Phone cameras have come a long way in the past couple of decades. As recently as 2010, it was rare for smartphone shots to look anywhere as good as something from a dedicated camera. But these days, even some budget phones can produce images comparable to a professional camera fromCanonorNikon.
That’s contingent on knowing how to work within a phone’s limitations, though. I come from a pro photography background, and these are some of the principles I use to get the most out of shooting with anAndroid phoneor aniPhone.
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1Shoot early, shoot a lot
The dirty secret of professional photography
The bulk of my pro work was in wedding photography, where missing a key moment could spoil the whole project. That taught me a key lesson: start shooting as soon as you spot a moment emerging and hold down the shutter until that moment is over. You don’t literally need to hold down the shutter – Android phones can’t always shoot as fast as a pro camera – but if you take a lot of photos, it’s more likely you’ll find the perfect frame buried in the mix. Just be sure to clear out unwanted shots later so your phone (and cloud) storage doesn’t fill up with junk.
Learn to anticipate when photogenic moments are coming.
It would help if you also learned to anticipate when photogenic moments are coming. Sometimes it’s obvious – if you’re at a wedding, for example, you know when the “kiss the bride” shot will happen – but even when you’re playing with your kid, watching a sports event, or hanging out with friends, think about the dynamics of the situation. Take your phone out and point it at the right place before something exciting is about to happen.
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2Fill the frame with your subject
Within the limits of your phone, of course
One of the most common critiques of amateur smartphone photos is that people tend to shoot from wherever they’re standing, often without changing angle or zoom. Sometimes, there’s no other choice, but more often, people seem to do it unconsciously – as if their camera app is supposed to do all the work.
Many rules of composition can improve your images, but the most important thing is to fill the frame with your subject – that’s where the visual interest lies. Allow dead (empty) space only when it makes sense for your composition, say if you’re shooting a street scene or a landscape. If your phone has a camera with optical zoom (i.e. non-digital), you can potentially stay put, but don’t be afraid to walk closer. When possible, shift your position left, right, up, or down to find the best angle.
Simply experimenting can produce dramatic improvements.
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3Follow the rule of thirds (unless you have a reason to break it)
The rules of composition aren’t arbitrary
If you’re not familiar, the rule of thirds imagines lines forming a three-by-three grid, and recommends putting your subject at one of the intersections of those lines, or at least nearby. It’s easy to follow, and most camera apps (including Google’s) include grid options for this reason.
There are plenty of exceptions, but you should only break the rule of thirds if you understand why you’re doing it and the results look aesthetically pleasing. The rule exists to produce balanced compositions that are easily decipherable by viewers. Think of it this way – you wouldn’t watch a TV show where the actors were regularly shoved into the corners of the frame. A good director’s only going to pull that trick out of their hat for special occasions.
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4Take your lighting seriously
No studio lamps necessary
Something that’s easy to forget with Android photography is the importance of lighting. Most people aren’t carrying studio gear as an option, and modern phones use a combination of sensor technology and software processing to support shooting in many conditions. Onboard editing tools can fix most problems short of extreme over– or underexposure.
There’s a lot more to lighting than whether something is exposed, however. Factors like angle, tint, and diffusion can make a huge difference to composition, and if you’re aware of ambient lighting, you may potentially rearrange things to exploit it. Shooting a portrait of someone? Try positioning them next to a window or lamp, then experimenting with different poses to see where the light falls. Try turning down a lamp or closing a curtain if the lighting is harsh. Avoid shooting in the midday sun, if you can – it’s better to position your subject in the shade than get lighting that’s both harsh and boring. It’s a mix of shadows and highlights that generates the most interest.
If nothing else, remember that poorly lit photos are more likely to create noise artifacts and unwanted blur. At a night concert, simply bringing your friend next to the merch booth light could save a shot.
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5Spend some time in the editing process
Make your images pop
Photos can occasionally be perfect right out of the camera, but another trick of the pro world is that photographers will often spend hours refining their best images in apps like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CC. Even images that look natural may have complex masks, filters, brushes, and curves. I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit trying to clear up dust flakes and skin blemishes.
That level of editing is impractical for most smartphone photos, especially if you’re not a pro or a hobbyist, but it’s worth spending a minute or two in your phone’s default editor if you really care about a photo. Often, you’re able to tweak exposure, shadows, and highlights if there’s not enough detail or increase contrast and saturation to make a photo “pop.” A little cropping and image rotation can solve some composition problems.
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If that’s not enough, you can use something like the mobile version ofAdobe Lightroom, which supports batch edits and offers some of its features for free. Google Pixel owners can take advantage of built-in AI tools that will correct problems like blur or closed eyes, or radically alter content, eveninserting things that were never there.
