Most mobile phone cameras are really quite good nowadays, and more than capable of capturing impressive-looking photos. At the end of the day it all boils down to a question of technique however, and trying to master the art of photography can be daunting to say the least.
The good news is that you don’t need to be an expert to snap more impressive photos, and with a few easy tips you can easily improve your technique:
-
Contents
Find the right light
Before you snap a photo you should be fully aware where the light is coming from, and how it affects your subject and other elements that are in your photo. Pay particular attention to the shadows that it casts, and the highlights it creates.
Overall it is best to try to snap photos with lots of soft and diffused light that evenly illuminates the subject.
-
Tap to focus right before you take the shot
Most mobile phones will allow you to tap the subject to direct the camera to focus on them, and you should get into the habit of doing that right before you take the shot. It will ensure that the focus doesn’t shift, and help make the subject look sharper and more detailed.
-
Use the rule of thirds
Try turning on the ‘grid’ feature in your mobile phone camera, and then position the subject and other elements using the gridlines or by placing them at intersection points. That is a composition technique known as the rule of thirds, and it will help you to snap off-center photos that are more visually appealing.
Keep in mind that while the rule of thirds is a great way to line up impressive shots, it isn’t set in stone. In short, you shouldn’t feel bound by it, and should break it if you feel there’s a better shot to be had.
-
Experiment with the manual settings to control the exposure
If you want to really control how your photos turn out, you need to start experimenting with the manual settings. Some mobile phone cameras will let you directly control the ISO and shutter speed, while others will have a single exposure setting that affects both.
In any case you should try switching your camera over to manual and seeing how adjusting the settings there will let you control the light, and in the process affect the appearance of your photos.
Assuming you’d like to take a step further, learning how to edit pictures should be next on your list. Rest assured there are lots of user-friendly editors available nowadays, and for example you could try Movavi Photo Editor if you need a place to start.
At the end of the day the tips listed above should help you to snap much more impressive photos and require nothing more than a normal mobile phone with a camera. It may require some practice, but with every photo you take you should get slightly better.