Photo-editing app VSCO is launching a new camera application called “Capture.”

This app aims to provide users with a streamlined photo-taking experience by allowing the application of VSCO’s film-style presets before capturing images.

This feature reduces the need for post-editing.

The app will first be available in test markets, including Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, this week.

A release in the United States is planned for later in the summer.

Capture will initially be available for iOS devices, and there is currently no confirmation regarding an Android version.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Mobile photography’s pendulum swing toward authenticity

VSCO’s new Capture app is part of a broader industry correction away from over-processed smartphone photos toward more authentic aesthetics.

This mirrors the resurgence of retro film photography that’s appealing to a new generation of creators seeking more genuine visual expressions over computational perfection 1.

Similar apps like Halide’s “Process Zero” mode confirm this industry-wide pivot, showing how the pendulum is swinging back toward minimally processed images after years of AI-enhanced photography.

The timing is strategic, as 90% of mobile users now exclusively use their phones for photography 2, creating a massive market for specialized camera apps that offer alternatives to native camera software.

This trend reflects photography’s cyclical nature, where technical innovation (smartphone computational photography) is now being countered by a desire for artistic authenticity and more manual control over visual aesthetics.

2️⃣ The evolution from post-processing to pre-capture aesthetics

VSCO’s approach with Capture—applying film presets before taking photos—represents a significant shift in mobile photography workflow that addresses user pain points.