VSCO is my preferred photo editing app when working on my iPhone. While I occasionally use other apps, I rely on this one for about ninety percent of my edits. My workflow might seem a bit repetitive: I usually start editing in Lightroom to organize, fix parallax issues, and clean up fine details. Then, even after that’s done, I re-edit the same image in VSCO. This second round of editing might appear unnecessary, but it’s how I’ve refined my process over time. Some edits simply feel better after passing through VSCO’s filters.
Dealing with Unwanted Attention
Over the past several months, someone has been repeatedly trying to access my VSCO account. I receive password reset emails every few days, and this has been going on since February 2016. Just when I think it’s over, another request appears in my inbox. It’s an annoying and persistent intrusion. I can only hope that by sharing my editing process publicly, this mysterious intruder will finally lose interest.
The Filters I Use in VSCO
My approach to editing in VSCO is straightforward, yet intentional. Although I have access to the complete filter library through VSCO X, I tend to rely on a small set of favorites that consistently suit my visual style. The LV3 filter is my go-to for most personal photos because it adds a warm, soft glow that aligns perfectly with the look I’m aiming for. It brings out a cozy, inviting tone in my images that feels natural without being too processed.
For projects that start in Lightroom — especially client work — I handle most of the foundational edits there, including split toning, exposure correction, and fine detail adjustments. Once that’s done, I often export the edited image and bring it into VSCO for a final layer of stylization. That’s where I’ll usually apply the 4 filter, a long-time favorite of mine since the early days of the app. Occasionally, I’ll use A6 when I want something a little different, but 4 remains my most trusted option.
When it comes to food photography, I typically lean on the INF (Infatuation) filter. It enhances colors in a way that makes food look vibrant yet realistic, highlighting textures and tones without over-saturating them. Across all edits, I’m careful not to use filters at full strength. I usually reduce the intensity to somewhere between three and five — just enough to enrich the image without overpowering the original tones. Since I complete most of the technical editing in Lightroom, I rarely need to use VSCO’s adjustment tools. My time in VSCO is more about refining the mood of the image and applying the final creative touches.
Why I Still Use the VSCO Gallery
The VSCO gallery is another feature I enjoy. I’ve been active on Instagram for years and appreciate it for many reasons. However, the platform can feel restrictive due to the pressure to post certain types of content. The VSCO gallery has a similar purpose—sharing visual work—but without the weight of algorithms, likes, or follower counts. This creates a freer space for creative exploration. The unpredictability of which images stand out encourages openness and originality, something I truly value.
Final Note on VSCO for Video
It’s also worth mentioning that VSCO isn’t just for photos. The filters and editing tools work just as well for video. This makes it a useful app for quick color grading when creating content for social media. Having consistent visual styling across both photo and video is a huge time saver and a creative advantage.
Choosing Filters That Match the Mood
When I’m editing photos in VSCO, my goal is not just to enhance the image but also to express the mood I experienced when taking the photo. Filters like LV3 help me create a consistent atmosphere across my gallery, which reflects how I saw the scene in the moment. Sometimes, I’ll go with a cooler filter if the lighting was soft or foggy. Other times, a vibrant tone fits better for high-contrast outdoor images. This thoughtful pairing of filter and subject is part of how I create cohesion in my visual storytelling.
My process is about staying true to the mood, not forcing an aesthetic. That’s one of the reasons I keep coming back to the same handful of filters — they match my style and rarely require extra tweaking. Still, I test different options before settling. If I’m editing travel photos, for instance, I’ll sometimes go with a filter that adds a bit more shadow or fades the blacks just enough to feel nostalgic without dulling the moment. The strength of VSCO lies in its subtlety, allowing me to adjust just enough to create emotion without overprocessing the image.
Adjusting Filter Strength for Natural Edits
Once I apply a filter, I always lower its intensity. VSCO filters at full strength can often overpower the original tones of the image, and I prefer edits that feel delicate and intentional. I usually adjust the filter strength so it lands somewhere between three and five. This soft touch keeps the image grounded and helps maintain the integrity of the original photo.
There are moments when I increase the filter strength a bit more — especially if I’m editing photos with dull or flat lighting — but even then, I stay cautious. I’ve learned that the best edits often involve restraint. A subtle shift in warmth, a gentle increase in contrast, or a faded highlight can completely change the emotional impact of the photo without drawing attention to the edit itself. That’s what I love about the VSCO interface: it encourages minimalism and lets the photo speak for itself.
Tools I Rarely Use in VSCO
Because I start most of my editing in Lightroom, I rarely use the detailed adjustment tools in VSCO. I’ve already addressed things like exposure, white balance, and cropping before importing the image. This means my time in VSCO is mainly spent choosing a filter and adjusting its strength. That said, I do appreciate that the tools are available if I ever need them. For example, if I notice a shift in tint that didn’t come through in Lightroom, I might adjust the temperature slightly or tweak the clarity to soften the image.
