Social media has made it easy to share various parts of our lives with others. You can quickly post photos of your meals, your outfit of the day, or even just a smiling selfie.

When you do this, you want to look your best, right? You want to ensure that your photos are high quality and will stand out.

One way to make sure your photos stand out is by using cool photo effects. Photo effects can range from simple filters to more complex edits, like changing the background of your photo or adding text.

If you want to add a little extra something to your next social media post, check out these cool photo effects.

Glitch

Try out the glitch effect if you want to go back to the 80s or give your photo a vintage look. You can do this by adding a filter to your photo or using an editing app to make more complex edits. It is a great filter for making your photos look more unique and exciting, especially if you post on Instagram.

It is a delicate balance to make an image appear like they have a cool glitch without making them have a low-quality appearance. If you add too much of a glitch, it will look like your photo is low resolution. Too little, and it won't have that cool, edgy look you're going for. If you plan to use the glitch effect, experiment with it before posting so that your photo looks just right. It is a great way to create outstanding photos and add personality.

HDR

If you want your photo to look like it was taken by a professional, try using the HDR filter. HDR stands for high dynamic range and is a photography technique that involves taking multiple shots of the same scene at different exposures and then combining them into one photo. 

Landscape photographers often use the HDR technique to capture all the detail in a scene's highlights and shadows.

You can create an HDR edit in your photos using an editing app or filter. It can change even the dullest photo into a more polished and professional image, primarily if you use a high-quality photo. The HDR filter has the potential to transform any image regardless of the photography environment.

However, the filter only works well with certain types of photos. It is best used with landscape photos or photos with a lot of detail. Using the HDR effect on a photo that doesn't have much detail can make your photo look washed out and uninteresting.

Vintage

Whether you feel nostalgic or want to relive a past era, the vintage appearance is a great way to add a personal touch to your photos before posting them on social media. Most social media platforms have this filter by default, so you don't necessarily need an editing app.

It is one of the few ways to add a bit of uniqueness and style to a social media post. Photos often appear softer when you apply the vintage look and have a slight yellow tint. It can give your photos a warm and inviting look.

Ideally, you want to use vintage filters on photos with a lot of detail. The edit won't wash out your photo, and you'll still be able to see all the details. The vintage photo filter is a great way to add style to your photos and make them stand out.

Photos taken with a film camera often have a vintage appearance. If you want to achieve this look without using a filter, try taking your photos with a film camera. It will give your photos a more genuine vintage touch.

Tilt-Shift

The tilt-shift effect is a tricky filter to use, but that does not mean that it won't help you improve the appearance of a photograph. Photographers often use this filter to make their photos look more like miniature scenes. The tilt-shift is created by blurring your photo's horizontal or vertical lines. It gives the illusion that your photo is a miniature scene.

You can create the tilt-shift touch by using an editing app to blur the lines in your photo. The best way to add the tilt-shift to your photograph is to use software that lets you control how much blur you add to your photo.

As a result, you can create the perfect amount of blur for your photo. Having control over the amount of blur will help you create a more realistic tilt-shift.

Black & White

The black-and-white effect is one of the most underrated photo edits. Sophistication and personality are two of the most important elements of any photo. Chances are your default photo editor can apply this filter, making it convenient and fast.

However, there are different levels of black and white integration, which you can only apply with an editing app. You can edit the image to achieve a wholly black and white photo or keep some of the colors in your photo.

If you want to make a truly unique photo, try keeping some color in your black and white photo. You can achieve this with the help of an editing app or by selecting the colors you want to keep in your photo before converting it to black and white. The black and white effect is a great way to add some style to your photos.

The Retro

Remember the vintage we mentioned earlier? The retro edit is similar but with a few key differences. The main difference is that the retro filter is more exaggerated. It often makes photos have a brighter and more vibrant touch. The colors in your photo will be more saturated, and the contrast will be increased. It can give your photos fun and playful appearance.

Photos with a touch of retro often look like they were taken with a Polaroid camera. Photos rich in color often look the best with this effect. If you want to add some retro to your photo, try using an editing app or filter.

Be careful not to overdo the addition. Too much retro can cause a photograph to look fake and overdone, which is one of the biggest mistakes you can make with a social media post.

The Bokeh

Have you seen people post photos with a blurry background? Aren't they attractive? Well, if you think they are fantastic, you are probably wondering how they did it. The effect is called bokeh, and it helps you create pro-level photographs. Portrait photographers often use the bokeh to blur the background of their photos. Bokeh helps the subject of the photo stand out and be more defined.

You can create the bokeh effect by using a simple photo editor to blur the background of your photo yourself. The key to creating a good blur is to ensure the background is out of focus. This way, the focus will be on the subject of your photo and not on the background.

Be careful not to blur the background too much. You still want to be able to see what is in the background of your photo.

The Vignette

Artistic photos often have a dark border around them which is called a vignette. Vignettes are created by darkening the edges of a photo. You can choose from different vignette styles to create the perfect look for your photo. Vignettes can give your photo a more dramatic look or make it look softer and more romantic.

While vignettes can be created in editing software, they are often added to photos using a camera app. Camera apps usually have different vignette styles that you can choose from. It allows for the easy addition of a vignette to your photo without editing it afterward.

You can easily apply the filter when taking your photo so that you don't have to edit it later. The most important thing to remember when using a vignette is that less is more. A small and subtle vignette will usually look the best.

There you have it! These are 8 photo effects that you can use to make your photos look creative and unique. So go out and start experimenting with different filters.