VSCO’s Return To Mobile Photography

credits: VSCO

VSCO is going back to its roots with the launch of a brand new standalone iPhone camera app: VSCO Capture. Known originally for its film-inspired presets and minimalist editing tools, VSCO became one of the most influential photo apps of the 2010s. But after pivoting toward a subscription model and focusing more on community features, creative tools, and portfolio services like VSCO Hub and Canvas, the company had largely stepped away from the image-capture side of mobile photography. With VSCO Capture (its first standalone app in over a decade) the company is bringing manual photography back into its ecosystem.

VSCO Capture combines real-time film emulation with pro-level tools. The app features over 50 live presets, RAW capture, manual controls, and creative flourishes like customizable bloom and halation effects. Users can fine-tune exposure, white balance, shutter speed, and ISO directly in the viewfinder, and preview their final aesthetic as they shoot. In VSCO’s own words, it’s designed for people who want “a camera that follows your lead”, so more fluid and intuitive than Apple’s native app, but not as technical or intimidating as tools like Halide.

The app is currently rolling out in select test markets including Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, with a U.S. release expected later this summer. It’ll be free to download, though a VSCO account is required to use it. CEO Eric Wittman says the goal is to simplify the creative process and shift more of the aesthetic decision-making to the moment of capture, a growing trend in smartphone photography that’s already influenced apps like Halide and Adobe’s Project Indigo.

You can see full details on VSCO’s website here