World Photography Day 2025: Top camera and editing apps to elevate your shots

A photograph is often described as worth a thousand words.

It captures not just an image but also an emotion, a memory, or a story frozen in time. Every year on 19 August, the world comes together to celebrate World Photography Day, honouring the invention of the daguerreotype — the world's first publicly available photographic process, unveiled in 1839 by French inventor Louis Daguerre.

The French government announced the invention as a "gift to the world" on 19 August that year.

Daguerre, while presenting his innovation at the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, is believed to have declared: "I have seized the light! I have arrested its flight!" His words perfectly captured the essence of photography — harnessing light to create permanent images.

A day to celebrate the power of photography

World Photography Day is more than a nod to history. It's an opportunity to appreciate photography's impact on human life — as an art form, a storytelling tool, and a means of documentation. Across the globe, photographers share their favourite works, participate in exhibitions, and experiment with new techniques, reports ETV Bharat and NDTV.

This year's theme, "My Favourite Photo", encourages photographers to showcase an image that resonates with them personally. Whether through portraits, landscapes, or candid street shots, the day highlights photography's power to preserve moments for a lifetime.

In today's digital era, nearly everyone carries a camera in their pocket, thanks to smartphones. What was once limited to bulky equipment and film rolls is now accessible through lightweight devices, often enhanced with powerful apps that rival professional gear.

To celebrate World Photography Day 2025, here's a curated list of the top free camera and photo editing apps available for Android and iOS, along with tips for budding photographers.

Best Free Camera Apps for Android

Open Camera: A free, open-source app that provides DSLR-like manual controls, remote functionality, and multiple shooting modes. With over 100 million downloads and a 4.0 Play Store rating, it's a favourite among serious Android photographers.

Candy Camera AI (AI Fortune & Beauty Cam): Known for its beauty filters and AI-powered tools, this app has over 100 million downloads and a 4.2 rating.

Camera360: Offers creative filters, face shaping, and even "magic sky" effects. Rated 4.1 with over 100 million downloads.

Camera FV-5 Lite: Designed for enthusiasts, this app replicates DSLR-style manual controls, displaying real-time exposure and aperture data. It has 10 million downloads and a 3.7 rating.

Best free photo editing apps for android

VSCO: Popular for its presets and subtle editing tools, VSCO has over 100 million downloads with a 4.0 rating.

Picsart: A go-to app for over 1 billion users, offering advanced editing, collage features, and design tools (rating 4.2).

Pixlr: Known for AI-powered editing and user-friendly design, Pixlr enjoys a 4.5 rating with 100 million downloads.

Canva: A versatile platform for photo editing and design, boasting 500 million downloads and a 4.5 rating.

Afterlight: Offers filters and film-inspired effects, ideal for both quick edits and advanced fine-tuning (10 million downloads, rating 3.7).

Best free camera apps for iPhone (iOS)

Camera+: Enhances the iPhone's built-in camera with manual controls, advanced shooting modes, and editing tools (4.5 App Store rating).

Pro Camera by Moment: Provides professional-grade control with manual focus, exposure settings, and rich colour output. Rated 4.6.

ProCamera: Supports ProRAW and offers advanced features like HDR, manual shooting, and editing (4.5 rating).

Focos: Creates DSLR-like bokeh and allows users to adjust focus after capturing the image, rated 4.7.

ProCam: Offers multiple shooting modes, time-lapse options, and high-end video controls, with a 4.6 rating.

Best free editing apps for iOS

Adobe Photoshop: Brings many of its desktop features to mobile, offering tools for editing and design (App Store rating 4.4).

Adobe Lightroom: A powerful app for editing, organising, and sharing photos with professional precision, rated 4.8.

Popular Android apps like VSCO, Afterlight, and Picsart are also widely used by iPhone users for creative editing.

Tips for becoming a better photographer

To grow as a photographer, the first step is to truly understand your camera. Every device, whether it is a smartphone or a DSLR, comes with a range of features such as exposure control, HDR, or burst mode. Becoming familiar with these tools and practicing regularly helps you take full advantage of your camera's potential.

Another key aspect of good photography is composition. Applying techniques such as the rule of thirds brings balance to your shots, while using leading lines draws the viewer's eyes toward the subject. Adding elements of framing, either natural or man-made, can also create a sense of depth and make your photos more engaging.

Lighting plays a powerful role in how an image turns out. Many photographers prefer shooting during the golden hour—at sunrise or sunset—because the soft, warm tones enhance the mood of a picture. However, experimenting with artificial light, lamps, or flash can also open up creative possibilities and give you greater control over your results.

Finally, great photography is not just about pressing the shutter; it is about telling a story. Try to capture emotions and moments that speak to viewers. Often, a thoughtful series of images conveys a narrative more effectively than a single photograph. By focusing on storytelling, your photos can leave a lasting impression.

From Daguerre's daguerreotype in 1839 to today's AI-powered mobile cameras, photography has come a long way. Modern apps make it possible for anyone to capture, edit, and share stunning visuals.

This World Photography Day 2025, as millions share their favourite shots under this year's theme, it's worth remembering that while technology provides the tools, it's creativity and perspective that truly bring photos to life.