Photo Filters – Does Your Brand Need Them?

Consistency within your online presence is essential to building up your brand. To achieve a cohesive feed, most people will use filters on their photos and videos. Doing so helps their posts create a company image and follow common industry characteristics. Additionally, photo filters give those an edge over their competition that may not dedicate as much time to their posts. 

What Exactly are Photo Filters? 

Filters are overlays you can apply to your content to make it brighter, darker, more colorful, warmer, grainier, etc. Instagram was the first platform to introduce filters as an editing feature. However, we have advanced a lot since the Sepia and Gingham Instagram filter days – today, most resort to external applications to achieve their brand look instead. 

What Are Some of the Best Photo Editing Apps in 2022?

Though smartphone editing features have advanced significantly, many still use other apps to help them out. In these other apps, users can do simple editing – like bringing up the brightness or saturation of a photo – and apply photo filters.

Here are some of our favorite editing programs.

Adobe Lightroom

Lightroom is an awesome app that gives you professional results right at your fingertips. Here you can enhance photos naturally, remove certain aspects of your image, or download presets that filter your content.

VSCO

When we hear the words photo filters, VSCO immediately comes to mind. The app has a wide selection of overlays (some for free and purchase) that help you achieve that perfect brand look.

Tezza

Tezza is a more trendy photo filter editing app – check it out to see if its more artsy options fit your style.

Adobe Photoshop

Though you need to buy the program to utilize its features, Photoshop is a classic choice. It is more advanced than other applications, so taking the time to learn its ins and outs could be highly beneficial. 

How Do I Pick The Best Filters for My Photos?

When picking filters, you need to align them with company colors and branding. If your logo uses more cool-toned colors, the filter you choose should do the same. That way, when you make graphics using those colors, it will coordinate nicely with the other images on your profile. 

If you need some inspiration, see what other brands in your industry do. For example, say you are a boho-chic retail brand. Within your specific industry, you see most accounts go with a light and clean filter choice that matches the lifestyle of their clientele. To attract this same target audience, it could benefit you to go down a similar route! 

It’s important to note you don’t have to restrict yourself to one filter either. Once you narrow down your filter color scheme, find a few that work well together to give you more options. As long as it builds up to a cohesive feed, the amount of overlays you choose is up to you!

Does My Company Need to Use Photo and Video Filters?

Photo filters can help draw followers in, build up your brand aesthetic, and make you stand out. You can also unleash your creativity while advancing your editing and photography skills. 

But, if you feel it's not your style, that is completely okay too! The purpose of social media is to share your true self and brand – whether that is through photos with simple edits, filters, or nothing at all.

If you are interested in trying filters out but don't have the time, Social Stamina can help you out. Contact us today to discuss branding and design options for your social media accounts!