Pro Tips for Stunning Smartphone Photography
Do you want to take amazing photos with your smartphone, but don't know where to start? You're not alone. Many people think that they need a professional camera and expensive equipment to capture stunning images, but that's not true. With the right tips and tricks, you can turn your phone into a powerful photography tool and unleash your creativity.
In this article, I'll share with you some of the best mobile photography tips for beginners, using the latest iPhone models as examples. You'll learn how to use the different camera modes, control the depth of field, adjust the focus and exposure, improve your composition, and more. By the end of this article, you'll be able to take photos that will wow your friends and followers.
So, grab your phone and let's get started!
Table of Contents
Choose the Best Camera Mode for Your Subject and Lighting Situation
The first step to master your phone camera is to choose the right mode for your subject and lighting situation.
The iPhone 14 and 13 models have several camera modes that you can access by swiping left or right on the camera app. Here are some of the most useful ones:
- Photo mode: This is the default mode that you can use for most situations. It allows you to take high-quality photos with automatic settings and smart HDR, which balances the shadows and highlights in your image. You can also use the live photo feature, which captures a short video before and after you press the shutter button, giving you more options to choose the best shot.
- Portrait mode: This mode is ideal for taking photos of people or objects that you want to stand out from the background. It creates a blurred background effect, also known as bokeh, which makes your subject pop. You can also choose from different lighting effects, such as natural, studio, contour, stage, or high-key mono, to enhance the mood and style of your portrait.
- Night mode: This mode is designed for taking photos in low-light situations, such as at night or indoors. It uses a long exposure technique, which means that it captures multiple frames and combines them into one bright and clear image. You can see a yellow icon on the top left corner of the screen when night mode is activated, and you can adjust the exposure time by tapping on it. You'll need to hold your phone steady or use a tripod to avoid blurry photos.
- Panorama mode: This mode is perfect for capturing wide-angle scenes, such as landscapes, cityscapes, or group photos. It allows you to take a photo that spans up to 240 degrees, by moving your phone from left to right or vice versa. You'll see an arrow on the screen that guides you to keep your phone level and steady.
- Time-lapse mode: This mode is great for creating videos that show the passage of time, such as sunsets, traffic, or clouds. It records a video at a lower frame rate and plays it back at a higher speed, creating a fast-forward effect. You can choose from different speeds, such as 6x, 15x, 30x, or 60x, depending on how long you want your video to be.
- Slow-motion mode: This mode is fun for capturing videos that show the details of fast-moving objects or events, such as water splashes, fireworks, or sports. It records a video at a higher frame rate and plays it back at a lower speed, creating a slow-motion effect. You can choose from different frame rates, such as 120 fps or 240 fps, depending on how slow you want your video to be.
These are some of the most common camera modes that you can use on your iPhone, but there are also other modes that you can explore, such as video, square, or pano. Experiment with different modes and see what works best for your subject and lighting situation.
Control the Depth of Field with Portrait Mode
One of the most popular and impressive features of the iPhone camera is the portrait mode, which allows you to create a blurred background effect, also known as bokeh, which makes your subject stand out from the background. This effect is achieved by controlling the depth of field, which is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects that are in focus in your image.
The iPhone camera uses a combination of software and hardware to simulate the depth of field that you would get with a DSLR camera and a wide-aperture lens. The iPhone 14 and 13 models have a dual or triple camera system, which consists of a wide-angle lens, a telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide-angle lens. The camera app uses these lenses to measure the distance between your subject and the background, and then applies a blur effect to the background accordingly.
To use the portrait mode, you need to swipe left on the camera app until you see the portrait icon. Then, you need to choose a subject that is within 2 to 8 feet from your camera, and make sure that there is enough contrast between your subject and the background. You'll see a yellow box around your subject when the camera detects it, and you'll see the words "natural light" on the bottom of the screen when the portrait effect is ready. You can also tap on the f-number icon on the top right corner of the screen to adjust the level of blur, from f/1.4 to f/16.
