It's amazing all the affordable tools out there that can help with creating content specifically for editing videos and photos! I'm recapping the ones I use almost daily for my blog and social accounts.

LIGHTROOM

I use Lightroom to edit all of my photos. Lightroom is a part of the Adobe creative suite and I pay $10 a month to use. It's a cloud based service that you can edit, organize, store and share photos across any device. I use the mobile version to edit quickly on my phone, but I also use the desktop version on my computer when I have numerous photos to edit. If you aren't comfortable with editing you can buy a preset on Etsy or many bloggers and photographers offer them. A preset is a configuration of settings, designed to achieve a certain style of your photos. You install the presets into your Lightroom and then while in the develop mule, the pre-determinted (preset) settings will apply to that photo. I highly recommend this app!

CANVA

My second favorite editing tool is Canva! This is an amazing design tool, and you don't need any design experience to do it. I used the free app for years until recently when I upgraded to Canva Pro ($120 a year) so I could create collages. Maybe you're not a blogger but a small business owner or entrepreneur, you need Canva! You can create design presentations, social graphics, media kits, posters and more with beautiful layouts. I make my collages for travel posts using Canva as well as my YouTube thumbnails. It's extremely user friendly!

SPLICE

Video editing has always been intimidating for me, but I recently started using the Splice video editor app and really like it! It makes it easy to create fully customized, professional-looking videos on your iPhone and iPad.  I use it to make my IGTV and reels for Instagram. You know those annoying videos where people point to things....they are probably using Splice 🤣. It is not a free app, but they do offer a free 7 day trial. 

PLANOLY

This tool makes it easy plan and schedule your content for Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. I use the free version and mainly use it to upload a photo I potentially want to post on Instagram and see how it would look on my feed and impact the overall aesthetic (it does not automatically post). My feed is kind of all over the place, but for many people their feed is like a piece of art and they want a specific look. If that's you Planoly is a tool you need! They are an Austin based company and female owned by the most wonderful mom, Brandy Pham. I've met Brandy at a few events and every time we've spoken she's extremely kind and knowledgeable.

WORD SWAG

I use the Word Swag app specifically for Instagram stories when I want a more sophisiticated font than what Instagram offers. I can easily upload a photo and overlay text. 

Photos: Madeline Harper | Location: Commodore Perry Estate