How to Take Better Photos on Your Smartphone

Written By--Tanvir Shahriar

Introduction:

Smartphones have come a long way in the past few years, and the quality of photos that they are now capable of taking is pretty incredible. However, there are still a few things that you can do to make sure that your photos come out looking their best. Here are some tips for taking better photos on your smartphone.

How to Take Better Photos on Your Smartphone

Smartphones have come a long way in terms of photography. The cameras in today’s smartphones are actually pretty good, and with a few simple tips, you can take professional-looking photos with your phone. In no time at all, smartphone photography has become a staple of the photographic world, with social media influencers, career filmmakers and everyday people taking advantage of the quality camera built into their phones. While veteran photographers may have a better handle on what tools and add-ons to use to get the best smartphone photos possible, the average person can still take great photos with a little practice.

Making the Most Out of Settings and Environment

Even if we're not professional photographers, most of us take pictures with our smartphones all the time. And it usually doesn't take much time to whip out our phones, aim at a subject, and snap a rapid-fire round of pictures. But if you're looking to take your phone photography to the next level, you can make several adjustments before, during, and after taking a picture. For starters, turning off your device's automatic camera functions can be helpful. Many cameras have features like HDR or stabilization that can often override your efforts to manually adjust settings. And secondly, try not to be afraid of experimenting with your surroundings. A simple change in perspective or playing around with light can make a big difference in your final product.

Seek Out The Best Natural Light You Can Find

When it comes to taking pictures with any camera, the best results always come from natural light. Sunlight is, after all, the primary source of luminance. While we can't necessarily adjust the rays of Earth's favorite star, we can take advantage of it by positioning our subjects in front of a window or other naturally-lit environment. Too much lighting from behind can lead to overexposure of your photo's background, so be mindful of where your light is coming from. With a little practice, you'll be able to take beautiful smartphone photos without having to lug around your DSLR.

Opt For Manual Focus and Exposure

Smartphone cameras have sure come a long way! Even the most basic Android or iOS device can take great photos with a little bit of know-how. One of the simplest adjustments you can make is to switch your camera to manual focus and exposure. This way, you have more control over how your photo turns out. Exposure refers to how much light is detected by your camera’s sensor (a combination of shutter speed, aperture, and camera ISO settings). In contrast, automatic exposure will try to make all photos look the same—even if that's not what you're going for. By adjusting these settings yourself, you can get creative with your photos and achieve the exact look you're aiming for. On an iPhone, drag your finger up and down to adjust how light or dark your picture will be. You can see this adjustment in action below. For Android devices, getting into these customizations is as easy as tapping your phone screen with your camera app opened.

Edit Your Photos As You Shoot

Editing your photos as you shoot is a great way to get the perfect picture every time. On top of your phone’s manual camera adjustments, there are several photo-editing apps you can download to enhance your pictures further. Apps like Snapseed and Adobe Photoshop Camera are compatible with both iOS and Android devices and allow you to adjust colors, contrast, saturation and more. If you’re into uploading your photos directly to social media platforms, apps like Instagram have many built-in photo-editing features you can utilize, too. Try out a few different editing apps and find the ones that work best for you—you’ll be surprised at how much difference they can make!

Conclusion:

Smartphone cameras have come a long way in recent years, and with a few simple tips, you can start taking incredible photos with your device. By making the most of your settings and environment, seeking out the best natural light and opting for manual focus and exposure, you can start taking control of your smartphone photography and create stunning images that you'll be proud to share.