Maddi Bragg, a popular YouTuber and influencer, shared her Instagram photo editing process in several videos and has been known for a cohesive aesthetic, particularly during her earlier years on the platform. While her style and preferred apps might have evolved over time, here's a general overview of how she used to edit her Instagram pictures, based on her past tutorials and common practices among influencers:

Key Principles of Maddi Bragg's Editing Style (Historically):

Bright and Clean: A dominant feature was often a bright, almost airy feel, with clean whites.

Consistent Filters: Using a consistent filter or set of adjustments across her feed to create a cohesive aesthetic.

Natural Lighting: Emphasizing good natural light in the initial photo capture.

Enhancing Details: Making sure the subject and details were sharp and clear.

Common Editing Steps & Apps She (or similar influencers) Used:

Good Lighting is Essential (Before Editing):

Maddi often stressed that the best editing starts with a good photo. Natural light was a huge priority for her. Taking photos near a window or outdoors during the day would be key.

Primary Editing App (Often VSCO Cam or similar):

In her older tutorials, apps like VSCO Cam were very popular for their array of filters and fine-tuning capabilities. Other apps like Afterlight were also commonly used.

Brightness/Exposure: Almost always increased to brighten the overall image and achieve that airy feel.

Contrast: Often slightly increased to make colors pop and add definition.

Saturation: Usually kept moderate, or even slightly decreased, to prevent colors from looking overly vibrant or artificial. Sometimes a slight increase for specific elements.

Highlights & Shadows: Adjusting these can help recover details in blown-out bright areas or dark, underexposed areas. Increasing shadows and decreasing highlights can add a softer, more dynamic range.

Sharpness: Increased slightly to make the image appear crisper.

Fade: Sometimes applied to give a slightly vintage or softened look.

Temperature/Tint: Adjusted to get the right color balance. She might lean towards cooler tones for a clean look, or warmer tones for a cozier feel, depending on the photo.

Grain: Occasionally added for a more "film-like" or textured appearance.

Specific Filters (If using VSCO):

Maddi would often mention a specific VSCO filter she gravitated towards (e.g., HB2 was mentioned in one older tutorial). The key was to pick one or a few and stick with them for consistency. She wouldn't necessarily use the filter at full strength, but rather dial it down to blend naturally with her other adjustments.

Detailing and Retouching Apps (e.g., FaceTune):

For selfies or photos with skin, apps like FaceTune were commonly used for:

Smoothing: To soften skin texture.

Whiten: To brighten eyes or teeth.

Details: To enhance specific features like eyelashes or jewelry.

Reshape (Slightly): For minor adjustments to features (used sparingly to avoid an unnatural look).

Instagram's Built-in Editor (for final tweaks):

After editing in external apps, the final picture would be brought into Instagram. Here, she might make minor adjustments like:

Straighten/Rotate: Ensuring the photo is perfectly aligned.

Crop: To fit the desired Instagram format (square, portrait, or landscape).

Sometimes, even a very slight touch of an Instagram filter, or just basic adjustments like brightness.

Important Considerations for Emulating Her Style:

Consistency is Key: Maddi's feed often had a very cohesive look. This comes from applying similar editing steps and a consistent "vibe" to almost every photo.

Subject Matter: Her aesthetic worked well with fashion, lifestyle, and clean indoor/outdoor shots.

Evolution: Like all influencers, Maddi's style and preferred tools likely changed over the years. Her most cited "how I edit" videos are from several years ago, and apps are constantly updating.

If you're looking for her current editing style, you'd need to look for more recent videos or pay close attention to her recent Instagram posts to see if there are any obvious trends in color grading or effects. However, the core principles of good lighting, consistent adjustments, and enhancing natural beauty remain timeless for Instagram success.