5 Quick Smartphone Photography Tips

Admit it, most of you wouldn't want to be caught using a conventional digital compact camera in this age. Our small and compact digital cameras, which were once deemed "cool" when they were released, are slowly becoming obsolete as smartphones start to fill the gap between consumer-level and high-end cameras.

Let's face it, modern smartphones perform as well as – if not better than – most consumer-level digital cameras, while also offering a variety of other in-phone apps to make the entire photo-sharing process much more convenient. One can take a photo, edit it on the spot, slap a filter on the final product and upload it to several social sites like Facebook or Instagram in just a couple of minutes. So yeah, there's little reason to bring that point-and-shoot camera, as compact as it is, to any outings or trips anymore.

However, phone photos usually turn out a bit lacklustre. 

However, many people have complained that their photos turn out grainy, lacks contrast, and lack quality. Well, how exactly can we produce decent images using a smartphone?

1) Composition is key

The most crucial ingredient in photography. Whether you're using a DSLR, a smartphone camera, or a potato, composition remains one of the main factors in determining how good a photo is. Always look for an good, even unorthodox angle to photograph your subject, and don't be afraid of performing weird poses to get the composition you want.

A quick tip would be the Rule of Thirds, where we divide the entire photo into nine pieces (virtually), and place our subjects at either of the four intersections points or on the lines.

Though it is called the Rule of Thirds, it's technically not a rule, but merely a guideline and can be broken at will. If you haven't tried it before, do give it a go, and watch as your shots stand out from the rest!

2) Lighting

Most phone cameras are capable of performing on par (well, not exactly, but it isn't too noticeable) under good light conditions. This may sound obvious, but shoot in daylight for best results! Low-light situations will usually produce grainy and blurry images. 

And, don't be afraid to shoot against the sunlight sometimes, as opposed to what people tell you.

Shoot against the light! The results may be pleasing.

3) Stay focused

Sweet dreams, guys.

Blessed with a high-resolution display, it's not really a hassle when it comes to focusing using a smartphone. All it takes is a simple touch of the finger on where you want the camera to focus on, and bingo, job's done. 

The thing to note though, is to check the final image preferably after every shot - convenient as it is, autofocus mechanisms still make mistakes, and it's better to be able to retake the photo rather than uploading it and realising that it's wrongly focused.

Whoops.

On a related topic, it's common sense that a clean, clear lens is going to take better images than a dirty one. Many people neglect to clean their phone lenses unless they see noticeable dirt or grit, though. Because we carry our phones in our pockets, bags or purses, the camera lenses frequently collect dust and other debris. Even if you don't see smudges, they could be affecting your camera images.

It's a good idea - and good camera hygiene - to regularly wipe your smartphone camera lens with a soft, clean cloth or a damp lens or screen wipe.

4) Double tap!

It's the digital age, we don't exactly need to be that picky with our shots. It's always better to be safe than sorry, 'innit? Why risk motion blur due to hand movements, or taking a group photo and find that someone was blinking?

Yes, you.

What I usually do is take a burst of shots (usually two or three) photos by tapping the shutter button fast, a few times in succession. I'll pick the best shot and delete the rest later - a waste of time, but you'll thank me for that later.

5) Post-process

There's always the debate between Team Post-Processing, and Team #NoFilter. I personally stand on the post-processing side, as most good photos are processed anyway. The reason that makes some post-processed photos look unnatural is not because it was post-processed, but the fact that it was post-processed over-excessively.

This.. What.. I don't even..

Keep the post-processing minimal, but don't be afraid to apply some editing to your photos to give them the extra punch, that extra lustre to make it stand out. I'd suggest to try the app called "Snapseed"! It's by Nik Software, and the editing versatility is AWESOME.

It makes a difference.

That's all, those were my 5 Quick Smartphone Photography Tips :D. It's my first time trying something like this, so feel free to leave your comments / criticism here, or you can send me a word through Facebook. Please do comment too if you have some other tips for smartphone photography!


Cheers,
Ryo.