Having a cool camera is only part of being successful. Here are our smartphone photography tips to help you take better photos.
Smartphone cameras have gotten better in recent years. Modern sensors and optimized image processing software have contributed to this. The advent of multi-camera modules has improved the effects of zoom, focus, and other things that used to be available only in professional cameras.
Of course, you can use an advanced photo editor to get stunning results. Today’s apps are capable of amazing effects. You can apply different filters to a photo, make a collage, or an effect of before and after on mobile. But initially, it’s worth learning how to take quality photos on your smartphone so that you have less to edit later. Here are some useful tips for you.
Take multiple shots at once
The first and most obvious tip for taking pictures with a smartphone is to take several pictures at once. To put it simply: out of 20 almost identical photos you can choose the best 1-2.
Try burst mode or 4K video recording
Burst mode is very useful when you want to take pictures of moving objects. It could be a crowd of friends or an active pet. Sometimes it’s important not to miss the moment and get a sharp, high-quality photo. Continuous shooting allows you to take more photos in a short period of time than if you press the button many times yourself, so it’s much easier to pick the right moment.
Another good way to take dynamic photos is to try shooting video in 4K and then choosing the right frame. The 4K resolution is just over 8 MP, which is enough for a decent quality shot.
Learn all about your camera app
Users often underestimate the additional features of the camera app on their smartphones. It’s definitely worth going into the camera menu and exploring all the settings and features. You can’t improve the quality of your pictures if all you do is take pictures in “auto” mode.
Some smartphone manufacturers develop proprietary apps that are optimized for the equipment and have specific control features.
Install another app
The native camera app often cannot fully meet all needs. For these cases, you can find third-party programs in the app store.
These usually have more functionality, from multiple controls to more advanced settings. Look for an app with more settings and a histogram. Through other image processing algorithms, third-party apps may produce better photos by default. Don’t be afraid to experiment, especially since it’s a matter of seconds to uninstall the app.
Do you really need a flash?
Flagship smartphones have learned to take good pictures in low light, and using flash for this purpose is not always necessary. Often the flash will make the picture look overlit, even though it would be a good picture without it.
In fact, many of today’s flagship phones are capable of taking good pictures without a flash. Take a few shots without flash and compare the difference – you’ll be surprised.
Photos in the sun are not always cool
Try not to take pictures of people in front of the sun unless you only want a silhouette of a person. Choose a shot where the sunlight is hitting the subjects rather than just shining into the lens.
When it comes to taking pictures of beautiful views of the sky during sunrise or sunset, you will almost always get great pictures. You can try focusing on different places to get different variations in color and shade.
Wipe down the lens before you take a picture
The quality and cleanliness of the lens when taking photos play just as much a role as the software features of your smartphone. It makes sense that dirty lenses can ruin a cool shot.
Download a photo editing app
There are plenty of photo editing apps available in the Play Market and App Store. From the ability to apply different filters to color correction tools, they have tons of options. You can also crop or flip your image there. For the lazy ones, there is an “auto-correct” feature.
Separation grid and rule of thirds
Learn the rule of thirds. It requires that you divide your camera viewfinder into nine equal parts. You can do this simply by turning on the grid in the camera app on your smartphone. If your device doesn’t have this option, you can see the frame mentally, which isn’t difficult.
The rule of thirds basically dictates that the main subjects and objects should be located at the intersection points of these lines. This is a great starting point for beginner photographers, as the grid also helps keep the horizon clear.
Obviously, the rules can sometimes be circumvented. Following the rule of thirds really helps, but unconventional positioning can sometimes help make a cool photo.
Don’t be afraid to crop your images
One of the most obvious tips for taking pictures with a smartphone is to crop your pictures. Today’s devices allow you to do that right after you take the picture. Smartphones take pictures at a very high resolution, which is enough to crop a photo with minimal loss of quality.
If you didn’t think about the rule of thirds at the time you took the picture, you can properly crop the frame later.
Watch out for horizontal lines
This isn’t the most obvious tip for photography, but we recommend keeping an eye on the lines in the frame. These can be roads, buildings, and other flat objects. By changing the position of these lines in the frame you can change the overall picture. You can tilt the camera 45 degrees to make the car in the frame roll down the hill or vice versa. Such tricks often emphasize the author’s view of what’s going on.