Once you have the desired effect, you can press the shutter button to take the photo. You can also choose from different lighting effects, such as natural, studio, contour, stage, or high-key mono, to enhance the mood and style of your portrait. You can change the lighting effect before or after taking the photo, by tapping on the hexagon icon on the top left corner of the screen.
One of the best things about the portrait mode is that you can edit the depth of field and the lighting effect after taking the photo, by using the edit feature on the photos app. You can also use third-party apps, such as Focos, Halide, or Camera+, to have more control over the depth of field and the bokeh effect.
The portrait mode is not only for taking photos of people, but also for taking photos of objects, such as flowers, animals, or food. You can use the portrait mode to create stunning photos that highlight your subject and create a professional look.
Use Manual Focus and Exposure on Your Camera App
Another way to master your phone camera is to use manual focus and exposure on your camera app, instead of relying on the automatic settings. Focus and exposure are two of the most important aspects of photography, as they determine the sharpness and brightness of your image.
Focus is the process of adjusting the lens of your camera to make your subject clear and crisp, while exposure is the process of adjusting the amount of light that enters your camera to make your image bright or dark. The iPhone camera app has a smart autofocus and autoexposure system, which means that it automatically adjusts the focus and exposure based on the subject and lighting situation. However, sometimes the camera app may not focus or expose your image the way you want, especially in challenging situations, such as low-light, backlit, or high-contrast scenes.
To use manual focus and exposure on your camera app, you need to tap on the screen where you want to focus and expose your image. You'll see a yellow box and a sun icon on the screen, which indicate the focus and exposure point. You can also swipe up or down on the screen to adjust the exposure level, which is measured in EV (exposure value). A positive EV means a brighter image, while a negative EV means a darker image.
Once you have the desired focus and exposure, you can press the shutter button to take the photo. You can also lock the focus and exposure by tapping and holding on the screen until you see the words "AE/AF LOCK" on the top of the screen. This means that the focus and exposure will not change even if you move your camera or your subject moves. To unlock the focus and exposure, you can tap on the screen again.
Using manual focus and exposure on your camera app can help you take more creative and artistic photos, as you can control the depth of field, the brightness, and the contrast of your image. You can also use third-party apps, such as ProCamera, Camera+, or Manual, to have more control over the focus and exposure settings, such as ISO, shutter speed, and white balance.
Improve Your Composition by Using Guidelines
One of the most important and easiest ways to improve your mobile photography skills is to improve your composition, which is the way you arrange the elements in your image. A good composition can make your image more appealing, interesting, and balanced, while a bad composition can make your image boring, messy, and unbalanced.
One of the simplest and most effective composition rules that you can use to improve your composition is the rule of thirds, which divides your frame into nine equal parts, using two horizontal and two vertical lines. The rule of thirds suggests that you place your main subject along one of the lines or intersections, instead of in the center of the frame. This creates a more dynamic and balanced image, as it draws the viewer’s attention to the most important part of your image.
To use the rule of thirds, you need to turn on the guidelines on your camera app, which are the grid lines that you see on the screen. You can do this by going to the settings app, tapping on camera, and toggling on the grid option. Then, you need to align your subject with one of the lines or intersections of the grid, and leave some negative space around it. Negative space is the empty or unoccupied space in your image, which creates a sense of contrast and harmony with your subject.
For example, if you are taking a photo of a person, you can place their eyes or face along one of the intersections of the grid, and leave some space above their head or behind their shoulder. If you are taking a photo of a landscape, you can place the horizon along one of the horizontal lines of the grid, and leave some space for the sky or the ground. If you are taking a photo of an object, you can place it along one of the vertical lines of the grid, and leave some space for the background or the foreground.
The rule of thirds is not a strict rule, but a general guideline that you can use to improve your composition. You can also break the rule of thirds and place your subject in the center of the frame, if you want to create a symmetrical, minimalist, or powerful image. The key is to experiment with different compositions and see what works best for your image.
