Sending photos is one of the core features of Snapchat. The app allows you to send photos and videos to friends that disappear after they’ve been viewed. By default, Snapchat applies filters and effects to your snaps. But if you want to send a photo without any embellishment, Snapchat makes that easy to do too.
Overview
When you take a photo in Snapchat, you’ll see a list of filters and effects you can add to your snap. Filters add overlays like the time or weather, while lenses add fun effects and distortions to your face. If you don’t want to use any filters or lenses, simply tap the send button at the bottom of the screen. This will send the photo just as you took it, without any effects or embellishment.
You can also upload a photo from your camera roll. After selecting a photo, tap the send button to send it as-is. There’s no need to go through the process of adding filters in order to remove them – just tap send on an unmodified photo to share it filter-free.
Sending filter-free photos is a quick and easy process in Snapchat. With just a tap, you can share casual, authentic snaps with friends without worrying about filters getting in the way. The steps below outline the process in more detail.
Taking and Sending a Photo Within Snapchat
If you want to take a photo within Snapchat and send it as a snap, follow these steps:
- Open the Snapchat app.
- Tap the circular button at the bottom center to access the camera.
- Take your photo as desired. You can tap the screen to focus the camera if needed.
- Once you’ve taken the photo, tap the arrow button at the bottom to go to the editing screen.
- By default, Snapchat will show you various filters and lenses that you can add to your photo. Ignore these and tap the send button instead.
- On the next screen, select the friend or group you want to send the snap to.
- Send the snap. Your photo will be shared without any effects or filters added.
That’s all there is to it! Taking a photo and tapping the send button will bypass Snapchat’s default filters and effects to share a photo in its original form.
Uploading and Sending a Photo from Your Camera Roll
You can also send photos from your camera roll as unfiltered snaps:
- Open Snapchat and tap the square button at the bottom left.
- This will open your camera roll. Select the photo you want to send.
- Once you’ve selected a photo, tap the arrow button at the bottom to go to the editing screen.
- Just like with photos taken within Snapchat, ignore any filters and tap the send button.
- Choose who to send the snap to and tap send.
The photo from your camera roll will be shared without any embellishment added by Snapchat. It’s a quick way to send existing photos to your Snapchat friends in their original form.
Sharing Photos From Your Gallery
In addition to the camera roll, you can also send photos saved on your phone’s local storage:
- Open the Snapchat app and swipe down on the camera screen.
- Tap the Gallery icon in the row of media types.
- Browse your device storage and select a photo to send.
- Tap the arrow to go to the editing screen and then tap send.
- Select a friend or group and send the snap as usual.
This method lets you share any photo on your phone, regardless of whether it’s saved to the camera roll. The photo will be sent as-is without any Snapchat filters or effects.
Disabling Filters Before Taking a Photo
If you regularly send photos without filters, you can proactively disable Snapchat’s filter options:
- Open Snapchat and tap the Settings (gear) icon in the top-right.
- Go to the Additional Services section.
- Tap Filters & Lenses.
- Toggle off the relevant filter options.
For example, turning off Decorative Filters will prevent flower crown and other overlay filters from appearing. Disabling Lenses turns off all selfie effects and distortions. With filters disabled, Snapchat will default to sending photos as they are taken.
Using Snapchat’s No Filter Option
Within the filters screen, Snapchat also includes a “No Filter” option:
- Take or select a photo as usual.
- On the editing screen, tap on the Filter icon in the top-right.
- Scroll through the filter options until you reach “No Filter.”
- Tap on this to remove any filters previously added.
- Send the snap as normal.
“No Filter” effectively removes all effects, taking you back to the original photo or video. It’s handy if you change your mind after initially adding a filter.
Conclusion
Sharing photos without filters on Snapchat only takes a tap. Simply take or select your photo, skip past the editing step, and send it on its way. For hands-free sharing, disable Snapchat’s filter options in Settings so they never appear in the first place. With these simple steps, you can send natural, filter-free snaps to your friends.
Photo Source | How to Send without Filters |
---|---|
Taken directly in Snapchat | Tap the send arrow after taking the photo |
Camera roll | Tap the send arrow after selecting the photo |
Phone storage | Select from gallery, then tap send |
FAQs
Can you permanently disable filters on Snapchat?
Yes, filters and lenses can be permanently disabled through Snapchat’s Settings menu. Go to Settings > Additional Services > Filters & Lenses and toggle off the options you don’t want to appear.
Do photos saved from Snapchat have filters?
Photos and videos saved to your Memories within Snapchat will save with any filters, effects, or lenses applied. To save a photo without a filter, take a screenshot or save the photo before sending the snap.
Can you remove filters from old Snapchat memories?
Unfortunately, any filters applied to snaps saved to Memories cannot be removed retroactively. The filtered versions are permanently saved. To access the original, unfiltered versions, you would need to have saved them prior to sending with a filter.
What happens if you send a Snapchat without a filter?
The photo or video will be shared exactly how it originally appears – no effects, overlays, or distortions added by Snapchat. This can be great for sharing authentic moments and selfies as you captured them.
Can someone tell if you sent a Snapchat without a filter?
Unless the original photo contains text or graphics that would be altered by a filter, there is no indicator that a snap was sent without effects. Recipients have to trust that any snap they receive is unmodified and filter-free.
The Benefits of Filter-Free Snaps
While Snapchat filters can be fun, there are times when an authentic, unaltered photo is preferable. Here are some benefits of sending snaps without filters:
- Shows confidence and self-acceptance by sharing your true appearance
- Conveys a casual, down-to-earth vibe
- Photos appear more genuine and believable
- No risk of filters detracting from or distorting the subject
- Recipient sees your surroundings as they actually appeared
- Avoids the generic, homogenized look filters can create
The next time you snap a spontaneous moment or selfie, don’t feel the need to use a filter. Embrace your natural beauty or environment and share an authentic photo with friends. Just tap the arrow to send the snap filter-free.
Creative Uses for Filter-Free Snaps
Sending photos without filters opens up new creative possibilities. Here are some examples of how to take advantage of filter-free snapping:
- Document your cooking or baking process
- Show off your latest art project in stages
- Capture unfiltered reactions to events or news
- Share unedited photos of your pet’s antics
- Let landscapes and scenery speak for themselves
- Show unfiltered snaps to reveal your true skin and texture
Filters can be great in moderation, but too many snaps with flower crowns and puppy ears get old after a while. Treat your friends to some variety by intentionally sending photos and videos with no Snapchat enhancements whatsoever.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you’re having trouble sending unfiltered snaps, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure the Lenses and Filters options are disabled in Snapchat’s settings menu.
- Check that you don’t have any third-party beauty filters enabled from your phone’s camera.
- Clean the camera lens on your phone to avoid any unintended blur effects.
- Tap and hold the shutter button to take a still photo instead of a video.
- Double check that you tap the send arrow rather than the filter options after taking a snap.
- Force quit and relaunch the Snapchat app if filters still appear stuck on.
With practice, sharing photos without embellishment will become second nature. Snapchat was originally intended as a raw, in-the-moment photo sharing app. Embrace that spirit by confidently sending snaps of your unfiltered self.
Conclusion
Snapchat provides endless options for decorating photos before sharing them. But the app makes it just as easy to send snaps in their original, unfiltered form. A simple tap is all it takes to bypass filters and effects and share a photo as you took it. Sending unfiltered snaps has many advantages and opens up new creative possibilities for your Snapchat stories. With the right knowledge, you can proudly share filter-free photos and spread some authenticity through your Snapchat friend list.