Smartphone cameras have become increasingly impressive, with manufacturers increasing the resolution of photos, adding more lenses, and incorporating photo storage solutions.
The camera is the most sought-after feature of any smartphone, as any Instagram user can attest.
You should improve your photography skills if you have the most cutting-edge smartphone.
So, if you want to get from novice to Ansel Adams level with your photography, here are some specialists’ ideas and recommended accessories.
1. Wipe the Slate Clean
While a cotton shirt or a wet napkin could get the job done in the short term, they could end up hurting your lens in the long run.
Keep your camera lens free of fingerprints and dust by wiping it with a soft cloth like microfiber.
2. Delete the Digital Magnifier
You may have to settle for a picture of the dog across the field, no matter how much you want to pet it.
However, zooming in isn’t the answer if you want a closer image.
In contrast to the optical zoom seen on more sophisticated cameras, digital zoom involves cropping and resizing the original image.
To further diminish the quality of your representation of that cute dog, digital zoom will lower the image resolution and amplify any shakes caused by your hands.
Images captured with smartphones that have more than one camera lens are included. Examples include the iPhone XS and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+.
Avoid using digital zoom whenever feasible, but use the telephoto lens on your smartphone.
3. Find a Source of Illumination before Creating Your Own
No matter how attractive you think your pose is, the LED light from a smartphone will make it look terrible.
Images captured under direct sunlight tend to have a yellowish cast, whereas those exposed to diffuse lighting, whether from a single or numerous sources, look more natural.
If you want to go artsy, the failing sun, some inside lights, or even some candlelight are all viable alternatives to relying on insufficient light to highlight your subject adequately.
If you’re really in the dark, another smartphone’s flashlight feature can provide more stable illumination.
4. Be Wary Of Cloud Storage Scams
Take as many pictures as you wish without worrying about how much room is left on your phone by storing them in the cloud with a service like Google Photos or iCloud.
On the other hand, not all of them will save the finest quality copy of your photos, and if you take a lot of them, you may have to pay a monthly subscription only to back up the high-resolution versions.
Send just low-resolution photographs to the cloud if you’re ready to trade off image quality for more space.
However, if you’re a purist who values image quality above all else, the extra few dollars per month for RAW photo storage could be well worth it.
5. Be Steady, or Make Use of a Tripod
Small, portable tripods that aren’t phone-specific are ideal for taking photos with a smartphone.
Smartphones can be attached to more sophisticated tripods and other photography accessories, such as shoulder straps, thanks to cases that include mounting threads.
6. Grab a Button-Less Remote and Take Pictures From Afar
Have you ever set a timer and rushed into the frame, only to have the resulting photo turn out terrible?
A remote shutter release might come in handy for shots that call for a steadier hand or for taking photos of yourself.
Some smartphones, like Samsung’s Galaxy Note line, come with a pen that may be used as a covert remote shutter button and kept in the user’s hand or pocket until the moment of capture.
If you are not an Android user, I understand.
These remote shutter releases may be carried in your pocket. It costs little money and links to your phone wirelessly over Bluetooth.
7. You Can Command Your Android Device to Snap a Photo
Since your phone is always on the lookout for your command, why not have it snap your selfies for you?
Asking an Android phone’s Google Assistant to snap a photo, selfie, or timed shot will launch the device’s camera app.
Siri on iOS can launch the camera app for you, but you’ll have to trigger the capture manually.
8. Light Is Required For Portrait Mode to Function
To achieve the same shallow depth of focus as professional cameras, use your device’s portrait mode. Capturing pictures of people, it’s superior.
Everyone appreciates the professional quality of photos taken with a “real” camera. But doing so exclusively might backfire, especially in less-than-ideal lighting conditions such as those found indoors.
However, only utilize the iPhone’s portrait mode with ample lighting.