Mobile Photography Tips and Tricks

Camera technology continues to evolve with each new smartphone release. Learn how to take great pictures on your smartphone by following these tips.

Take Advantage of Natural Light

It's all about the light.

It's what helps 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 shortly after sunrise or just before sunset. Watch how the light from a window falls inside a room at different moments.

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

Don't Rely on Zoom

Be careful when using the zoom feature on your smartphone. Often the images come out grainy or hazy. Move closer to the object if you can. If that's not possible, use your camera's built-in editing features or a mobile app to spruce up the shot.

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 horizontally at all times instead of vertically to get a wider image.
• Try burst mode when snapping pictures of moving objects.
• Know what you will use for the shutter (the button assigned, a software shutter button, a timer, or the volume on your headphones). The idea is to get to where you take clear images with no camera shake.
• Use 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 gives you better shots and shows how you see the subject. So get down on the ground, climb to a high vantage point, or move to the side to change your point of view. Try as many angles on your subject as possible.

Try Some Apps

Thousands of smartphone apps are dedicated to the camera.

These apps help edit 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, or 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.

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.

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

Take Tons of Photos

Don't be afraid to take another shot. Snap away at anything and everything that suits your fancy. 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, bodies of water and smooth and shiny surfaces 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.

Remember to Have Fun

This is the last and the only rule that you should stick to. If you don't listen to anything given here, "Have Fun" is the rule you must promise to use when getting into mobile photography.

Join in photo walks with other photographers and communities in your area. It's always fun to do it alongside others learning and enjoying the art.