Great Smartphone Photography Tips

This is a sponsored post. All opinions about smartphone photography tips are 100% my own.

Today’s smartphones have come a long way since their humble beginnings. As of this writing, the average smartphone can do the job of many devices, including a standard point and shoot camera. The best thing about having a camera built into a smartphone is that it is always with you.

While it won’t compare with serious professional photography hardware, a modern smartphone can take some impressive pictures. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your smartphone camera.

smartphone photography

Great Smartphone Photography Tips

Follow the Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is simple enough to follow in your smartphone photography. Just image the camera screen split into three sections horizontally and vertically. This will give you nine sections on the screen.

Now, to make your subjects aesthetically pleasing,  try positioning your main subject on one of the lines on the screen.

If your subject is vertical in nature, like someone standing or a statue, place them on one of the two vertical lines. Do a similar thing for horizontal subjects.

You should follow the rule of thirds when it comes to the horizon as well. You’ll want to avoid placing the horizon in the center of the picture since this is boring from a compositional viewpoint.

Instead, place the horizon on one of the horizontal thirds of the screen. Depending on your subject, the best place to put the horizon will be either the top or bottom line accordingly.

It can be hard to imagine the rule of thirds lines when snapping a quick picture. Luckily most modern smartphone camera apps have a grid option that you can toggle on and off. Turn the grid on, and just remember your placement for the orientation of your subject.

Turn Off Your Flash

The cameras in most smartphones just keep getting better with each release. Along with higher resolution and features, they also get greater light sensitivity.

This means that you are free from using the flash in a lot of lower light conditions. By turning the flash off, you can get more of the natural light of the setting. Doing this makes a more natural picture that better captures the moment.

Not only does this make for better memories, but it also eliminates the cold lighting and harsh shadows that usually accompany flash photography.

Use Burst Mode If Available

If your smartphone supports it (and many do anymore), turn on burst mode to help capture that perfect moment. Burst mode takes several pictures in a row when you press the shutter button.

This gives you several pictures to choose from when selecting a shot and hopefully will help to avoid such things as blurred hands and closed eyes.

Check Out Third-Party Apps

Most smartphones today have apps readily available for download that extend the functionality of the device. Check on the app store for your smartphone for any camera-related apps that can help with your photography.

There are many to choose from that have different functionality. Some of my favorites include special effects, extended timers, color hues, and super sensitive low light photography.

The results will vary depending on your device, but chances are you’ll find something interesting for your needs.

I hope these smartphone photography tips will help you take those perfect photographs. While you can get some excellent results using these and other tips, don’t forget to check out what experts like Summit Shah have to offer on the subject.

And if you still can’t get it exactly right, don’t forget that there are photo editors on your smartphone as well. It’s amazing what a quick crop can do for the right photograph.

1 Comment

  1. My smart phone is the only thing I take pics with right now. Anytime I can find tips is very useful. I’ve heard about the rule of thirds, but they didn’t really explain it as well as you did. Thanks!

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