This One Easy Tool Will Get People To Notice Your Photos

As photographers, we often focus heavily on capturing the perfect shot and refining it through editing. But what about the presentation of that photo? In today’s social media-driven world, how you present your images can be just as important as the edits you apply. That's where a neat feature in Lightroom Mobile comes into play—adding borders to your images. This simple technique can give your photos a polished look and make them stand out when shared online.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The ability to add a border using Lightroom Mobile is only available on iOS and iPadOS. It isn't currently available for Android.

Why Borders Matter

Adding a border to your photo might seem like a small touch, but it can significantly enhance the viewer's experience. Borders provide breathing room around your image, drawing attention to the subject and giving the photo a clean, finished look. This is especially effective when sharing images on platforms like Instagram or Facebook, where your photos are often viewed on small screens and in busy feeds.

A Feature Unique to Lightroom Mobile

Interestingly, the ability to add borders directly in Lightroom is unique to the mobile version of the app. As of now, this feature isn’t available in Lightroom Desktop or Web. This makes Lightroom Mobile an essential tool for those who want to streamline their editing and sharing process on the go. Considering that most of us share photos directly from our phones, having the option to add borders right in Lightroom Mobile is a convenient feature.

How to Add a Border in Lightroom Mobile

Let’s walk through the process of adding a border to your photo in Lightroom Mobile, using an iPhone as an example. Don’t worry if you’re on an iPad—the process is almost identical, with just a few adjustments for the larger screen. Also, I tend to work from the bottom up as it relates to how the controls are laid out, and I'll reflect that in my instructions below (and the video above).

1. Open Your Photo: Start by opening the photo you want to edit in Lightroom Mobile. You can do your usual edits—tone correction, custom white balance, applying effects like texture, clarity, and dehaze, or sharpening. If you’re like me and prefer a custom vignette over the stock option, use the radial mask tool for more control.

2. Tap the Share Icon: Once you’re happy with your edits, tap the share icon at the top of the screen. Normally, this is where you’d export your photo, but instead, look for the option labeled “Add Border and Share.”

3. Choose Your Aspect Ratio: Lightroom Mobile gives several aspect ratio options that are ideal for social media. For example, if you’re sharing to Instagram, you might choose a 4:5 ratio for a vertical post. Select the aspect ratio that best fits your needs.

4. Adjust Border Thickness: Use the slider to control the border's thickness. You can opt for even borders on all sides or adjust the thickness based on the aspect ratio you’ve chosen.

5. Select Border Color: You can choose from a range of colors, or use the color picker to match a specific color in your image. While colorful borders can be fun, I find that a clean white border often works best for a professional, minimalist look.

6. Save and Share: Once your border is just right, tap the blue save icon, choose “Save Image,” and your bordered photo will be ready to share.

Why You Should Use This Feature

Adding a border isn’t just about making your photo look good; it’s about making it stand out in a crowded social media landscape. It’s a subtle way to add a touch of creativity and professionalism to your work without needing additional software like Photoshop.

Lightroom Mobile continues to grow as a powerful tool for photographers who need to edit and share images on the go. While it may not have all the features of Lightroom Desktop, it offers unique capabilities like border addition that are perfect for enhancing your mobile photography workflow.

So, next time you're getting ready to post your latest shot, consider giving it a border. It’s a simple tweak that can make a big difference.

If you’re eager to learn more about Lightroom’s capabilities, whether on mobile or desktop, you might want to check out my course, Lightroom Everywhere, where I dive deep into editing, managing, and sharing photos across the entire Lightroom ecosystem. Happy editing!