Unless you’re a photography fan, you’ve likely put away your D-SLR and point-and-shoot cameras in favor of the camera that’s always on hand– your phone.
But if you’re like me, your photos don’t always turn out to be frame-worthy. And it’s not your phone’s fault. After all, did anyone ever teach you how to take a great photo beyond just point and click?
Me neither. And with the holidays coming up, we’ll all be taking a lot of photos and getting a few pointers for taking better pictures wouldn’t hurt.
But I’m an amateur, so if someone uses words like shutter, speed or exposure, I’m out. so here are a few tips for taking great pictures that anyone can use.
- Use natural light.
You know how outdoor pictures always seem to turn out better? That’s because of all the natural light. But even if you are taking pictures indoors, you can raise the blinds or shades to let in more natural light, which automatically makes a better photo. - Find a pretty background.
The best pictures you see online are those that have a great background. If you’re outdoors, that could be a tree or brick wall. Or if you’re indoors, you can use the Christmas tree or a pretty mantel. If you take pictures of objects, always use a simple background like a poster board, wrapping paper, rug or throw. - Touch your screen to focus on the object you are shooting.
Whether you are photographing an object or person, touch that thing and the camera will automatically focus on whatever you touch. - Take photos off center.
Instead of placing your subject in the center of the photo, the pros suggest placing the object to the left or right of your screen. Images off-center are more visually appealing to the eye. - Don’t use zoom.
Even though it’s tempting, stop using zoom because you always get a lower quality image. (Just think of every concert shot you’ve ever seen on Facebook.) - Stay still.
This seems obvious and you may think you already do this, but unless you have a surgeon’s steady hands, it’s easy to wobble a bit. Anchor your elbows to your side when you take the photo, and it will help you be more stable. - Selfie mode isn’t best for a crisp photo.
I know selfies are all the rage right now, but your photos will always be more crisp if you take them in regular mode. - Experiment with a new camera app.
I have always used the standard camera app that came on my phone, but several pros recommended the Camera+ app, which I am going to start testing. (The difference in the photo above is slight, but I also didn’t use any of the app’s special features.)
Two Twenty One also has an excellent blog post that is a must-read with easy tips for taking better iPhone photos.
I’d love to hear from you. Try some of these tips and let me know which were most helpful to you. In fact, post your best iPhone photos on the Defeating Busy Facebook page.