Does anyone even carry a camera with them anymore? Nowadays, most photos are taken on the lightweight cellphones that we already keep in our pockets. This provides an amazingt convenience when documenting our everyday memories. Being a professional photographer, a lot of my friends turn to me for advice on how to take better photos with their phones.
One common misconception is that the more advanced your phone model is and the more picture taking features your phone has, the better your photos will turn out. The quality of the lens, as well as the firmware inside the phone does contribute; however, as technologies advance, many phones are capable of taking higher resolution photos under various conditions. Trutfully, the phone doesn't matter all that much. the fundamentals of how to take better photos remain the same regardless of what equipment you are using.
A famous quote from photographer Dario Endara summarizes it all, “The most important element of a good photo is the ability of the photograph to communicate with the viewer. It should be able to tell a story through its composition, lighting, and most importantly its subject matter.”
Therefore, when taking photos with your phone, think subject matter, lighting and composition first. The subject matter is what you want to focus on in your photo — people, food, scenery, etc. Before taking the photo ask yourself, "What story do I want to tell my audience and what mood do I want to communicate?" Composition refers to organizing the elements in your photo. The understanding of lighting will dramatically improve the quality of your photos.
Here are four easy tips that anyone can master, that will instantly transform your phone photos. For more in-depth lessons visit facebook.com/groups/CameraCoffeeLoungebyMuSen
Tip 1: Avoid direct, harsh and artificial light. Natural light is the best for phone photos. Common places inside the house to find a natural light source are in rooms with windows and patio doors. If the light is too harsh, a white sheer curtain will help soften it. When outdoors, the golden hour — 1.5 hours after sunrise or 1.5 hours before sunset — is preferred, especially for taking photos of people. Also, make sure the light hits your subject from an angle instead of straight on.
Tip 2: Manage the background. When it comes to portraits, you don't want the background to be distracting. Choosing a simple and plain background is always a good practice. Avoid a very bright background unless you want to make back-lit or silhouette photos. Blurring the background also helps. Many phones have built-in features to achieve this, but you can also use an app for this task.
Tip 3: Follow the rule of thirds. When taking pictures with your phone, you may have noticed that there is a grid with nine boxes on the screen — If they are not there, turn them on. It's best practice to place your subject matter along the lines or their intersections. This creates a more even shot that is pleasing to the eye.
Tip 4: Edit to show your style and mood. Editing is very important in today’s digital world. It has the ability to show your style and communicate your mood to your audience. There are many excellent editing apps out there. Feel free to try as many as you like. I use Fotor for most my phone editing needs. My only advice is to keep your editing style consistent. It might be fun to try different things but a consistent editing style is how one distinguishes themselves from other photographers.