All of the images in this post were taken on my iPhone.
You'd be surprised by how many professional photographers and people with large followings use phones, iPhones specifically, for photos. The other day I ended up messaging a few photographers I admire and asked about what equipment they use and was quite surprised by one consistent answer- iPhones! With the capability and advancements made to these handheld devices over the years, it isn't all that surprising that in a pinch, pros pull for the phone photo option. I myself frequently use my iPhone for photos to share on Instagram and even my blog.
While not all phone cameras are created the same, there are definitely several tips and tricks to making the most of it and yielding a high quality image. Spoiler alert 🚨 You don’t need a big fancy DSLR to still take quality and engaging photos! Use what you have and happy snapping 📸
Tip 1 | Clean the Lens
This tip may seem obvious, but is often overlooked. A quick swipe of a microfiber cloth over your phone camera can make a load of a difference. Think of all the places where your phone goes: pockets, bags, oily hands... clean that lens and avoid fogged images.
Tip 2 | Check Your Settings
While settings are typically limited on phones, it is important to opt for the highest resolution image. This will benefit edits made in post-production. Flip to panorama for wide angle shots or portrait for a bokeh effect. For those iPhone users, capture "Live" images. This way you can adjust the photo after, such as adding long exposure, etc.
Tip 3 | Utilize the Rule of Thirds
A foundational rule of photography is the rule of thirds. You know that grid that pops up on your camera app? That tool will help you follow this rule for well aligned, balanced, and aesthetic pictures. Essentially this rule helps the photographer understand where peoples' eyes are drawn to on an image. The lines and intersection points specifically are generally what people notice in a photo first. Don't worry, photos where the subject is centered are still good, just keep those lines in mind and keep it squared! Once mastered, have some fun with this and "break" the rules!
Tip 4 | Look for Lighting
Lighting can make or break phone photography. They aren't as well equipped for low light images, as there isn't really a way to adjust aperture, ISO, shutter, etc. For iPhones there is a way to adjust the light by tapping on the screen, so the yellow square pops up and dragging the sun icon up and down. Overall, it is best to photograph with enough natural light.
Tip 5 | Focus, Focus, Focus
Perhaps a no brainer, but tap on the screen where you'd like the image to focus. There's nothing worse than trying to take a particular image to later on realize it is a bit blurred. If I had a dollar for every time that happened...
Tip 6 | Bump Up the Structure
Instagram’s editing utilities have massively improved over the years. One of my favorites to use is the “Structure” feature. By sliding it up a little, your photos will become that much crisper and sharper... careful not to go overboard to avoid grainy/noisy photos!
Now I could go on and on about photo editing for iPhone photos, etc, so if you're interested in a post specific to that, let me know!
Do you have any phone photography tips?
These are such great tips
ReplyDeleteCandice x
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