Editing Apps for Instagram

Instagram is my all time favorite social media app - bets are if you don't see me on the blog I will be posting daily on IG - and sometimes I am slightly guilty of overgramming!

Helene and Taylor had a prompt {waaayyyy back in October} asking our favorite IG editing app and I'm late on this post {whats new?!} but since it is my favorite app I wanted to weigh in!

When taking photos on my phone I ALWAYS use the phone camera and not the in-app camera because those don't have as good of quality.

Looking back on my Instagram account I noticed when I first started using IG {October 2011} I would use filters like crazy but now I am trying to get my photos to look awesome with little to no filter. However my favorite IG filter is Valencia and my other favorite is Captain in the Afterlight app.

Hands Down my FAVORITE app is Afterlight - This app can {almost} do it all! I use it for everything except adding text on photos.
Want to showcase your entire photo on IG (with the white border), get unique filters, change brightness/contrast/saturation/clarity … all that and more can be done with Afterlight and it is my goto editing app.

Now, if I add my IG username or any text to photos I do that with the Over app. This app has some great fonts and also some fun artwork to add to photos!

Those are primarily the only two apps I use, on occasion I'll use VSCOcam but Afterlight just has a hold on me #addicted

Oh # lets talk about hashtags for a little bit. For those who still know {#} this is a number symbol #congrats! Okay but really I like hashtags as much as the next person but don't speak in hashtags on IG or anywhere for that matter, please. If this is you on IG I have probably already unfollowed you because, well, it is annoying. If you must use hashtags explain your photo first, use hashtags at the end or use hashtags in a comment. Fun Fact >> Your photo will still show up in that hashtag if you leave it in a comment!

 

I am a photo fanatic most of you know this - I have over 3,000 photos on my phone and I have only had it for 7 months … I know that is a lot but in my defense I went on a once in a lifetime vacation and got a puppy!! Above are screen shots of all my photo apps - I would love to know your favorite photo apps, maybe I need more haha

Find me on Instagram @mrslaurabeth I am always trying to grow my following and would love to have you following along

Today I will be taking over the Blog Baton IG account so come and check me out there << seriously this is such an awesome idea I'm glad to be part of it!

Currently // November

Dear Blog,
We have not been friends as of late. I have been working on a post for the past three nights and keep getting distracted and stuck and end up slamming my computer shut most nights - the whole dark by 5pm thing isn't helping. Lets be friends again and start with this easy Currently post!!

Reading // Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist plain and simple I love her. She is one of my favorite authors and her books are so easy and the words she writes are always just what I need to hear

Wishlisting // things I don't need - always - like the 5D Mark III that gives me heart eyes and the price gives me a heart attack

Loving // my 'brother' getting engaged!! Steve's cousin has always been more of a 'brother' since Steven has 3 sisters and his cousin and him are so close. He is my closest guy friend, was the Best Man in our wedding and was our roommate in college. He introduced me to Steve and I introduced him and his now fiancé and I. Can't. Wait. for their wedding next fall!

Appreciating // my close friends & family - I got a visit from by best friend last weekend and we did nothing more than catch up and chat and drink wine {those days are the best} - I am also really excited for the holidays to spend more time with the important people in my life

Creating // photo cds for clients. The editing is never ending but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have also been getting prints made of personal photos from Norway and of Brea and I'm in love with metallic finish photos!

...

Tell me what are you Wishlising this season???

linking up with Anne & Jenna

Brea and the Chase

Good Morning...
or maybe not such a good morning because Brea has decided to chase my car when I leave for work. As I pointed out on Instagram I am NOT a morning person and apparently Brea is having some separation anxiety, unfortunately this does not help my mood or my ability to arrive at work on time. People with farm dogs, any tips on getting your dog not to chase cars?? I'm so sad because she was doing so good and now all the sudden she thinks she needs to come with me. She is almost 7 months old is that equivalent to the terrible twos??

Anyway, before 9am I was on my second cup of coffee {that never happens I usually only have one cup} and I am ready for this Tuesday to be over!!

Hope your Tuesday started better than mine!!

Where I Come From - Norway

Remember that time I went to Norway and didn't talk about it on the blog?! Well, I'm going to start and there will be multiple posts because we were there for two weeks and that is way to much stuff to cram into one post. So I hope you enjoy the upcoming posts from our wonderful vacation!

Our vacation was underway. We had landed in Norway, all of us a little exhausted but at the same time ready to explore this beautiful country. No time was wasted on the exploring part - we hopped on a bus in Oslo, traveled to Hamar and had an hour to freshen up before distant relatives picked us up!

One of the main reasons for going to Norway was to visit the farm my {paternal} Great-Great Grandfather came from in Tangen. My dad had been in contact with the family that currently lives there and we were so excited to figure out where our roots started!

My Dad and Erik chatted over family history as best they could. No one in my family speaks Norwegian and Erik knew some English but the conversation was a struggle. Erik's daughter, Hege, was excellent at English so it was nice she could be our translator! This was one thing that made me feel like a spoiled American for sure - not knowing their language.

We aren't exactly sure our relation to Erik or his parents but our trip to visit the Storhovs was such a wonderful experience. To be able to say I walked on the same land my Great-Great Grandfather did is pretty special!! We know, somewhere down the line we are family and that is what matters. They were so kind to us and we were showered with gifts, food and memories to last a lifetime!!

I know this won't be the last time I say this but Norway is Breathtakingly Beautiful, pictures hardly do it justice and it is almost impossible to explain the grandeur of the countryside, the mountains and the glacial blue water - if you ever get a chance to go DO IT!!

Currently // October

Yesterday I attended an amazing class for my job on writing. It really inspired me to go home last night and write tons of blog posts but, who am I kidding; I got home, made supper and snuggled up to watch The Voice with Steve because that just sounded more fun!! I did write in my prayer journal though, so not all my creative writing juices were lost.

Since I didn't write a post last night I'm bringing you {at 2 in the afternoon} Currently - The October Edition. Enjoy and throw up some leaves because Fall is officially here!!

Celebrating // Finishing some editing ... seriously it is like a mini party every time I get done with a 300+ photo session!! Downside is I still have 7 more sessions to edit and the appointments aren't stopping.

Baking // I have Zero baking skills {or patience for it} so this is one thing that doesn't happen in our house. But, I do have some frozen peaches and might try my hand at a cobbler - recipes welcome!!

Loving // My new headbands from Wonderfully Stitched - Adorable Boot Cuffs from Trista's Creations - Warm Fall Headbands from Erika Joy Design - Brea Babe who will be 6mo on the 6th - and as always my Farmer ... Oh and Fall I LOVE Fall!

Planning // To sing my little heart out at the Garth Brooks concert in November. He is coming to Minneapolis and tickets go on sale this week #CantContainMyExcitement

Smelling // Bath & Body Works candles - they are my weakness and with every season change I seem to buy more and then when Fall/Winter comes around I just go overboard. Right now my kitchen is filled with the smell of Thanksgiving Morning and our living room smells like Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin - Fall smells are THE BEST!!

Also I'd like to congratulate the winners of the Giveaway. I was so happy when their names came up because they are two of my favorites in the new mom and blog friend category!! Erin won the copy of Blog, Inc. and Kathryn won shop credit to Erika Joy Design. Congrats Mammas!!

Now, Let me know - What have you been up to Currently?

Linking up with Jenna & Anne