Today's iPhone cameras are just as powerful as the point-and-shoots of yesteryear, and with a massive selection of sophisticated applications, they're arguably more versatile. If you want to make the most of your smartphone's shooter, check out this list of the best photography apps foriPhone.
Even with the iOS 7 update, Apple's native iOS camera app is rather anemic when it comes to features. Snag yourself this app if you want to get a wider range of exposure controls and advanced settings like continuous flash, touch-focus adjust, digital zoom, timer, and preset filters. The interface makes it a breeze to use.
ProCamera 7 ($0.99)
Rather that updating the existing ProCamera app for iOS 7, developer Cocologics decided to go ahead and make an entirely new app altogether. This might be off-putting to anyone who's already got the old one, but hey, it's only 99 cents, and we think the updated version is well worth the money. In addition to a fabulously minimalist interface, ProCamera 7 offers some of the most sophisticated features we've ever seen in an iOS camera app. With this app, you can do pretty much anything you want to your photos.
Luminance ($0.99)
Luminance is yet another jack-of-all-trades type of camera app, but with a focus on post-processing and after-effects. Download it right now and you'll be able to sift through photos you've previously taken and apply all manner of awesome touch-ups and corrections.
PhotoShop Touch ($5)
When it comes to photo editing software, nobody does it better than Adobe. This app is the mobile version of their renowned desktop software, and despite the fact that it offers a significantly smaller work space, it's still one of the most capable after-effects programs you can have on your phone. It's a bit pricey compared to most other photo editing apps, but considering its robust feature set, we think it's totally worth it.
Facetune ($3)
Not everyone is as photogenic as this guy, and more often than not, the images you snap of yourself and your friends aren't as flattering as you'd prefer. That's where Facetune comes in. The app allows you to perform specific touch-ups like teeth whitening, blemish removal, and color corrections so that your mug looks perfect when you post the pics to your social media profiles.
Aviary (free)
If you're looking for a solid after-effects app that doesn't cost anything up front, check out Aviary. It's got plenty of advanced features and a sleek, minimalist interface, but rather than forcing you to pay upfront for all of the features (including ones you might not use), Aviary offers a different pricing model. The app itself is free, and allows you install only the effects you need via in-app purchases.
GorillaCam Pro ($2)
From the makers of the now-infamous GorillaPod tripod, this app equips your iPhone with a simple set of shutter timers, delays, and burst-mode capabilites. Despite being relatively basic functions, these settings transform your phone into a great tool for shooting stuff like stop-motion videos, time-lapse sequences, and photobooth-style clusters of shots.
Cycloramic ($2)
There are a boatload of panoramic photo apps on the market, and the ability to capture 360-degree shots has been a stock iPhone feature ever since iOS 6 came out, but no other app does panoramas quite like Cycloramic. It takes great handheld pics, but it also comes with the super-unique ability: using the vibration motor, it can independently spin your phone in a circle while sitting on a flat surface. Check the video and see for yourself!
Magic Shutter ($3)
The ability to keep your camera's shutter open and take long-exposure shots is great for a wide array of situations. You can use it to take clearer pictures in low-light situations, and it's awesome for capturing light-trails from car headlights and fire poi. Sporting a robust set of intelligent features like image stabilization and overexposure safeguards, this app does long exposure better than any other we know of.
Instagram (free)
What would our photography app roundup be without any mention of the undisputed king of photo filters? There are dozens of apps out there that allow you to apply retro filters to your pics, but Instagram is arguably the best one out there for one simple fact: everybody uses it. The pics you snap have a much higher chance of being seen if you post them where all your followers can see them.
Camera Noir ($2)
This app only does one thing, but it does it really well. You can take black and white photos on practically every photo app in existence, but we guarantee that Camera Noir does it better. The app's monochrome filter is perfectly tuned, and its minimalist iOS 7 interface lets you shift focus and adjust exposure with little more than the tap of your finger.
