Before the days of smartphones — if you can think such a time — taking a slap-up photo was a labor-intensive process. You'd accept to purchase a fancy photographic camera and editing software for your desktop computer, and invest some serious time and energy into learning how to apply them.

But, thanks to our mobile devices and the editing apps that come with them, we tin now take high-quality photos and edit them without too many bells and whistles — all from the aforementioned device that nosotros apply to brand calls. Download Now: The Marketer's Guide to Photoshop

Brands are catching on, likewise — these kinds of visuals remain important to marketing. Just brand no fault: Taking a great photograph on your smartphone is not equally uncomplicated as pointing and shooting. There are plenty of bad smartphone photos out at that place — I'yard certain you've seen at to the lowest degree a few.

What's the secret to taking not bad pictures with your smartphone, then? As information technology turns out, there are a few of them. Check out these tips below to amend your smartphone photography game. (And once you have the photo-taking part down, check out some of the all-time photo editing apps for mobile.)

How to Take Good Photos With Your Telephone: 25 Tips & Tricks

1. Apply gridlines to balance your shot.

One of the easiest and best means to improve your mobile photos is to turn on the camera's gridlines. That superimposes a series of lines on the screen of your smartphone's camera that are based on the "rule of thirds" — a photographic composition principle that says an paradigm should be broken down into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and then you have nine parts in total.

According to this theory, if yous place points of interest in these intersections or along the lines, your photo will be more balanced, level, and allow viewers to interact with information technology more than naturally.

rule-of-thirds.jpg

Source: Digital Photography School

To switch the grid on ...

  • iPhone: Become to "Settings," choose "Photos & Camera," and switch "Filigree" on.
  • Samsung Milky way: Launch the camera app, get to "Settings," scroll down and switch the "grid lines" option to "on."

gridlines.jpg

Source: Lynda.com

2. Set your photographic camera's focus.

Today's phone cameras automatically focus on the foreground of your frame, but non every pic y'all take on your telephone has an obvious subject. To adjust where y'all want your camera lens to focus, open your camera app and tap the screen where yous want to sharpen the view.

If you're taking a photograph of something in motion, for example, it tin can be difficult for your camera to follow this discipline and refocus equally needed. Tap the screen to correct your telephone camera's focus just before snapping the picture to ensure the moving subject has every bit much focus every bit possible. A square or circular icon should then appear on your photographic camera screen, shifting the focus of your shot to all of the content inside that icon.

3. Focus on i subject.

Many of the all-time photos include only i, interesting subject. So when taking a movie of 1, spend some extra time setting up the shot. Some professional photographers say that the subject field shouldn't make full the entire frame, and that ii-thirds of the photo should be negative space — that helps the subject stand out fifty-fifty more.

But be sure y'all tap the screen of your smartphone to focus the photographic camera on your bailiwick — that'll aid to ensure that information technology'due south focused and the lighting is optimized.

Pro Tip: In one case you've taken your photo, you can use filters and apps to brand the subject even more brilliant, or to ingather it to frame the subject correctly. The brightness, dissimilarity, and saturation of the photograph can also be adjusted accordingly — all from your telephone.

@aguynamedpatrick instagram picture of himself in mirror holding a phone taking a picture of himself

Source: Patrick Janelle

four. Embrace negative space.

"Negative infinite" but refers to the areas around and between the subjects of an image — and it can accept a photo from "proficient" to "great."

When y'all include a lot of empty space in a photograph, your subject field will stand out more and evoke a stronger reaction from your viewer. And what does negative space looks like? It's often a large expanse of open sky, an empty field, a large wall, or water, every bit in the example beneath.

eric christian in front of an ocean on instagram

Source: Eric Christian

5. Discover unlike perspectives.

Taking photos from a unique, unexpected angle can make them more memorable — it tends to create an illusion of depth or height with the subjects. It also makes the prototype stand up out, since almost mobile photos are taken either straight -on or from a bird's eye view.

Attempt taking a photo directly upwardly and playing with the sky as negative space, like in the first photo below. Or, you tin try taking information technology at a slight downwards bending.

Pro Tip: If y'all accept a photo and detect the perspective is a little askew or tilted, use the SKRWT photo editing app to brand the lines look make clean and square.

bookshelf-perspective.png

Source: iPhone Photography Schoolhouse; Paul Octavious

vi. Play with reflections.

At that place'due south something so idyllic well-nigh seeing the sky reflected in a torso of h2o. There's a reason why we love seeing that — our eyes are drawn to reflections. So look for opportunities to play with them in photos.

There are plenty of out-of-the-box places to notice reflections — puddles, larger bodies of water, mirrors, sunglasses, drinking spectacles, and metallic surfaces are just a few.

capture-reflections.png

Source: Joshua Lott

7. Utilize leading lines.

In some photos, there's a line that draws the viewer's eye toward a certain role of the frame. Those are chosen leading lines. They can be directly or circulinear — think staircases, building facades, train tracks, roads, or even a path through the wood.