However, those moments are rare. My goal in VSCO is not correction — it’s finishing. The app serves as the final step, the place where I give the photo its personality and polish before sharing it. If I’m editing images specifically for my VSCO gallery, I take even more care to make sure each photo aligns with the overall tone of the collection. Sometimes that means minor tweaks to exposure or saturation, but only after I’m happy with the filter choice.
The Role of Consistency in My Workflow
Consistency is something I’ve come to value more and more. Not in the sense that every image looks the same, but rather in how they feel as a collection. By using a limited set of filters and maintaining similar adjustments across my edits, I can look back on a batch of photos and feel the coherence between them. This is especially important when sharing travel or event photos. A single image can tell a story, but a consistent gallery tells the full experience.
VSCO makes it easy to stay consistent because once I find a combination that works — a filter at a certain strength with a specific tone — I can stick to it for a whole project. I also save some of my favorite edits so I can refer to them later. This not only helps with editing faster but ensures the visual identity of my work stays intact across different types of photos.
Editing for Different Types of Photography
My editing approach in VSCO shifts slightly depending on the subject matter, as each type of photography calls for a different tone and visual treatment. I’ve found that subtle adjustments based on context can make a big difference in how the final image feels. When I’m working with lifestyle or travel photography, my primary goal is to evoke a sense of place and mood. I want the image to feel immersive and emotionally resonant, as if the viewer can step into that moment. To achieve this, I typically lean into filters that add warmth and softness — qualities that make the photo feel welcoming and real. I often reduce highlights, soften shadows, and apply gentle warm tones to convey the feeling of natural light and quiet atmosphere. These edits create a cohesive aesthetic across travel stories or day-in-the-life narratives without being too heavy-handed.
For portraits, the process becomes more delicate. Skin tones are extremely important, so I’m very intentional about preserving natural hues and avoiding anything that might make the subject look overly edited or artificial. I usually tone down the contrast slightly and lower the saturation just enough to keep the skin looking soft and clean. The goal is always to maintain clarity and authenticity while still bringing in a touch of my overall editing style. Depending on the lighting conditions and the background, I might make slight adjustments to warmth or exposure, but I avoid pushing the image too far. The edits should enhance, not mask, the expression or emotion in the subject’s face.
Food photography, on the other hand, requires a more technical approach when it comes to color and texture. Food needs to look fresh and appetizing, so vibrancy is essential — but it has to be handled carefully. Oversaturation can make dishes look unnatural, while too little contrast can leave them feeling flat. I focus on filters that enrich the reds, yellows, and greens found in ingredients, while keeping whites clean and balanced. The INF (Infatuation) filter is one I often return to because it brings out rich tones in food without exaggeration. Even with a vibrant filter, I still lower the strength to ensure the dish looks realistic and not overly stylized.
Shadows play a critical role in food photography as well. I use them to anchor the dish and add depth to the frame. A touch of shadow can help define textures and emphasize contrast, making elements like sauces, garnishes, and tableware stand out more clearly. However, I always keep those shadows natural and avoid crushing the blacks, which could cause the photo to lose detail. Each of these adjustments is made with care, keeping the focus on the food itself and allowing the styling and colors to speak clearly through the image.
Overall, editing in VSCO gives me the flexibility to adapt my style to different types of photography while maintaining a consistent visual language. Whether I’m capturing a quiet landscape, a candid portrait, or a carefully styled plate of food, I tailor my edits to match the story I want to tell — always aiming for balance, emotion, and clarity in every final image.
How I Approach Color and Light in VSCO
Light and color are two elements I pay close attention to during editing. VSCO gives me the tools to shift these gently without overcomplicating the process. I try to keep highlights soft and shadows just deep enough to create contrast. I avoid making whites too bright, since blown-out highlights tend to flatten the photo. Instead, I’ll bring the highlights down and lift shadows slightly, giving the photo more depth.
Color balance is another important step. While I don’t do full color grading in VSCO, I do make small adjustments if needed. If the photo feels too cool or warm, I shift the temperature slightly to find a neutral balance. Sometimes, I’ll experiment with tint to bring out pink or green tones, but only in a subtle way. My goal is always to keep the photo believable while enhancing the atmosphere. That’s the part I enjoy most — shaping the emotion of the image through light and tone.
Keeping My Edits Minimal but Impactful
Minimal editing doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means making just enough changes so that the photo feels polished without looking forced. I focus on what the image already has and try to bring that forward. That might be the natural contrast in a street photo, the glow of golden hour in a landscape, or the color harmony in a food scene. VSCO makes it easy to keep things simple. I’m not buried in endless sliders or distractions. I pick my filter, adjust it to taste, and let the photo breathe.
