Smartphone cameras have come a long way in a short time and they are really very capable nowadays. However many people still find they end up with mixed results when snapping photos using a smartphone.
As tempting as it may be to blame the smartphone camera, in most cases it isn’t its fault. Instead it is a question of your approach and technique, and the good news is there are several simple tips you can use to improve that:
- Keep the camera still while you’re snapping photos to avoid motion or focus blur. It may help to use a tripod stand or prop up your smartphone against a stable surface, or at very least learn how to hold your smartphone better.
- Try the HDR mode that will combine multiple exposures to create a better image. It can be especially helpful if you’re snapping photos with extremely bright and dark areas in the same frame. Just make sure you stay still for a second or two after you snap the photo so your camera has time to capture multiple exposures.
- Make sure there is plenty of soft light from diffused sources. Natural light is good, but you should avoid direct sunlight that can cause stark shadows. If you’re shooting indoors you should use a softbox or even DIY softbox lighting of your own.
- Avoid using the flash unless there’s no way around it. The flash on most smartphones leaves a lot to be desired and will often harm more than it helps.
- Turn on the grid and use the rule of thirds to compose more balanced shots that are visually interesting. The gridlines and intersection points will provide you with a helpful guide to position elements in the frame.
- Get close to the subject to reveal more detail. As far as possible you should avoid using the digital zoom on your smartphone, as it will affect the overall quality of your photo.
- Adjust the exposure on your smartphone depending on how bright or dark the scene is. The exact method to do this can vary, but most smartphone camera apps provide some sort of control over it. If you want you can then start to learn more about the other manual settings in your app and what they do too.
- Clean the lens regularly and check it before you snap photos. All too often people forget to clean their lens, and dust eventually accumulates on it.
In addition to these tips, you should try to find a good photo editor for PC that will allow you to touch up and improve the photos that you capture. For example you could use Movavi Photo Editor to do that.
All said and done you will find that you’re able to consistently snap far better photos if you apply the tips as described. With a bit of practice you’ll be able to capture some truly great photos that look amazing – all with your current smartphone camera.
Leave a Reply