Tips for Mobile Photography

It's All About the Light

It's true. It's all about the light.

That's what will help make a good image a great image. Check out the shadows that the sun makes on subjects. Notice the reflective light off buildings. Practice during the 'golden hour,' the period of time shortly after sunrise or just prior to sunset. Watch how the light from a window falls inside a room at different moments.

The smartphone is not the greatest in low light situations. It's best to capitalize on lighting conditions your device functions under best.

Avoid the Zoom

Do not ever use the zoom on your smart phone. 

Zooming in could be the first mistake made when taking a picture. Often the images will come out grainy or hazy. Instead, move closer to the object so you don't have to rely on the camera.

This is mainly due to the size of the lens. If you had a larger lens, the quality of the zoomed image would be clearer.

Stabilize Your Shots

Camera shake when taking pictures is a factor on all cameras. The key to fixing this is to practice how you hold your phone. 

• Hold it horizontal at all times instead of vertical to get a wider image
• Try burst mode when snapping pictures of moving objects.
• Know what you will use for your shutter (either the button assigned, a software shutter button, a timer, or the volume on your headphones). The idea is to get you to a place where you take clear images with no camera shake. You'll be happy with the result.
• Try a tripod for stability. This frees you up to focus on better pictures.

Mix up Your Angles

Change your perspective on things. Trying different angles not only gets you a better shot, it also shows how you see the subject.

So get down on the ground, climb up on a high vantage point, move to the side and change your point of view. Try as many different angles on your subject as possible.

Try Some Apps

Mobile photography is awesome because of the thousands of apps that are dedicated to the camera on smart phones.

These apps are incredibly helpful in editing your work. While you can't correct problems like bad lighting, you can improve other details to make a subject look acne-free, sharpen specific aspects of an image, add text or other effects over the photo. 

Find your favorite photo app, learn to use it well, and you can take your already awesome image to the next level.

Keep It Clean

Clean the glass on your lens. Much like when you have a dirty windshield, cleaning it can give you sharper view and improve results. 

A shot with a clean lens is always going to be better than a shot through a greasy thumb print.

Experiment With the Flash

Even though your phone camera doesn't have as powerful of a flash as a digital camera, you can still get some interesting results by using it.

The flash can help emphasize shade, make colors brighter, and add other interesting effects. Experiment by taking one photo without, then one with the flash. Make notes and compare the differences.

Quality and Quantity

Don't be afraid to take another shot. Snap away at anything and everything that suits your fancy.

The important thing here is that the more photos you shoot, the more comfortable you will get and the more you will determine the direction you'd like to take your mobile photography.

The only thing holding you back is how much storage is on your phone and how long your battery can last.

Use Reflections for More Interesting Shots

Mirrors, glasses, puddles and bodies of water, smooth and shiny surfaces all make for good reflections.

Push yourself to look for reflective surfaces and place your subjects at angles or in direct comparison to the reflection. Even simple shades of light can make amazing reflections.