“You don't take a photograph, you make it.” - Ansel Adams
These days, taking excellent photographs is within everyone’s reach. If you have a mobile phone, you can begin the journey with a simple online search for how to take good photos with a phone.
You might be wondering how it is possible to take good photos with only a phone but the truth is that that there is heaps to understand and a lot that can be accomplished. Smartphone photography allows you to express your creativity as well as play around with framing and zooming. So while there are some neat tricks to learn, the best part is that you will be a mobile photographer, able to capture great images on the move, anywhere.
In addition, digital photographers of today also need to really understand the art of editing, which is an important topic all by itself.
So if you’re searching how to take good photos with phone, you have come to the right place.
In this article, you will find easy tips for taking better photos with your smartphone, advice on the best phone for photography and becoming an all-around brilliant mobile photographer.
What is the Best Phone for Photography?
Smartphones have become just about everyone’s best friend, especially because of their convenience when it comes to turning everyone into a mobile photographer.
If smartphone photography is something that you would like to focus on, then your first step is to find the best phone for photography. This all comes down to the camera and then knowing how to choose the right device.
One of the first tips for taking better photos with your smartphone is knowing when to use natural light and when to use flash.
If you want to be the next hot-shot mobile photographer, here are a few facts worth knowing if you are in the market for the best phone for photography.
- Apple iPhone 11 Pro, this smartphone has a professional-grade built-in camera.
- Huawei P30 Pro, is a versatile smartphone that is great for taking daytime images and night shots.
- Google Pixel 4 XL, is a good smartphone with a highly recommended portrait mode.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, is a great phone with four cameras for taking extra sharp pictures.
- Google Pixel 3A/3A XL offers great value for money for anyone wanting a good device that can manage smartphone photography.
- Xiaomi Mi Note 10 with its five cameras is popular for anyone who wants to become a mobile photographer.
All of these are great options especially if you have got the tips for taking better photos with your smartphone.
Understanding Modes for Smartphone Photography
“A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.” - Edward Steichen
If you want to know how to take good photos with a phone, your first step is to get to know all of its functions and uses. Like all cameras, the smartphone has different modes. Not every phone has the exact same modes, but there are many common functions that are found on most models. Here’s a good list:
- Classic camera mode. This is usually the default mode that’s active when your smartphone is turned on.
- Selfie mode. All smartphones these days have a selfie mode that allows you to photograph yourself while looking at the screen.
- Night mode. This is a helpful mode that is especially designed for low light conditions.
- HDR mode (High Dynamic Range). When this mode is switched on it ensures that the overall quality of the image is at its best. It works by allowing you to take several snaps that combine into a high-resolution option.
- Portrait mode. If you’re serious about smartphone photography, make sure your camera has a good portrait mode that can achieve a low depth of field for taking great pictures of people.
- Square mode. This mode sets you up to take square photos which work particularly well for platforms like Instagram.
- Panoramic mode. If you are more into landscapes or architecture, this setting could turn you into a mobile photographer.
- Video mode. Although not a smartphone photography mode, you can find a video function in the camera settings.
- Slow-motion or fast-motion mode. This is an alternative video setting that changes the playback speed of your recorded footage.
From this, you can probably tell that to become a mobile photographer with all the know-how necessary for how to take good photos with a phone, the place to start is to understand the camera modes on your phone. Regardless of whether you want to shoot close up portraits or landscapes, if you follow tips for taking better photos with your smartphone, you will find they are more versatile than they look. In fact, you’ll be surprised at what you will find when you search the phrase how to take good photos with phone!
As you’ll have understood, if you want to take good photos, you’ll need to use the right tools and modes on your smartphone’s camera. The different modes on smartphone cameras are also a great place for aspiring photographers to start. Whether you’re taking close-ups or entire landscapes, smartphone cameras are often more versatile than they look on the surface.
If you’re searching how to take good photos with phone, your answer may be in the device itself. If you find the right smartphone, you could even change shutter speed, focal length or white balance. So if you’re keen on becoming a mobile photographer make sure you compare camera settings on phones before you buy one.
Best Filters for Smartphones
Once you understand your phone’s camera settings, the next thing you still have further options to change the style of your images in only a few clicks.
How?
By using filters, you can give your photos a professional finish depending on the make of your device and the software you use. Once again, to optimise your option for filters, find out which is the best phone for photography before you purchase.
Some of the typical filter options available on most makes include:
- Black and white
- Sepia to give images a dated feel
- A warm filter will accentuate reds, yellows and oranges
- A cold filter will accentuate greens and blues
- A high contrast filter will increase saturation and contrast
- Colour filters that add a single colour overlay create fun images
7 Quick Tips for Taking Better Photos with your Smartphone
If you’re searching how to take good photos with phone then here are some great smartphone photography tips.
- Avoid backlighting unless you are deliberately trying to shoot a silhouette.
- Consider accessories for smartphone cameras like wide-angle and fish-eye lenses.
- Avoid camera shake and aim for sharp images.
- Make sure you always have enough space on your phone so that you don’t have to delete images midway through a shoot.
- Remember that the more you zoom, the more pixels you will need.
- For important images that you anticipate enlarging, use the HDR mode.
- Avoid using the flash as this can flatten the lighting of your image.
If you are serious about becoming a mobile photographer or even a 35mm photographer, consider the help of a private tutor like those found on Superprof. You could opt for a tutor located near to you for in-person lessons, or use your webcam to get the help you need by meeting with them through the internet. Online tutorials are an affordable option that still allows you to meet with a tutor one-on-one.
When it comes to finding a tutor who is just right for you, the main thing is that they suit your goals and your budget.
Private tuition means that you can tailor your learning and benefit from the undivided attention of your tutor. On Superprof, there is the added advantage of receiving your first lesson free which means you can ask questions of the potential tutor to ascertain whether they are right for you or not.
As you can tell there is a lot more to becoming a good mobile photographer than what initially meets the eye.
These tips for taking better photos with your smartphone could go a long way, but you will also need the right equipment and accessories. After that, make sure that you find out how to use them. Don’t be tempted to make the same mistake that so many other people do and purchase all the right gear only to rely on default settings in the end.
Take the time to get to know your phone’s camera because you never know where your smartphone camera skills could lead you. Remember to consider investing in a private tutor to gain both the knowledge and the confidence that could take you places as the next most famous mobile photographer you know!
Besides that, just because you start out your photography career using your smartphone, does not mean that you won’t eventually become the next Ansel Adams.
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