HOW TO: TAKE GOOD PICTURES WITH YOUR PHONE

Key Points

HOW TO TAKE GOOD LOOKING PICTURES WITH YOUR PHONE

Learn how to take good pictures with your phone for free on Elistatus. The phone you use doesn’t matter; what matters is the skill.

Phones are not perfect when it comes to taking pictures, but at the same time, not everyone can afford a DSLR camera. In addition to that, DSLR cameras can be quite complicated to use, so one needs time to learn how to use it.

You probably own a smartphone, and lucky for you, it also has a DSLR, but creating good pictures with your phone takes more than just using merely the camera app. You need to learn a few tips and tricks on how to use the phone to take good pictures.

Here are a few tips to help you take great pictures with your phone.

1. MAKE USE OF GRIDLINES

The first and significant way to take good pictures with your phone is to make use of guidelines. Using gridlines is one of the most simple and effective ways to take good shots with your smartphone.

Turning on gridlines will place lines on your screen. This is all based on the rule of thirds, which is a composition principle that states that a photograph should be broken down into thirds, both horizontally and vertically.

According to the rule of thirds, if you line up your subject along the lines or at an intersection, your shot will seem more balanced and pleasing to the eye. This is vital when using a smartphone because it does not contain an optical viewfinder.

Here’s how to activate gridlines on iPhone cameras:

Go to “settings.”
Select “photos & camera.”
Look for the “grid” and turn it on.

And here’s how to activate gridlines on Samsung Galaxy (Android) phone cameras:

Open your camera app.
Go to “settings.”
Scroll down and switch the “gridlines” option to “on.”

2. THE ART OF GETTING CLOSER

Another way to take good pictures with your phone is to get closer to the subject of focus. Making use of zoom has a way of reducing the quality of the photographs, so try as much as possible to get closer to the subject when taking pictures. You would be amazed by how getting just a little closer to the question can make all the difference in the world with regards to picture quality.

3. LIMIT THE USE OF FILTERS

Once upon a time, using filters was great, but in these modern times, they seem to have become cliche. Rather than use the preset filters on your smartphone, it is better to edit pictures by hand. Some mobile apps you can use to edit your photographs include SnapSeed, Photoshop Express, Adobe lightroom, and iPhoto.

These are all excellent options for editing your pictures without necessarily compromising the quality.

4. CLEAN THE CAMERA LENS

The phone camera does not have a lens cap that protects it from all the lint from your purse or pockets, not to mention all the fingerprint smudges. When your camera has a lot of build-up of all this dirt and gunk, the images can become hazy to the point that no form of editing can fix it.

Invest in a lens cloth and cleaner or just clean the lens with your t-shirt from time to time, at least.

5. TRY OUT WEIRD ANGLES

Another fantastic idea when it comes to taking good pictures with your phone is trying out different weird angles. Odd angles have overtime created some of the most memorable photos. Try out different angles and be creative with it.

Also, try taking pictures from higher heights like rooftops, ladders, or stairs. Think about how birds see and just go wild with creativity.

There is also something known as taking a reverse bird’ s-eye? For this shot, you will need to lie on your back.

You can also try taking shots as you crouch or lie down on the ground. Try out different angles and develop your signature shot, people should be able to tell your pictures from your unique, weird perspective.

6. IGNORE THE FLASH ON YOUR PHONE

To take good looking pictures with your phone, try your possible best to ignore the fact that you have a flash option.
The light has a way of making your pictures look a bit blurry and strangely lit up. Try to make use of natural light often.

You might be thinking your picture will be too dark, to fix this, just find another source of light, a ring light can help, but please do not turn on the flash unless you want a creepy looking picture.

For alternative sources of light, you might have to wait for the right opportunity and try to work with your environment. For instance, if you’re walking the streets, you might expect for a passing car’s headlights, or a street lamp to illuminate your subject. If you’re in a dark club, you can try to sidle up to the well-lit bar.

Natural light is always best, try managing your time correctly to know the best times to get good shots using natural light.

7. MAXIMIZE HORIZONTAL SHOTS

If you are a YouTuber or content creator, it is best to learn how to take shots from a horizontal perspective. Most times, we view content online from a horizontal angle, not a vertical angle.

The dangers of taking pictures vertically also apply to use your phone to take pictures. If you mistakingly take vertical pictures, use apps like inshot, and spark post to correct that.

8. MAKE USE OF THE VOLUME BUTTON

When your smartphone is turned on its side, it is an added benefit because you can use the “volume up” button as the shutter. This is an excellent choice because using the standard on-screen shutter option can throw your picture off balance.

The process of turning your phone to the side will ensure that you use both hands to be able to make use of the volume button. You prevent shakiness, and your pictures will be more stable when you use both sides.

Finally, the best way to improve your pictures is to keep on learning and practicing. Photography is a skill that needs to be developed. So keep practicing and trying out new things, you are not limited to this list.

Do leave a comment below if you have other ideas on this topic.