Climbing To The Top With Your Business with Lawrence Tam

instagram effects

Instagram Effects: Free Tools That Give You More Than Instagram

One of the most fun aspects of Instagram, for snap-happy photographers, is the Instagram effects. Others love the social aspect of Instagram and sharing your best photos of your life is fun with others who like and comment on your photos. Once Instagram came out with video, it has never been the same – shooting videos that are short and sweet, but still longer and more satisfying than Vine.

Some of us are not satisfied with just Instagram effects. We want a little something more to put our photographic creations over the edge. That's where this article comes in. We feature just a handful of apps, both online and mobile, that offer a boatload of features.

If you have a large following on Instagram, then you are probably always trying to take the best photos you can. The cool thing about Instagram is that you can upload photos that are already edited. If you want find a program that takes your Instagram photos to the next level so that you can out-photo your fans, read on.

spiderman - instagram effects

Image taken from and edited on Pixlr

Or perhaps you want those cool Instagram effects on a web browser, where you can edit, download or share as you please. You can also see them online, on bigger screens, in all their Instagram-y glory. If so, I've got some sweet apps for you, too.

You can comfortably fall into photo editing nirvana. The featured apps in this article have more filters, more collages, more borders, more effects, stickers, letters, and sharing options. Some are very advanced for a complete customization experience; some are simple and sweet – they do the hard work for you.

If Instagram effects are your thing, but you don't want to spend all day bouncing your photos between different photo editing tools, then check out these all-in-one tools below.

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By Lawrence Tam, ago

Instagram Filters: Do You Know How To Use Them? Learn These Simple Tips

Instagram filters are one of the features that make Instagram so popular. The vintage photo is back with a vengeance, mimicking the photo imperfections of cameras and photographers from the 60s and 70s.

Ironically, the individuals who remember old snapshots are the ones who use Instagram the least – only 5% of the 100 million active users are in the 45-54 age range (see infographic below). According to Wikipedia:

Instagram is an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures and videos, apply digital filters to them, and share them on a variety of social networking services, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr.

Nevertheless, the new generation loves the effects of Instagram filters. At the same time, Instagram is so much more than merely a photo-sharing service. It can be anthropological study of how mundane objects are spotlighted in such a rich and artistic way – by teens and Generation Y. Or it can be just a great way to take pictures and share with friends. Incidentally, at the time of this writing, Instragram has released Version 6, which has a lot more features, plus more flexibility when adjusting your Instagram filters.

Connect with me on Instagram @TheLawrenceTam
Instagram Filters

 

Let's dive into ways to make your photos on Instagram pop and be the envy of all your followers with these awesome Instagram filters. (more…)

By Lawrence Tam, ago
instagram filters

Apps Like Instagram – 11 That Make You Look Like A Professional Photographer

I have seen some amazing pictures taken, and then found out that they were taken with a smartphone. A lot of them were taken with Instagram and apps like Instagram. They were filtered through an an app and posted online. Better than my professional Nikon D7000 that I paid a lot of money for (okay.. it could be photography novice error).

Do our smartphones make us good photographers? Considering how many photos we take of ourselves, our SOs, our kids, our events, we learn how to make the best of the photographic equipment right in our own phones.

There are even special attachments and upgrades that we can get for our smartphones to make them perform more like professional cameras, video and audio recording equipment.

Have you seen the selfie stick?
-HuffingtonPost*source: huffingtonpost (more…)

By Lawrence Tam, ago

The Microphone For Computer Nerds and Newbies Alike – 2015 Edition

If you are looking to purchase a microphone for computer use, like podcasting and making YouTube videos, you have a lot of options.

 

Confusing? Yes, it can be.

 

You also may be a schooled in microphones, but are looking to make a decision between two or three of them.

 

This list is 10 USB computer microphones that have excellent ratings.

 

Why use these over the microphone for computer that comes with your device? Or one with a headset? If you are publishing videos, creating podcasts, live or work in a noisy environment, or simply want to Skype with friends, relatives or business associates, then reconsider what kind of microphone for computer you use.

Have you ever been using a cellphone and all of a sudden the voice becomes garbled? Or when you are outside, you can't hear over the cacophony of noise nearby?

 

Have you had sound cut out, go quiet, or buzz with static? Do you hate it when it sounds like you are spitting every time you say a “p” or a “b”?

 

It is terribly annoying. For business, it also changes the perception of the work. No one wants to turn their speakers all the way up to hear you, or suffer through skull-cracking buzzing, humming, or loud background noises.

 

This is why I put this list together. I produce videos and podcasts regularly. My brand depends on it.

If people can't hear me, they will leave my publications. I lose leads and customers.

 

Would you want to lose customers?

No, of course not.

I get asked a lot what microphone for computer podcasting I recommend. This list includes both high-end and budget microphones. By budget, I mean the best sound quality you can buy at a lower price, NOT the cheapest microphone for computer broadcasting you can find. Let's jump into this list.

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By Lawrence Tam, ago