Must-have photo apps

Mike Harris identifies five easy-to-use apps that almost every photographer will find themselves reaching for

Explore five easy-to-use photo apps

Apps have dramatically changed photography workflows. You can edit, transfer and upload Raw images without ever touching a laptop or computer. Some photography apps are so complex they even rival their full-fat computer software counterparts. But here at N-photo, it’s very often the simplest apps we find ourselves returning to time and again.

The five apps listed here aren’t particularly complex, nor will they push your smart device to its limits. Several of them have precious few features, and that’s exactly what makes them so useful. These are the apps you instinctively pull from your pocket and quickly refer to before going about your photography business. They’re the software equivalent of an L-bracket or tripod spikes, understated but infinitely useful.

Long Exposure Calculator instantly calculates what shutter speed you need when using 1- to 24-stop ND filters. Pocket Bubble Level turns your smart device into a real-time working bubble level. My Tide Times allows you to research tidal information in over 40 countries. Clear Outside provides a wealth of weather information for the coming days. And Snapseed is a functional image editor with a streamlined interface that’s extremely easy to use. Best of all, each app is free to download and use.