To filter or not to filter, that is no longer a question.
Gone are the days that a good photo meant a high-quality DSLR camera and the latest add-on lenses. This is because most people learned how to use photo filters that take editing photos into a whole new level, which can be done directly from the computer or smartphone.
Nowadays, social media marketing, be it for personal or business, includes having visually appealing posts, and people select the perfect filter before they post it on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media sites.
With the increase of demand for photo filters, photo editing programs have revolutionized mobile graphic design, and even those who have limited skills in editing can now create stunning visuals in just minutes.
Whether you’ve got a creative streak in you or you’re a newbie in content creation, and you want to explore something new other than changing the brightness of the picture or cropping it, then this article’s for you!
But before we list down some of the best photo filters that you can try, we’ll share first the importance of using photo filters in creating your social media content.
Benefits of Using Photo Filters
1. Filters add instant professional touch
You may be a newbie in the photo editing game, but people don’t need to know that. With the existing photo filters, your social media posts can look like they are edited by a professional. Aside from your skills to add negative picture filter to your content, you can impress your followers even more by showcasing different effects and touch of colors in your photos.
2. Makes your profile and feed stand out from the rest
People are bombarded with information on social media so it is important to be unique and share something that will make them remember you. Posting something that looks like the rest of social media users will just cause your followers to scroll up or down, without engaging in your post. If you want them to notice your posts or you want your products to stand out versus your competitors, photo filters are the way to go. In fact, according to a study, photos with filters are 21% more likely to be looked at than non-filtered photos, and 45% more likely to elicit comments.
While others are using the usual photo editing features, you are more advanced, and it will look like you are setting the trend for having different takes on the photos you are posting. With the help of these photo filters, your social media feed will look more alive than ever.
3. They add a personal touch
Social media is a place where you can express yourself. Apart from the captions of your photos the effects and colors of your images tell so much about your personality or your emotions for a specific day. For example, if you frequently post colorful photos with inspiring captions, then it can mean that your life is good and you want to share positivity to your followers. On the other hand, if you add a negative picture filter, it might mean that you are going through something, and you want to vent out by sharing it on social media.
It’s not like you are just posting random content just for the sake of being present on social media. Your filtered photos will definitely tell stories, and your followers might find you interesting.
4. Photo filters give that consistent look throughout your profile
If you are a person who is very particular with the overall look of your social media feed, then photo filters will be your best friend. To give that cohesive and clean look across all your posts, you can choose to use a particular filter that will reflect the overall vibe that you want for your profile. You can also use filters that are specific for a month or a campaign for your brand.
You may be posting different photos per day, but your feed will still look clean because they have the same vibe or color scheme.
5. Save you time
We have so many things to do every day, and thinking about how your photo will look should be a burden. Regardless if you are an experienced graphic designer or you’re just a starting social media marketing professional, you should be able to finish your content in the fastest time possible. Whether you want the photos to be in sepia mode or you want to add a negative picture filter, achieving that will just take a few clicks and slides away with the help of the photo filters. Using photos filters can add a ton of time to your work day versus doing it manually.
After reading the reasons above, we hope that you’re already considering using photo filters in your posts. The question now is, what are the photo filter options that are available online. Don’t worry, we got that covered. We’ll share with you the best photo filters you can try in your next social media post.
Best Photo Filters For 2022
1. Retro Filter
This is an overlay that uses pixel data of the photo to change colors, contrast, saturation and hues. It makes images look older or like they were taken with old cameras. So if you want that ’50s and ’60s vibe for your feed, then check out the available variations of retro filters out there.
Additional social media marketing content creation tip, the retro photo filter works best on photos with low contrast, but becomes less effective as the images become more complex with multiple colors and many objects
2. Pastel Filter
To get that whimsical fantasy vibe to your feed, you must try Pastel filter. This type of filter delivers a mood that is soothing, hopeful, peaceful, and is usually associated with beautiful new beginnings. Paster filters also add a soft and delicate touch to your photos.
3. Blur Filter
By blurring some parts of your photos, you can create depth. What’s nice with this filter is that you can control which are you want to blur, be it foreground or background. The bokeh effect allows you to remove distractions, and will make the main subject the focus of the photo. A shallow depth of field combined with blur gives a better and more interesting mood to your photos.
