Gorgeous, high-quality photography can be achieved with a Smart Phone.
1. Always Use Two Hands
Each iPhone is lighter than the last — and while that’s generally great, it affects the stability when trying to take a steady shot. Always use two hands to keep the phone as still as possible.
2. A Tripod Might be Worth Its Weight in Gold
If using two hands isn’t enough to get the steadiness you need for a shot, an iPhone-specific tripod is a perfect solution. These tools are affordable, portable, and can help you achieve angles and framing that you might not otherwise have a chance to try.
3. Put the Headphones to Good Use
Let’s face it: the iPhone’s headphones aren’t the most impressive audio devices on the market — but they do come with a little-known feature: the “volume up” button doubles as a camera remote! This is a very handy alternative to a selfie stick if you’re using a tripod or want to be in the shot.
4. Understand the Shutter Button
It’s worth noting that the shutter only activates when you remove your finger from the button, not when you press it. If you’ve ever noticed slight motion blur on a shot even though you’re convinced you were perfectly still, it’s probably because you began moving just after pressing the button and assumed the shot was done.
5. Forget the iPhone’s Zoom Feature
If you must zoom in on a subject and can’t simply move closer, consider taking the shot as standard and cropping in a post instead. It’ll look marginally better than the in-built zoom feature, which maximizes every tiny movement and loses a lot of sharpness.
6. Invest in a Lens Kit
As smartphone photography has increased in popularity, so has the market for lens kits that can attach effortlessly over your phone’s camera. If you’re serious about getting the very best from your iPhone shots, a lens kit is a great idea. Even a $30 three-in-one kit with a fisheye, wide-angle, and macro lens will dramatically improve your results.
Just remember: if you’re going in for an iPhone lens kit, you’ll likely have to replace it every few years as the dimensions of the phone evolve.
7. Everything You Learn at Photography School Still Applies.
Everything you know about composition, finding unique angles and perspectives, identifying interesting subjects, working with lighting and exposure, and exercising great technique are all still ingredients to a good photo — no matter what you’re shooting. Think of the iPhone as simply another industry-standard tool to master and add to your repertoire as a photographer.
One of the key benefits of taking photos with your smartphone is that you generally always have it on you. So shoot often and have fun!
