Best Camera and Editing Apps to Enhance Your iPhone Photography

With the advanced cameras on iPhones, users can elevate their photography by leveraging specialized apps that provide enhanced controls and editing capabilities. Whether you’re new to iPhones or an experienced user, these apps are designed to help you capture and edit stunning images and videos.

Halide
Halide is a standout app for serious mobile photographers, offering professional-level features such as manual controls for shutter speed, ISO, and white balance. The app also integrates artificial intelligence to enhance photo quality, including allowing iPhone XR and SE (2nd gen) users to take portrait shots of animals and objects without dual-camera lenses. Other notable features include RAW photo capture, focus peaking, histograms, depth map exports, and a Process Zero mode for natural-looking photos. Halide offers a 7-day free trial and requires an annual subscription of $19.99 or a lifetime license for $59.99.

Pro Camera by Moment
Pro Camera by Moment is ideal for users seeking comprehensive control over both photography and videography. It supports RAW images, manual focus, slow shutter, and 4K time-lapse capabilities. The app provides extensive video settings, such as frame rates, color profiles (including LOG on iPhone 15 Pro models), and anamorphic lens support. Available for $8.99 on the App Store, some features can be unlocked through in-app purchases.

Photon
Photon is designed for users aiming for professional-quality images. Created by the makers of Camera+, this app offers precise manual adjustments for focus, exposure, and white balance. Advanced tools like Focus Peaking and support for formats like HEIF, JPEG, ProRAW, and RAW make it versatile. iPhone 14 Pro users can toggle between 12-megapixel and 48-megapixel photos with ease. While Photon can be downloaded for free, manual controls are part of a subscription plan costing $3.99 monthly or $19.99 annually.

Darkroom
Darkroom is a user-friendly photo editor available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. With integration into iCloud Photo Library, the app simplifies photo selection and editing. Features include brightness, contrast, color temperature adjustments, curve editing, RAW photo support, and watermark options. Darkroom also supports video editing and connects with the Halide app. Most features are free, but a $6.99 monthly subscription unlocks additional tools.

Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom for iOS is a robust editing tool widely used by professionals. The app allows for advanced editing of RAW photos, including adjustments for lighting, colors, and effects. Users can also apply lens corrections, distort images, and use automatic presets. With an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, editing progress syncs across devices. The app is free but offers added benefits with a Creative Cloud subscription.

DoubleTake
DoubleTake by FiLMiC Pro revolutionizes video recording by enabling simultaneous use of two iPhone cameras. This feature is perfect for creating dynamic multi-angle content. Users can select combinations of ultra-wide, wide, telephoto, or selfie lenses and adjust frame rates. DoubleTake is simple to use and available for free on the App Store.

Photomator
Photomator, from the creators of Pixelmator, offers advanced editing tools like color adjustments, AI-powered object removal, and resolution enhancement through machine learning. Supporting over 750 RAW formats, including Apple ProRAW, Photomator caters to both beginners and professionals. It’s available for free with optional subscription or lifetime purchase options starting at $119.99.

These apps provide iPhone users with powerful tools to shoot and edit like professionals, transforming mobile photography into a creative art form.