4. Polaroid Filter
The Polaroid trend has been there for the longest time. Before, many people owned a camera that printed Polaroids, capturing the moment into tiny cards, but thanks to today’s technology and social media, creating Polaroids can be done digitally in seconds. You get the same Polaroid effect less the expensive camera and film. Plus, they are very much shareable online.
5. Light Leak Filter
This kind of image filter gives a nostalgic vibe to your feed. The light leaks effect usually shows as bands of bright and colorful streaks over the top of your image. It has become popular to social media users because it gives the photo the appearance of authenticity.
6. Lomo Filter
This kind of filter is characterized by oversaturated colors, distortions, and unexpected prismatic effects. One important thing to do in using this filter is to choose the right intensity, and then add a layer on some light leaks to give more light to your photo. You will be surprised with the before and after look so don’t be afraid to mix and match.
7. Vignette Filter
If you want to give focus to your subject, Vignette filter is the answer. This filter darkens the corners of a photo, to make the main subject the star of the image composition. Also by reducing the brightness and saturation of the edges of the image, it creates a soft border, guiding the audience to look towards the center of the photo. Another nice thing about this filter is that you have control of the intensity of the vignette. Here’s the secret : you can do it by simply sliding left and right or up and down.
8. Grayscale Filter
For pictures that are less saturated and paler, Grayscale is the way to go. This type of filter is classy, unusual and gives you the freedom to shoot regardless of the colors in any type of light. Even if you are just using the Grayscale aesthetic, it can surely improve your creativity and you always play with shadows and angles. Also, if you are after that intense, nostalgic, mysterious vibe, give Grayscale filters a shot.
9. Sparkle Filter
This filter is applicable not just for the holidays, but for normal days as well. It gives the image that twinkling lights, sparkling decorations and dramatic lens flare to make the photo more interesting and alive. You can put sparkles on the clothes you’re wearing, your jewelry, or somewhere within the frame that you want people to notice.
10. Lens Flare Filter
The lens flare effect used to be a mistake in photography, but now it is considered as one of the popular filters for photos. It gives creative effects that can illuminate your images with a starburst or soft bokeh look. Also, this filter adds that warm softness to your portraits and helps you achieve a cinematic look.
11. Sepia Filter
This filter is one of the classics. It gives the photos that old-school touch through the color palette of warm browns. It is the perfect filter if you want to achieve more dramatic scenic shots, as well as in making portraits look romantic. Sepia filters will make your photos look like they’re taken from a different era, adding more sophistication to it.
12. Toaster Filter
This filter has become popular for making beach photos even more perfect because it adds richer colors to your photo without changing them too much like other filters do. It also brightens things up which is great for light conditions (like beach photos) where some filters can make the photo look really dark. You can find this one on your phone under ‘Mayfair’ in the Instagram app.
13. Skylight Filter
It is the type of filter with pale rose tinge that gives images that warm feel. Thus filter is usually being used to reduce the excess bluishness of photos. What’s also good with the Skylight filter is that it can eliminate the lack of sharpness and reduces distant haze. If you wish to correct the color combination of your landscape photos and make it look natural, then you should try this filter.
14. Oil Paint Filter
Turning your photographs into hand-painted masterpieces is made possible by the Oil Paint filter. This is great for graphic designers and bloggers who want to give their usual photos some creative spin. With just a few taps of your finger, you create more vivid colors and brushstrokes.
15. Bleach Bypass Filter
This filter gives the photos a very distinct desaturated and high contrast and highlights its texture. Given that, you will achieve an edgy look that adds cinematic drama to any photo that gets from a grungy effect.
16. Beauty Filter
This filter detects a user’s facial features and enhances them depending on the options that the user will choose. For bigger eyes, smaller nose, fuller lips, and beautiful skin, a lot of people turn to this filter. Apart from those, they can apply make-up, contact lenses, and accessories.
17. Orange and Teal Filter
In terms of aesthetic value, this is one of the most popular filters used by people on social media. This filter accentuates the skin tone colors to pop from the blues in the shadows and background. Orange and teal, when used together, gives that golden hour effect, making it easy to the viewers’ eyes.
Takeaway
If you will read social media marketing tips or even graphic design tips, adding filters to your photos and content will always be there. Whether you add negative picture filter or you choose to use more colorful filters, the goal remains the same, and that is to add creativity and uniqueness to your social media content. Photo editing and image filters aren’t going away anytime soon, so you better learn how they work if you want to make it big on social media. This is the perfect time to turn your photos from good to great.
