps keeps expanding, the question is which ones do the job. This post catalogues the ones either myself or fellow photographers believe to be the best available. Whether you’re shooting outdoors, indoors, editing, or sharing, these apps have helped me and my friends take better pictures.
Essential apps for outdoor shooting
- The Photographers Ephemeris — Plans shots with precision by providing the angle and timing of the sun and moon based on your location. A must for landscape shots. (iOS / Android)
- Manual App — Gives complete control over shutter speed, ISO, white balance, focus, and exposure compensation on iPhone. (iOS)
- Wunderground — Provides hourly weather predictions and satellite imagery. Essential for any outdoor photographer. (iOS / Android)
- Easy Release — Lets models or property owners sign release forms on your phone; forms are emailed as PDF. (iOS / Android)
- LightTrac — Shows the position of the sun and moon and the angles of light. Use alongside The Photographers Ephemeris for maximum precision. (iOS / Android)
- NightCap — Takes noise-free shots at night. Best used on a tripod. (iOS)
- Tide Graph — Ideal for scheduling shoots where the sea plays a significant part. (iOS)
- The Photographer’s Transit — Share shoot locations with your team via iPad; experiment with different lenses before the actual shoot. (iOS)
- Long Exposure Calculators — Reference tables and cheat sheets for night photography and ND filter shots. (iOS)
- Hyperlapse — Record journeys and events time-lapse style, on the go. (iOS)
- Google Earth — Scout a location before you arrive using Street View and virtual tours. (iOS / Android)
- ScoutLog — Save locations with photos and notes to Android devices. (Android)
Indoor apps
- Camera+ — Allows separate exposure and focus points, and uses the LED as a flash in dark conditions. (iOS)
- Slow Shutter Cam — Control shutter speed like an SLR; ideal in low light indoors. (iOS)
- f/8 DoF Calculator — Slider-driven depth of field calculator. (iOS)
- PhotoBuddy — Calculates depth of field, diffraction angle, and simple exposure settings. (iOS)
- Light Meters — Pocket Light Meter (iOS) and beeCam Light Meter (Android) help balance exposure without buying physical hardware.
- Triggertrap — Trigger your DSLR shutter from your phone. (iOS / Android)
- Pro HDR — Quickly determines an optimal exposure for low light conditions. (iOS / Android)
- VSCO Cam — Take and edit pictures easily; great flash settings and low light shooting mode. (iOS / Android)
Editing apps
- Snapseed — Powerful editing on the go; impressive exposure, contrast and structure controls. (iOS / Android)
- Facetune — Enhance and improve portraits; remove blemishes and enhance features. (iOS / Android)
- Photogene — Unique and powerful editing tools, especially useful for outdoor shots. (iOS)
- AfterLight — Fast and effective editing; take a shot, improve it, post it. (iOS / Android)
- Hipstamatic — Retro effects, quickly. Still has a place for the right brief. (iOS)
- Photosynth — Create panoramas or stitch images into a 3D appearance. (iOS)
- Superimpose — Superimpose and double-expose images from your phone. (iOS / Android)
- Adobe Photoshop Touch — Some of Photoshop’s desktop features in your pocket. (iOS / Android)
- PicShop — Easy adjustments for brightness, sharpness, contrast, hue and saturation. (iOS)
Sharing apps
- Impression — Add watermarks to protect your creations before sharing. (iOS)
- Instagram — The most popular sharing app for photographers. (iOS / Android)
- Flickr — One of the first and still one of the best; 1000GB of storage and a strong photographer community. (iOS / Android)
- 500px — A photographer’s sharing experience — showcase your work, connect with other photographers, and see what the pros are creating. (iOS / Android)
I’m sure there are many other apps for photographers out there. What apps would you recommend? Let me know in the comments!