In this century, it seems like smartphone companies are playing a game of cameras. Every update comes with a grander camera version, which I love since I do not have to think about investing in a camera on the side. If you love taking photos, you know what I mean.
Unfortunately, just because I have the best camera phone in the world today does not mean my photos will stand out. At least not until I apply the following tips.
Clean Your Lenses
This is a simple rule, but it is not straightforward for everyone. If you tend to place your phone anywhere without minding the cleanliness of the surface, your camera probably picks a few dust particles.
To ensure this does not affect my photos’ quality, I clean the camera’s lenses before taking any shot. When doing this, I confirm I use a soft cloth so it doesn’t scratch the lenses as it will leave a permanent mark.
Make use of Gridlines
Most of us do not take the time to understand why the phone’s camera has specific settings. As long as we can take a fair shot, we are good to go. However, if you want to maximize the use of your phone’s camera, at least learn how to use gridlines.
A great photo means perfect layering. Gridlines ensure I get the layers right. I use the rule of thirds that breaks an image into nine parts, i.e., three steps up and three steps horizontally. If an image fits perfectly in the grids, then it will turn out great.
Go With Natural Light
Using a camera when the flash is on boosts a shot, but in my opinion, nothing beats the authenticity of perfect lighting like natural light. As long as it is within my power, I ensure I get the right light angle to boost my shot. This brings clarity of detail as well.
Make Use of Tripods
We all know how images look when taken by a shaky hand. It simply never works, and you’ll be lucky if you get an idea of what the picture seeks to demonstrate. I always ensure that my hand is steady enough to take a shot, even if I’m moving.
If I can’t do it properly, I consider using something like a Pocket Tripod, which is easy to pack and consists of carbon fiber legs for that extra bit of steadiness. People who are into photography, especially long exposures, should ideally consider using this device for clicking the most captivating pictures.
The Cloud Storage Camera May not be as Good
Some phones do not have adequate space, so Google has apps such as ‘Google photos’ to boost the phone’s storage. Unfortunately, just because the app comes with more than enough storage does not mean it will get us the best images. If you experience such a problem, I recommend you stick to your phone’s camera, take the best photos you can, and move the pictures to cloud storage afterward.
Tap to Focus
This is a pretty easy tip as I only need to tap my primary focus to get it clearer than the other images in the photo. However, some cameras create the focus for us, which can get you deceived that you are doing it right, especially where people are included in the image. To avoid this, always ensure you still tap on your primary focus unless you are satisfied with what the phone automatically suggests.
I ensure my tap-to-focus setting is on for this tip. Some phones have the automatic focus option as the default, which does not always let one tap focus.
Work with Negative Space
Negative space in photography is the vast space behind one’s primary focus. I find that the bigger the negative space, or the more outstanding it is, the better my image will look. Excellent negative spaces include a green field, a water body, or a blue sky.
Bonus Tip: Perspective matters
You can use several other tips to make your images stand out, but I wouldn’t end my recommendations without emphasizing perspective. This is the point that turns a good photo into a great one. Perspective may include the angle of a shot, light intensity, leveling the image, and what to have or avoid. This demands some creativity, but with a little practice, anyone can get good at it.