Make the Most of Natural Light and Avoid Using Flash
One of the most crucial and challenging aspects of mobile photography is lighting, which can make or break your image. Lighting determines the mood, tone, and quality of your image, as it affects the colors, shadows, and details of your image. The best lighting for mobile photography is natural light, which is the light that comes from the sun or the sky. Natural light is soft, warm, and flattering, and it can create beautiful effects, such as golden hour, blue hour, or sun rays.
To make the most of natural light, you need to pay attention to the direction, intensity, and color of the light, and how it affects your subject and your image. Here are some tips to use natural light effectively:
- Use the golden hour and the blue hour: The golden hour and the blue hour are the periods of time before and after sunrise and sunset, respectively, when the light is soft, warm, and colorful. The golden hour creates a golden glow on your subject and the sky, while the blue hour creates a blue hue on your subject and the sky. These are the best times to take photos, as they create a magical and dramatic atmosphere.
- Avoid the midday sun: The midday sun is the period of time around noon, when the sun is high and bright in the sky. This is the worst time to take photos, as it creates harsh shadows, glare, and contrast on your subject and your image. It can also make your subject squint or look washed out. If you have to take photos during the midday sun, try to find some shade or use a reflector to soften the light.
- Use backlighting and sidelighting: Backlighting and sidelighting are the techniques of placing the light source behind or beside your subject, respectively. Backlighting creates a silhouette effect, which outlines your subject against a bright background, while sidelighting creates a dramatic effect, which highlights one side of your subject and casts a shadow on the other side. These techniques can add some interest and depth to your image, but you need to be careful with the exposure and the focus, as they can be tricky to get right.
- Use window light and natural reflectors: Window light and natural reflectors are the sources of light that come from windows or reflective surfaces, such as water, snow, or metal. Window light is a soft and diffused light that comes from a window, which can create a natural and cozy mood. Natural reflectors are the surfaces that bounce the light back to your subject, which can fill in the shadows and brighten up your image. You can use window light and natural reflectors to enhance your indoor or outdoor photography, especially when the light is low or uneven.
One of the things that you should avoid when using natural light is using flash, which is the artificial light that comes from your phone or an external device. Flash can ruin your image, as it creates a harsh, cold, and unnatural light, which flattens your subject and creates red eyes, overexposure, or noise. Flash can also disturb your subject and the environment, especially when you are taking photos of people or animals. Unless you are using a professional flash or a creative technique, you should avoid using flash and rely on natural light as much as possible.
Experiment with Different Perspectives, Angles, and Distances
One of the most fun and easy ways to master your phone camera is to experiment with different perspectives, angles, and distances, which can change the way you see and capture your subject and your image. Perspectives, angles, and distances are the ways you position your phone in relation to your subject and your environment, which can create different effects, such as depth, height, width, or movement.
To experiment with different perspectives, angles, and distances, you need to move your phone and yourself around your subject and your scene, and try different positions and directions. Here are some examples of how you can do this:
- Use a bird’s eye view or a worm’s eye view: A bird’s eye view is the perspective of looking down at your subject from above, while a worm’s eye view is the perspective of looking up at your subject from below. These perspectives can create a dramatic and unusual image, as they show your subject and your scene from a different point of view. They can also create a sense of scale, as they show how big or small your subject is compared to the environment.
- Use a high angle or a low angle: A high angle is the angle of looking down at your subject from a higher position, while a low angle is the angle of looking up at your subject from a lower position. These angles can create a different impression of your subject, as they show how dominant or submissive your subject is. A high angle can make your subject look smaller, weaker, or more vulnerable, while a low angle can make your subject look bigger, stronger, or more powerful.
- Use a close-up or a wide shot: A close-up is the distance of placing your phone close to your subject, while a wide shot is the distance of placing your phone far from your subject. These distances can create a different focus and mood of your image, as they show how much detail or context you want to include. A close-up can make your subject look more detailed, intimate, or emotional, while a wide shot can make your subject look more general, distant, or environmental.