Snapchat (free)
It's easy to dismiss this app as the playtoy of selfie-snapping tweens, but it's hard to deny the appeal of temporary social media. Self-destructing messages and pictures tend to make people more spontaneous – it's kinda nice not having to worry about your goofy pictures ending up in a public forum.
PicFrame ($0.99)
Capture a moment in a series of pics, but want to share that moment in a way that's more engaging than a slideshow? Check out PicFrame – it lets you crop, stitch, and compile multiple photos into one space via a digital picture frame of sorts.
Grid Lens ($0.99)
A lot like the aforementioned PicFrame, this app lets you put your pictures into a digital picture frame – but rather than letting you do it after you've taken the photos, Grid Lens lets you line up and snap your images while the frame is overlaid on your screen. This sort of “build the compilation as you go” approach makes the app great for on-the-fly creative types.
Pocket Light Meter (free)
This one doesn't take pictures, but rather helps you take better pictures with another camera. Just hold it up to a scene, tap the part of the image you want to capture, and the app will suggest shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings you should use. It's unnecessary if you shoot in auto all the time, but it can be a helpful companion if you're shooting manually and aren't sure of what settings to start off with.
Light Meter ($0.99)
If you're looking for more of a professional-quality light meter, this one by developer Vlad Polyanskiy is just what you're after. Rather than assuming you're an amateur and spitting out camera setting suggestions, this app simply lets you know the lux level in your scene. It's calibrated with a professional, high-grade illuminometer, and takes super-accurate measurements almost instantly.
TiltShiftGen2 ($0.99)
There are dozens of apps that can give your photos a tilt-shift look. Some include it as one of their many functions, and others are dedicated, single-purpose apps that only do tilt-shift. This app is one of the latter, and because it only focuses on tilt-shift photography, it does it better than any other app we've tried. The new iOS 7 interface makes it a breeze to use, too.
ClearCam ($0.99)
Clear Cam only does one thing, but there's something to be said for unitasker apps. All it does it takse your blurry photos and make them clear, but the program's sharpening and noise-reduction algorithms are undoubtedly the most effective we've ever seen on a mobile app.
VividHDR ($2)
High-dynamic range functionality is now built into all newer-model iPhones, but that doesn't mean you can't get better results out of a dedicated HDR app. VividHDR trounces Apple's stock HDR feature in basically every way. It offers more options, has a better interface, and has powerful tone-mapping, ghost-removal, and merge and alignment algorithms that leave you with better pictures in the end.
ProHDR ($2)
ProHDR is probably one of the most full-featured apps we've encountered in the HDR category. The interface isn't quite as slick as VividHDR, but it offers you a wider range of control over exposure adjustemets and tone-mapping settings. It's also got an array of preset filters for you to use – if you're into that sort of thing.
TrueHDR ($2)
Despite having the clunkiest interface of the three HDR apps listed here, TrueHDR is arguably the most powerful and customizable. It allows you to snap pictures in either full-auto, semi-auto, or manual mode, so you have far more control over your exposures before you even take them. It also lets you access your photo roll and merge photos you've previously taken.
Studio Design (free)
Want to add an extra touch of personalization to your photos? Look no further. Studio Design has pretty much every tool you could ever want: crops, filters, textures, text, frames, shapes, doodles, drawings, colors, and more. The interface design is superb, and best of all, it's free.
Landcam ($0.99)
Landcam is another “designy” after-effects program that lets you apply an array of filters, crops, etc. It's wicked similar to Studio Design in terms of functionality, but wildly different in terms of interface and execution.
Krop Circle (free)
Krop Circle is just what it sounds like: a program that enables you to crop your photos in a variety of different ways. It has a library of over 60 different crops, and adds more with every update.
Over ($2)
Typography nerds, eat your hearts out. Much like how Krop Circle focuses solely on crops, Over emphasizes solely on text. Install the app and you'll instantly have access to a massive selection of different fonts and artwork you can add to your photos. And the best part? If you can't find a typeface that suits your fancy, you can actually import your own.
