When it comes to taking photos on your phone it is always an issue of them being rubbish quality that you always wish could be a little better, and it always seems that your friend with the same phone as you takes the most beautiful and clear photographs every time.
Here is a 10 step guide that will show you how to improve taking photos with a camera phone.
1. Light Your Subject Well
The better the lighting the better your shot is going to be and much clearer. If it is possible you should try to shoot outside, or turn the light on if you are inside. Be aware that indoor lighting can alter the color of your shot too so you may want to experiment with your white balance which we will talk about below.
Flash can be amazing, even in lighter areas as it can add clarity to your photography making your subjects look that much better.
2. Get Close to Your Subject
A common mistake is being too far away from your subject making it look tiny in the photo. Camera phone images are normally small due to the low resolution so it is always best to fill up your viewfinder and try not to zoom which will decrease your photo quality. This being said, if you are too close you may cause some distortion issues and also focusing problems so it is important to find a nice balance.
3. Don’t Move
As with most digital photography, the more still you are the less blurry your shot will be. This is especially true when you are in low light situations as the camera will select longer shutter speeds to cope with the lack of lighting.
A great trick is to lean against a hard surface to stop you from moving around. Also, keep in mind the potential shutter lag that your phone may have. This means you should stay still a little longer than you think as the phone may need to catch up with what it is photographing.
4. Edit Images Later
Using your phone editing features may be fun, but it is not as effective as what can be done on the computer. Take your photos in color and at high resolutions to give you more freedom when editing. Images can always be edited to be black and white later.
5. Avoid Using the Digital Zoom
It may be tempting to zoom closer to your subject but a digital zoom will more than likely decrease the quality of your shots, making them pixelated and blurry, and you can always edit your shot later.
If your phone has an optical zoom you should be okay to use this feature as it will not alter the quality of your picture.
6. Experiment with White Balance
Camera phones are becoming more and more adaptable especially with the white balance. This allows you to adjust the color balance of your images based on the lighting you are surrounded by. The best way to get good at using this feature is simply experimenting, all camera phones have different parameters and affect photos in different ways.
7. Take loads of Shots and Experiment
One of the main perks of being able to shoot digital photos is the ability to take multiple shots quickly at a really low cost. So as this is achievable you should take full advantage, experimenting with different modes and compositions then eventually discard the shots you don’t need.
Camera phones are particularly great at experimenting with different angles and perspectives, letting you find the perfect position in order to get the photo that you had been imagining or even something you hadn’t quite thought of.
8. Keep Your Lens Clean
Last of all is making sure that your lens is clean, which can sometimes be a challenge when it comes to camera phones. They spend a lot of time inside pockets and bags which means they are prone to collecting dust and dirt. Fingerprints are a common issue when it comes to camera lenses, especially if you don’t have a cover for your phone. It is important that you clean your lens from time to time with a soft cloth to ensure you are receiving the top quality that your phone offers.
Conclusion
If you take note of these steps your phone photography skills will improve massively making you the envy of all your friends with how good your latest shot came out here are more phones I found for those looking to upgrade but also a small budget.
