Smartphone cameras have come a long way in recent years. Once barely good enough for casual snapshots, the latest models now rival point-and-shoot cameras. With a few tips and tricks, you can take stunning photos with your phone. Here are eight pro tips to elevate your smartphone photography.
First, hold your phone steady. Tap the shutter button gently or use a volume button to avoid shaking the camera. Or better yet, lean your phone against a solid surface or use a small tripod. Keep your elbows in and take a deep breath before pressing the shutter.
Second, get closer. Move in close to your subject for a more dramatic composition. Crop out background clutter by focusing on details. For portraits, move in close to fill the frame with your subject’s face. But don’t get too close or your photos may end up out of focus.
Third, focus on lighting. Shoot photos in bright light, outdoors or near windows. Avoid using the flash which can wash out photos. For backlit subjects, tap to focus on the face. At night, look for sources of artificial light or use Night mode if your phone has it.
Fourth, consider composition. Think about the arrangement and framing of your shot. The rule of thirds is a good one to follow: imagine a tic-tac-toe board over your scene and place key objects at the intersection of lines. Lead the viewer’s eye into the scene by using lines and curves. Change your perspective to make standard scenes more dramatic.
Fifth, edit your photos. Use the editing tools in your phone’s camera app to improve your photos. You can adjust lighting and color, crop the frame, straighten horizons and more. Some apps like Snapseed, VSCO and Lightroom offer powerful editing features for free. But don’t overedit, photos should look natural.
Sixth, shoot in burst mode. For action shots, use burst mode or continuous shooting mode to capture a sequence of photos in quick succession. This makes it more likely you’ll get the shot you want. You can then review the series and pick your favorite. Burst mode is also handy for portraits to capture subtle changes in expression or gesture.
Seventh, play with modes. Switch between photo and video modes for different effects. Portrait mode blurs the background for a professional look. Panorama mode stitches multiple shots together into a wide scene. Timelapse or hyperlapse modes create dramatic videos of scenes changing over time. Get creative with these tools.
Finally, practice and experiment. The more you shoot with your smartphone, the better your photos will get. Try shooting a variety of subjects and scenes to build your skills. Play around with new techniques and modes to see what’s possible. Review and critique your photos to better understand what works and doesn’t work. With regular practice, you’ll be taking stunning smartphone shots in no time.