Leading lines are cracking for creating a sense of depth in an image, and can make your photo look purposefully designed — even if you lot just happened to come upon a actually cool shape by blow.

leading-lines-path.png

Source: Carlos Copertone

viii. Look for symmetry.

Symmetry can be defined as "a vague sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion and balance." And pictures that contain symmetry tin can be incredibly pleasing to the eye — it'southward likewise ane of the simplest and virtually compelling ways to compose a photo.

In photography, symmetry usually means creating an prototype that tin can exist divided into two equal parts that are mirror images of each other. That'southward a fleck unlike than reflections — symmetry tin can be constitute "in the wild," as per the staircase picture, or you can set up your photo accordingly, like lensman Eric Christian did in the first photo beneath.

And remember — apply those gridlines from tip #1 to line everything up perfectly.

symmetry.png

Source: Eric Christian

9. Continue an centre out for repetitive patterns.

Repetitive patterns are very pleasing to the eye — they appear whenever stiff graphic elements are repeated over and over once again, like lines, geometric shapes, forms, and colors. These patterns tin make a strong visual impact, and photographing something like a cute, tiled floor can be plenty to create a striking epitome. Other times, it's more than fun to proceed an center out for where they appear naturally or unintentionally, similar with the congruent fire escapes on the left.

soup-pattern.png

Source: Patrick Janelle

ten. Play around with color blocking.

Isn't it cool when an entire photo is black and white, except for a unmarried object? It turns out that aye, indeed, at that place are apps for that. One of our favorites is Touch Color — an app that automatically converts a picture to grayscale and lets y'all fill up in the parts you want to colorize.

Color blocking tin can aid to highlight the elements of a photograph that you want to stand out, like a plant or something else with a bold hue. Information technology achieves a similar goal as negative space, in that information technology can aid a single bailiwick stand out — but with colour blocking, the photo'south other elements remain intact for a cohesive image.

Grayscaled photo taken on mobile camera with color blocking to reveal purple flower in woman's hand

Source: Coloring Pages

11. Avoid zooming in.

When y'all accept a photo from a distance, information technology's tempting to zoom in on something specific you're trying to capture. Simply it'due south actually better not to zoom in — doing so can brand the photograph announced grainy, blurry, or pixelated.

Instead, endeavour to get closer to your discipline — unless it's a wild fauna, in which instance we would propose keeping your distance — or take the photo from a default distance, and ingather it afterward. That style, you won't compromise quality, and information technology'southward easier to play around or optimize a larger paradigm.

crop-photo-1.jpg

Source: Obama Pacman

12. Capture minor details.

You may have heard the phrase, "It'southward the piddling things." Sometimes, that as well applies to photos. Close-up images that capture small, intricate, and frail details can make for really compelling visual content. Go on an eye out for textures and patterns similar peeling paint, a gravel route, or a tile tabletop.

Pro Tip: Use the "acuminate" tool in your favorite photo editing app to (conservatively) sharpen the details of your photo. You might also download the Camera+ app and employ its Clarity filter, which is what The Wall Street Journal's Kevin Sintumuang calls the app's "cloak-and-dagger sauce — it adds pro-camera crispness to about any shot."

tile-patterns.png

Source: Eric Christian

xiii. Use natural light.

Information technology'south hard to find a cracking smartphone photo that was taken with a flash. Most of the time, they make a photograph look overexposed, negatively altering colors and making human subjects await done out. In fact, even the iPhone 7's flash is rumored to have some flaws.

Take advantage of the sources of natural light yous tin observe, even after dark. This gives you a chance to play with shadows, like in the 2d image beneath, or create a silhouette with other ambient sources of calorie-free, similar traffic and surrounding buildings.

One time yous've taken the photo, play with the "Exposure" tool in your favorite photo editing app to come across if you lot can make the image slightly brighter, without making information technology too grainy.

no-flash-flower.png

Source: Paul Octavious

14. If you use flash, only exercise and so during the solar day.

Sometimes, using your camera'south flash tin can amend a photograph — only rarely does information technology do so at night. Because dark shots reveal a much sharper contrast against your phone's flash, it tin can brand any flash look look invasive and uneven

In already well-lit spaces, however, a flash can help to soften some dark shadows backside or beneath your main subject.

When framing your next shot, look on the ground or against vertical surfaces for whatsoever dark shadows yous might want to remove. If you meet any, flip on the wink manually in your camera app. Setting your phone'due south camera flash to "auto" won't guarantee that your phone will find the shadows you desire to get rid of. Merely remember to turn the flash off once more when y'all're done.

Consider the importance of flash for enhancing or hiding certain lines and features the next time you're shooting product photography.

15. Consider ownership a mobile tripod.

Although mobile devices get in like shooting fish in a barrel to snap whatever photo on the go, there's never been an easy way to ensure the shot stays level and balanced when you shoot — particularly if you want to be in the flick and not but take a typical selfie with your extended arm.

Mobile tripods give yous the freedom to mountain your smartphone for quick hands-free shots without lugging whatever heavy equipment with you lot. Most mobile tripods are barely bigger than your mobile device, and can bend to any angle. Cheque out i of them from Joby, above, and learn how these miniature tripods can help heighten your mobile video experience below.