- Use a tilt or a pan: A tilt is the movement of tilting your phone up or down, while a pan is the movement of panning your phone left or right. These movements can create a sense of dynamism and motion in your image, as they show how your subject or your scene is changing or moving. A tilt can make your image look more vertical, diagonal, or unstable, while a pan can make your image look more horizontal, linear, or stable.
These are some of the ways that you can experiment with different perspectives, angles, and distances, but there are also other ways that you can explore, such as using a fisheye lens, a macro lens, or a zoom lens. The key is to be creative and try different things, and see how they affect your image.
Use Photo Accessories to Enhance Your Shooting Experience and Results
One of the advantages of mobile photography is that you can use your phone as a versatile and portable photography tool, without needing a lot of equipment or accessories. However, sometimes you may want to use some photo accessories to enhance your shooting experience and results, such as tripods, stabilizers, external lighting solutions, and viewfinders. These accessories can help you improve the stability, quality, and variety of your image, and make your photography more fun and professional.
Here are some of the photo accessories that you can use with your phone camera:
- Tripods: Tripods are the devices that hold your phone steady on a surface, such as a table, a floor, or a wall. Tripods can help you improve the stability and sharpness of your image, especially when you are using a long exposure, a slow shutter speed, or a zoom lens. Tripods can also help you take selfies, group photos, or self-timer photos, without needing to hold your phone or ask someone else to take the photo for you.
- Stabilizers: Stabilizers are the devices that hold your phone steady in your hand, such as a gimbal, a selfie stick, or a grip. Stabilizers can help you improve the stability and smoothness of your image, especially when you are taking videos, moving shots, or action shots. Stabilizers can also help you take photos or videos from different angles, heights, or distances, without shaking or blurring your image.
- External lighting solutions: External lighting solutions are the devices that provide additional light to your subject or your scene, such as a ring light, a flash, or a light panel. External lighting solutions can help you improve the quality and clarity of your image, especially when you are taking photos or videos in low-light, backlit, or high-contrast situations. External lighting solutions can also help you create different effects, such as soft, hard, or colored light, depending on the type and position of the light source.
- Viewfinders: Viewfinders are the devices that attach to your phone and allow you to see your image on a larger or clearer screen, such as a monitor, a tablet, or a laptop. Viewfinders can help you improve the accuracy and precision of your image, especially when you are taking photos or videos that require fine details, such as macro, portrait, or landscape. Viewfinders can also help you edit your image on the spot, as you can see the colors, contrast, and sharpness of your image better.
These are some of the photo accessories that you can use with your phone camera, but there are also other accessories that you can explore, such as lenses, filters, or microphones. The key is to choose the accessories that suit your needs and preferences, and use them wisely and sparingly, as they can also add some weight, cost, and complexity to your photography.
Don't Be Afraid to Edit Your Photos Using Popular Apps
One of the final and most important steps to master your phone camera is to edit your photos using popular apps, such as Snapseed, VSCO, or Lightroom. Editing your photos can help you enhance the quality, style, and mood of your image, as you can crop, rotate, adjust colors, add filters, and more. Editing your photos can also help you fix some mistakes, such as exposure, focus, or noise, that you may have made while taking the photo.
To edit your photos using popular apps, you need to download the app of your choice from the app store, and import your photo to the app. Then, you need to explore the different tools and features that the app offers, and apply them to your photo. Here are some of the most common and useful tools and features that you can use to edit your photos:
- Crop and rotate: Crop and rotate are the tools that allow you to change the size and orientation of your image, by cutting out or adding some parts of your image, or by rotating or flipping your image. Crop and rotate can help you improve the composition and alignment of your image, as you can remove some unwanted or distracting elements, or straighten or level your image.
- Adjust colors: Adjust colors are the tools that allow you to change the hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, and temperature of your image, by sliding some bars or knobs on the app. Adjust colors can help you improve the quality and mood of your image, as you can make your image more vivid, balanced, or realistic, or create a different atmosphere or tone.
