Mobile phone cameras are now extremely capable, with sophisticated technology inside the phones and also within mobile photography. So capturing high-quality images is easier than ever, if you know your way around your phone.
Use our tips below to turn your hand to mobile photography, so you’ll never miss a photo opportunity again.
Clean Your Lens to Get Sharp Images
The first and most important thing every mobile photographer should do is clean their phone lens.
We carry phones in our pockets and bags, which are havens for dirt. Always make sure you give your lens a quick wipe before you take any photos.
Specks of dust on the lens can ruin the perfect shot; it can make an image fuzzy or cause potential light distortion.
Explore Your Camera Settings
The best phone photography happens once you have familiarised yourself with your mobile’s camera settings and features.
Check your manual, phone settings, and native camera to see what your mobile has to offer.
The number of options available will vary depending upon your phone’s make and model. Learn how to access these features quickly and confidently, so you always get the best possible shot.
Set your Image Quality to High
Make sure you have the image quality set to the highest possible level in your settings. This ensures you are using the camera to its maximum capabilities.
Get Beautiful Bokeh Effect in Your Photos by Using Portrait Mode
A fairly recent addition to some smartphones has been the portrait mode.
The phones have this handy mode, which blurs the background on portrait shots. It adds depth of field to images by mimicking a professional camera lens.
Sweep Your Phone Sideways to Create Panoramas
Turn on the panorama mode to capture beautiful sweeping landscapes.
Pan your phone to the left or right to take the photo. Your phone takes a series of shots which it then automatically stitches together to create one long panoramic image.
Capture Great Action Shots with Burst Mode
The burst mode allows you to take multiple shots in quick succession. This is great for capturing action shots of people or pets. You can scroll through the shots to pick the best one.
Use the Self Timer to Ensure Sharp Images
Use the camera’s self-timer when light levels are low or you need to steady the phone. Find a tripod or prop your phone on something and set the self-timer running–it usually runs at intervals of 3 or 10 seconds. The use of this will minimize the risk of camera shake and you’ll end up with a sharper image.
Don’t Compromise on Quality – Forget the Front Lens
There’s one phone function you’ll be tempted to use but should avoid: the front camera lens.
The image quality is generally much lower than your phone’s rear camera, which could result in noise on your image, especially in low-light situations. So, avoid the temptation, even if composition with the rear lens is a bit trickier!
Uncover Camera Shortcuts to Quickly Access Features
Time is of the essence with photography to ensure you don’t miss the moment. Good knowledge of how to access your phone camera quickly is vital. There’s usually a shortcut that will let you bypass the phone’s lock screen.
In the iPhone, swipe left to access the camera directly from the lock screen.
Did you also know that on an iPhone you can use the volume buttons as shutter buttons? This offers a discrete option that is perfect for capturing candid moments.
