If you want to become a professional photographer, you’ll likely have to invest in quality equipment. However, if you’re just starting out, it’s entirely fine to use your smartphone as you develop your photography skills. Smartphone cameras have come a long way in just a few short years. Some professional photographers even use them now when they want to get shots from angles that require a small camera due to lack of space.
That said, to get strong photos with a smartphone camera, it’s still important to keep certain essential tips in mind. They include the following:
5 Tips for Taking Quality Photos with a Smartphone
Consider Using Apps
Again, many smartphones today can take great pictures. That doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement. It may be a good idea to download a few photography apps that allow you to exercise greater control over such factors as focus, exposure, etc.
Hold Your Smartphone Properly
There are many reasons some photos people share online don’t look impressive. One of the most common, however, is the fact that inexperienced photographers taking pictures with their smartphones often make the mistake of shooting while holding their phones vertically. You’ll almost always get much better results if you hold the phone so the screen is horizontal. This creates a landscape effect which allows for much stronger framing.
Keep the Lens Clean
Some budding photographers often overlook a basic factor that can make a big difference in the quality of the pictures they take: the cleanliness of their smartphones.
Quite simply, a smartphone can get quite dirty over time. Even if your phone looks relatively clean, just a small amount of buildup on the lens can prevent your shots from coming out as you planned. Guard against this by cleaning the lens of your smartphone camera regularly. Just make sure you research the best way to clean the lens of your particular smartphone. You don’t want to scratch it by trying to clean it with the wrong material.
Don’t Use the Flash
It’s worth noting that you should probably strive to only take pictures in bright conditions with a smartphone. Although some smartphone cameras are now capable of taking quality photos in low-light conditions, most aren’t yet.
This tempts some smartphone photographers to use the flash feature when taking pictures. This is an understandable impulse, but the truth is, a flash will usually result in an unimpressive picture. You’re better off waiting to practice low-light photography on a regular basis after you’ve invested in better equipment.
Test Different Angles
Again, one shooting with a smartphone gives you the unique advantage of being able to place the camera in spots that might be too small if you were using a traditional camera. Use this to your benefit by experimenting with a variety of angles. Yes, if you don’t know much about photography, you’ll probably choose some angles that don’t work, but making mistakes is one of the best ways to improve.
Don’t overlook the strength of your smartphone camera. It can likely take better photos than you think. Thus, it’s a helpful tool if you’re beginning to learn the basics of photography.