There are times when I try more dramatic edits, especially if I’m experimenting or making something for a creative project. In those moments, I might go for a high-contrast filter, push the blacks deeper, or add grain for texture. But even then, I keep my approach deliberate. I ask myself if the edit adds meaning to the photo or if it’s just for effect. That reflection keeps my style grounded and prevents over-editing.
Trusting My Eye Over the Algorithm
One of the reasons I stick with VSCO is that it encourages me to trust my own visual instincts. Unlike platforms that guide your decisions with likes, shares, or trends, this editing space feels more personal. I’m not editing to please anyone else or to match what’s popular. I’m editing to express what I saw and how I felt when I took the photo. That might sound simple, but it’s something that took time to fully understand.
The more I use VSCO, the more confident I’ve become in my style. I’ve learned that the best photos aren’t always the sharpest, brightest, or most colorful. Sometimes the quietest edits carry the most emotional weight. Sometimes the lightest touch can turn a decent photo into one that feels complete. That’s the kind of editing I aim for — subtle, emotional, intentional.
Building a Personal Style Through Repetition
One of the most valuable things I’ve learned through using VSCO is the importance of repetition in building a personal style. By working with the same set of tools over time, I’ve developed an editing rhythm that feels second nature. I know how a filter will behave on different types of light, I know when to lower the intensity, and I can spot immediately if a photo fits the overall tone I’m going for.
This isn’t about using the same filter every time, but about understanding how my choices shape the final image. Whether I’m working with warm interiors, street photography, or nature, I edit with a specific visual identity in mind. VSCO helps reinforce that identity because it limits distractions and keeps the tools simple. That simplicity has allowed me to refine my visual voice without constantly questioning every step of the process.
The Freedom of Editing Without Pressure
There’s a freedom in editing without an audience in mind. When I open VSCO, I’m not thinking about how many people will like the photo. I’m thinking about whether it captures what I felt. The gallery feature lets me curate without worrying about performance. There’s no pressure to stay on trend or meet expectations. It’s just about the image and how it fits into the larger body of work I’m creating.
This mindset has changed how I shoot as well. I’ve become more thoughtful in how I frame, how I wait for the light, and how I interact with the scene. Because I know how I’ll edit later, I’m able to be more present when taking the photo. My editing and shooting processes now work hand in hand. The result is a more connected workflow — one that values intention over speed or volume.
Integrating Video into the Workflow
Recently, I’ve started using VSCO more often for video, especially short clips that I post on social media. The ability to apply the same filters to video as I do to photos makes it easier to keep my content visually cohesive. I can color grade a short film or a behind-the-scenes clip using the same tones that I use in my photo edits, which helps maintain brand consistency and creative flow.
Editing video in VSCO is straightforward, which is a big advantage when working with fast turnaround times. I usually make minimal adjustments — a soft warm tone, reduced highlights, and just enough saturation to bring the frame to life. Just like with photos, I avoid heavy edits and instead use light touches to build atmosphere. This allows me to blend my photography and video work without creating a jarring shift in style.
Editing as a Form of Reflection
At its core, editing in VSCO has become more than a task — it’s a form of reflection. It’s a way for me to revisit the experience, pause, and think about what made that moment worth capturing. Sometimes I catch things I missed in real time — a shadow on a wall, a flicker of emotion on someone’s face, or the shape of light on a surface. Editing brings those details to the front. It’s where I slow down, take stock, and honor the image by giving it attention.In that way, VSCO isn’t just a tool. It’s part of my creative routine, part of how I process my surroundings, and part of how I tell stories. I don’t use it because it’s trendy or quick. I use it because it allows me to stay close to the emotion that made me take the photo in the first place. That connection is what keeps the process meaningful, even after years of editing.
Conclusion
Editing with VSCO has become an essential part of how I create and connect with my photography. It’s not just about adjusting brightness or applying a filter. It’s about refining how I see and share the world. The simplicity of the app allows me to focus on what really matters the feeling behind the image. It helps me express my visual identity with subtle edits that enhance, rather than overpower, what I’ve captured.Over time, the process of returning to the same tools and filters has helped me build a consistent style that still leaves room for creativity. Whether I’m editing portraits, food, travel shots, or even short videos, VSCO gives me the freedom to shape each image in a way that feels honest and intentional. It supports my workflow without overwhelming it, making it an ideal space to explore and finalize my visual ideas.More importantly, it has reminded me that editing is just as much about reflection as it is about polish. It’s where my photos take on emotion, where patterns in my work start to emerge, and where the small, quiet choices can make the biggest impact. No matter how my photography evolves, I know I’ll keep returning to this process — not out of habit, but because it helps me stay true to the stories I want to tell.