16. Set your camera app's exposure manually.

Another mobile camera feature you'll want to set manually is your exposure. Borer your screen when your telephone's camera is on doesn't only refocus the lens on a new subject — it also automatically adjusts how much lite the photographic camera lets in. This, too, won't always look but correct. It's best to adjust it by mitt.

To alter your mobile photographic camera's exposure by hand, open up your camera app and tap the screen. When yous come across the lens refocus, you'll come across a very small sun icon and a vertical scale. Slowly swipe your finger up and down this scale to adjust the calorie-free level.

17. Create abstracts.

Abstruse photos are meant to capture the essence of an object, or a series of them, without revealing the entire landscape every bit a whole. In other words, they serve the purpose of creating unique, surprising images from ordinary subjects.

This look can be achieved by cropping an abstract portion of an otherwise normal photograph, or past taking close-up shots of objects that get out the viewer wondering — in adoration, of course — what the subject might be. And subjects with patterns or repetition are groovy candidates for abstract photography, like in the photo of sliced figs below.

abstract-architecture.jpg

Source: iPhone Photography Schoolhouse

18. Take candids.

Posed photos tin be great for the sake of memories — happy moments with friends, family, or the occasional run-in with a glory. But sometimes, aboveboard shots of people doing things, or people with people, can be far more interesting.

That's because candid photos are better able to effectively capture the emotion and essence of a moment. 1 of the all-time ways to capture this kind of shot is to just accept equally many photos as possible. You'll have more to choose from, and the best photos oftentimes happen when the "stars align," so to speak, in a unmarried moment — everyone'due south eyes are open, ane person is tilting their head only then, and you finally got a shot of your chronically airtight-lip friend smile with his teeth.

eating-candid.png

Source: Patrick Janelle

19. Be non-conventional.

Composition is a huge part of what makes a photograph great, simply so is the photo's bailiwick. Some of the nearly delightful and remarkable photos come up out of cool, unique ideas. Images are more effective than text at evoking emotion from your viewers — that often means getting your photos to say something.

Effort thinking outside of the box when it comes to what you're capturing — your viewers could be pleasantly surprised by a cool or unexpected subject.

leaf-dog-constellation.png

Source: Paul Octavious

twenty. Make 'em laugh.

Speaking of evoking emotion, sometimes the near memorable photos are the ones that make us giggle. The image below of an older adult female wearing a brightly-colored shirt stating "Hi hater" is funny because it'due south unexpected — and there'southward a role of us that admires her, likewise. The second paradigm of the domestic dog toy on a dinner plate pokes fun at classic Instagram food shots, but it'southward from a dog's perspective. If you lot can make your audition laugh, they're probable to savour your photograph.

pug-eating-toy.png

Source: Jeremy Veach

21. Clean your telephone's lens.

A smartphone camera might exist more convenient to carry around than a full-fledged photojournalist's camera, merely it comes at the toll of protection.

Your telephone is usually in your pocket or your bag when you lot're out of the house. All the while, the device's camera lens is collecting all kinds of grit and lint. Be certain to clean this lens with a soft handkerchief before taking a photo. You might not be able to tell merely how muddy the lens was until yous start editing your motion-picture show, and making sure the lens is crystal articulate before taking a shot can keep yous from starting from scratch.

22. Attach an external lens.

Want to get really fancy? External lenses are for you lot. There are actually several out in that location that can be fastened to the height of your smartphone's native camera lens — from fish-centre to wide-angle lenses, these add-ons can bring an entirely new quality and perspective to your photos.

According to Wirecutter, the best camera lenses for iPhone photography are made by Moment, a manufacturer of mobile lenses. Start there, or do some inquiry to detect the lens add together-ons that fit your smartphone photography needs.

Horses looking into fisheye external lens attached to phone camera

Source: MobileFun.co.uk

23. Don't be afraid to edit.

Composing and taking your smartphone photo is simply the get-go pace to making it visually compelling. Editing your photos is the next step — and a very critical ane, at that. Filters can be a valuable photographic tool, especially when information technology comes to two goals: one) Removing blemishes from a moving-picture show, and ii) making food expect even more succulent.

For the offset, InStyle magazine compiled a fun list of "The All-time Instagram Filters for Every Beauty Complaint" — and now, the iPhone photos app offers many similar filters. There are as well apps like Pho.to, which tin can automatically retouch facial photos without a lot of work. And when it comes to those photos of your daily meals? Ane of the latest apps available is Foodie, which comes with its ain set of filters optimized for dissimilar types of nutrient.

Simply at that place are many other nifty photograph and video editing apps out in that location for mobile devices — check out this post to meet some of the best ones out there.

51b3f40f.png

Source: LINE Corp.

Want more tips on creating visual content? Check out these examples of explainer videos.

Editor's note: This postal service was originally published in November 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Marketer's Guide to Photoshop

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Originally published Oct 19, 2020 7:00:00 AM, updated October 26 2020