Summer’s still red-hot, but time is running short. School is coming up and before long the kids will be back in class once again. When you’re wrestling kids and bags and early mornings, it’s easy to forget your camera, so pull out your smartphone and don’t miss the moment! No parent wants to miss out on capturing a child’s first day of school, across all grades, K-12. Fortunately, several outstanding photo apps exist to transform your smartphone into a high-quality camera and storage device.
Here are eight to be aware of, from beginner to novice.
1. Instagram
The classic, the one, the only. Perhaps the best app for making new photos look nostalgic, instantly. Instagram is the photo-sharing preference for millions of people. If you plan to share your images widely via social media, Instagram is probably your single best bet.
2. Adobe Photo Camera
This free camera app takes the standard smartphone camera much further with great features such as always-available zoom, self-timer, time-lapse, anti-shake, composure grid, and many many more. This one could easily become your default camera app.
3. Adobe Lightroom CC
For parents who want to have some control over the finished version of school photos, this app was specially designed for editing images on the go, using any device. Photos and edits are all done in the cloud, meaning that your images are back up and won’t be lost should the unforeseen happen.
4. KD Pro “Disposable Camera”
In our hyper-technology age, some people actually appreciate finished photos that appear to have been taken by an old-school disposable camera. If that describes you, this is the app you’ve been waiting for.
5. Snapseed
Many photographers will be quick to tell you that Snapseed is simply the best photo app for mobile devices. Users can customize the app to automatically default to their saved preferences, which might help save time if your kids don’t much like to pose for photos.
6. VSCO
If filters are your thing, give VSCO a shot. Not only do you get the ability to edit your images and enhance them as you see fit, but VSCO also connects you to larger community of users who are anxious to share helpful tips.
7. Pixlr
The people who built Pixlr did so with an eye toward cloud-based images that transition seamlessly from a mobile device to desktop, and it shows. Professional photographers may sneer at the limited number of options available on the mobile app, but for ordinary folks, they are more than ample.
8. Afterlight
Though available for both iOS and Android, the Afterlight app works best on Apple products. It offers a wide array of features, endearing it to professional photographers, but is simple enough for anyone to use. This is especially helpful for amateurs who hope to dive deeper into the art of photography at some point.
Snap Away…But Be Careful!
When taking photos that you feel are irreplaceable, be sure to take the time to back up your device to an external drive or other online storage application. It might help to assume that you will lose or damage your device carrying all of those special memories.
You won’t need to be a professional photographer to use these photo apps, freeing you up to better enjoy those special moments.
Updated Feb. 2022
