Originally posted March 2018
These days we all carry a smartphone with us 99.9% of the time, and aside from using it to keep in touch, the other main use is taking photos with it! Not all the photos we take with our smartphone are frame-worthy, so here are my top ten tips for you to improve the number of great shots you take with it.
1.Keep the lens clean
Phone go everywhere with us, and often have little fingers using them. Give the lens of your phone camera a quick wipe with a soft cloth before taking a photo.
2.Find the light
Light can make or break your photos. Make sure the light is shining on your subject, not behind it. Go outside if you can!
3.Tap the part of the picture you would like to focus on (usually the closest face)
This also helps adjust the light and exposure for your photo.
4. Use the rear-facing lens
The front-facing lens (or the selfie lens) is usually not as high quality, so use the back lens where possible.
5.Don’t zoom in
Either move closer to your subject or crop your photo later. Zooming in will reduce the quality of your photo.
6.Use the grid
In the settings for your camera, you should be able to bring up a grid divided in to 9 squares. By placing the most important part of your shot on one of these intersections, your images will be more visually-pleasing. This is called the “rule of thirds”.
7.Watch your backgrounds!
Sometimes just moving a small distance will make a real difference to your photo. Make sure there’s no clutter, light poles coming out of your subject’s head, or bins in the background!
8. Try different angles
Mix it up! Shoot from above, from below, from your child’s height, etc.
9.Use a photo-editing app
Try Camera+, Pro HDR, Snapseed, or VSCO to bring out the best in your photos.
10.Have fun!
This is the most important part. Take lots of photos, see what works best, and keep practicing.
If you would like to go further with your photography, why not book in for a one-on-one tutoring session, where you can learn to use your DSLR or mirrorless camera on manual, as well as composition, and engaging your subjects? To find out more, email me Angela@belleimages.com.au
Angela x