- Add filters: Add filters are the tools that allow you to apply a preset or a custom effect to your image, by tapping on some icons or buttons on the app. Add filters can help you improve the style and personality of your image, as you can make your image more vintage, modern, artistic, or unique, or match your image with a theme or a trend.
- Use advanced tools: Use advanced tools are the tools that allow you to perform some more complex or specific edits to your image, such as healing, cloning, sharpening, blurring, or dodging and burning. Use advanced tools can help you improve the details and creativity of your image, as you can fix some imperfections, enhance some features, or add some effects to your image.
These are some of the tools and features that you can use to edit your photos, but there are also other tools and features that you can explore, such as frames, stickers, text, or collage. The key is to be selective and subtle with your edits, and not to overdo or underdo them, as they can either ruin or improve your image.
Ask for Feedback from Other Photographers and Learn from Their Tips and Critiques
One of the best and most effective ways to master your phone camera is to ask for feedback from other photographers and learn from their tips and critiques. Feedback is the process of receiving and giving constructive comments and suggestions on your photos, which can help you improve your skills, knowledge, and confidence. Feedback can also help you discover new ideas, perspectives, and techniques, and expand your network and community.
To ask for feedback from other photographers, you need to find some platforms or channels where you can share your photos and receive feedback, such as social media, blogs, forums, or online courses. Then, you need to choose some photos that you want to get feedback on, and upload them to the platform or channel of your choice. You can also add some captions, hashtags, or questions to your photos, to attract more attention and engagement.
Once you have shared your photos, you need to wait for some feedback from other photographers, and read and respond to them. You can also give some feedback to other photographers, and start a conversation or a collaboration with them. Here are some tips to ask for feedback from other photographers effectively:
- Be open-minded and respectful: Be open-minded and respectful when you ask for and receive feedback from other photographers, as they may have different opinions, tastes, or styles than you. Don't take feedback personally or defensively, but rather as an opportunity to learn and grow. Thank them for their feedback, and ask them for more details or examples if you need them.
- Be specific and clear: Be specific and clear when you ask for and give feedback to other photographers, as they may not know what you want or need. Don't ask for general or vague feedback, such as "What do you think of my photo?", but rather ask for specific or clear feedback, such as "How can I improve the composition or the lighting of my photo?". Don't give general or vague feedback, such as "Nice photo!", but rather give specific or clear feedback, such as "I like the colors and the mood of your photo, but I think you can crop it a bit more to remove the distraction on the left corner."
- Be honest and constructive: Be honest and constructive when you receive and give feedback to other photographers, as they may appreciate your honesty and value your suggestions. Don't lie or sugarcoat your feedback, but rather tell the truth and explain your reasons. Don't be rude or negative with your feedback, but rather be polite and positive. Don't just point out the flaws or the mistakes, but also suggest some solutions or alternatives.
These are some of the tips to ask for feedback from other photographers, but there are also other tips that you can follow, such as be consistent, be curious, or be creative. The key is to be humble and eager to learn, and to share and exchange your knowledge and experience with other photographers.
Conclusion
Mobile photography is a fun and rewarding hobby that anyone can enjoy and master, with the right tips and tricks. In this article, I've shared with you some of the best mobile photography tips for beginners, using the latest iPhone models as examples. You've learned how to:
- Choose the best camera mode for your subject and lighting situation
- Control the depth of field with portrait mode
- Use manual focus and exposure on your camera app
- Improve your composition by using guidelines
- Make the most of natural light and avoid using flash
- Experiment with different perspectives, angles, and distances
- Use photo accessories to enhance your shooting experience and results
- Edit your photos using popular apps
- Ask for feedback from other photographers and learn from their tips and critiques
By following these tips and tricks, you'll be able to take amazing photos with your smartphone, and impress your friends and followers. Remember, the best way to master your phone camera is to practice, practice, and practice. So, grab your phone and start shooting!
I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to leave them below. I'd love to hear from you and see your photos. Happy shooting!