5 Smartphone Photography Tips

Tips & Tricks:

1. The Rule of Thirds
Enable the gridlines on your phone and place your subject along these lines at the intersections, keeping them in the left or right thirds of an image and leaving the other two thirds more open. This creates a more compelling and well-composed shot. Use natural lines in the scene (like roads, rivers, etc.) to guide the viewer's eye towards the subject and experiment with natural frames such as doorways or arches to frame the subject and add depth to the image.

2. Lighting
Always seek natural light. Early morning and late afternoon (golden hour) provide soft, warm light that will naturally enhance your photos; if you are indoors try placing your subject near windows to achieve this effect! And remember to always avoid harsh light as this will create unflattering shadows and highlights, if you must shoot earlier, look for shade and use reflective surfaces to soften the midday sun.

3. Stabilization
When you can, it is best to use two hands when taking photos on a cellphone, and you can stabilize the shot by tucking your elbows into your body! If possible, and you want to seem a little more professional, consider investing in a tripod to avoid camera shakiness.

4. Pro-Mode
If your smartphone has pro mode, experiment with the manual settings. Lower the ISO in bright conditions to reduce “noise” in the photos and adjust your shutter speed for capturing motion or low-light photography. If you are having trouble with blurry photos, switch to manual focus as this will allow you to control exactly what part of the photos you want to see more sharply.

5. Post Photo Session
While most smartphone editing apps are free or have some free features, consider investing in the pro-version of these such as Lightroom, VSCO, or Tezza. Small adjustments to brightness, contrast, and color can make a significant difference. Professionals warn not to overdo it and enhance your images without making them look unnatural, subtlety in editing is key to maintaining the integrity of the photo.