iPhone Photo Apps

In January I decided to trade in my three-year-old Blackberry and upgrade to the iPhone.  I was still really unsure about whether to get it or not.   I’m kind of anti-Apple because people are weirdly obsessed with Apple products, but there were a few apps I really wanted and thought they could make my life better–you know, like Words with Friends, Angry Birds, and now Tiny Wings.

What I didn’t realize was how much I would rely on the camera and video.  I’ve started to add video clips to my clients’ slide-shows from my iPhone.  As a photographer, my camera tends to stay put in its bag when it comes to my own family, but I ALWAYS have my phone!  The iPhone allows me to capture bits of our family life that may have previously gone un-recorded.

So, I thought I would give a little rundown of my favorite apps.  The first is a video app called 8mm.  I was introduced to this app not too long ago by my friend Maria Grace.  This video app makes it look like you shot it with a film camera.  I am sure these two will be pleased to know this is on the internet in, oh … let’s say 10 years:)  Oh and you can also be witness to my choking phobia when I warn Slater of the dangers of moving around and eating at the same time.

My next fave is a photo app called Incredibooth.  My family knows how much I love old time photo booths.  They hate them because I love them so much–if you catch my drift.  Slater uses this app and I love picking it up and checking out his newest funny faces.

Tilt-shift generator is a special effect app.  I have a tilt-shift lens that I occassionally break out that I love and this app gives the same look with blur that you can select.  Basically, you take a picture, select what you want clear and what you want in focus and the degree of blur you want on the edges.  Super fun!  The top picture is the before and the bottom one is the after with the brightness, contrast and blur factor changed up.  If it were truly a tilt shift look, the focused part would go all the way back to the furthest distant.  But hey… it’s an iphone app and it made a way too bright photo, a more artistic and interesting photo.  Good enough:)

The hipstamatic app is one of my newer ones.  It acts as if you are taking pictures with a film camera… well a really old one with light leaks and you never know what kind until your say your done with the ‘roll’.  Once you are done with a series, you can see what you got.  I love the surprise factor of it… just like old school film developing.

Instagram is also one that is new to me.  It has a social following aspect like twitter on pinterest.  My favorite thing about it is the picture and the effects you can put on them.  You can follow me too!  My name is photographybyalison.  I took a few with just the plain old camera and then a few with instagram and the instragram are by far more creative and fun.

So those are a few of my faves.  If you have some others that you love, comment below and tell me.  And you can clearly see that my iphone is helping me document my family’s life because I often am in no mood to carry around a giant camera and lens.