Ready to take better phone photos? It’s such a great time of year to add plenty of memories to your ever growing camera roll. However, before you start filling up that phones with images which are probably not going to make the cut during your next purge, we want to offer some guidance. We are offering up some useful tips utilized by photographers and selfie experts alike. So get ready to level up your photo game and make the most of every photo op! Here are 5 tips and tricks on how to take better phone photos!

1. That’s clean.

First things first on how to take better phone photos is to make sure your camera lens is clean. There is nothing more to it. A giant smudge on your lens can prevent you from capturing a great moment. So, take a moment and wipe your lens down before using it. Using a microfiber cloth is ideal. But, if you don’t have one available, gently (and lightly) use the cotton from your t-shirt. Now, no matter what you capture, you can be sure it’s going to come out crisp, like Sprite from McDonalds.

2. Composition

Ok, so there is no big secret here. Composition basically means, “how do I want this image to look”. Having this understanding prior to taking a photo will help you get into position and capture all the best angles. Some things to consider are: What do you want in the background? Is there enough room for everyone in the photo? Are the colors of the surrounding environment going to clash with my outfit?

Some of the most simple concepts are often the most overlooked. For instance, when capturing a group photo, avoid having anyone wearing the same color standing directly next to one another. The contrast created by something so minor as moving them around will improve the quality of your images tenfold. The long and short of it, be intentional.

3. Shine on em.

Can you guess what the biggest mistake among cell phone photographers is? It’s a mistake everyone has committed at some point or another, that is, facing towards the sun! Nobody likes to stare into the sun. It may seem like a good idea for the photo because it offers “good” lighting, but this comes at the expense of your subject squinting and looking sweaty from the sun rays kissing off of their forehead. Proper lighting is a huge component of capturing a high quality image. The easiest solution is to stand in the shade when taking a pic.

This is going to allow your camera to work the way it was supposed to. Now, I know what you’re going to say, “When I take a photo in the shade, all I can see are shadows”. That’s because you need to adjust the aperture on your camera, this allows more light to come into the camera. iPhone users can adjust their aperture by tapping their screen to focus and sliding the “sun” icon up and down. Android users can adjust their aperture by utilizing the shutter icon. If you haven’t played with this before, take some time to get familiar with it. This is going to take you far in the game.

4. Move it Move it.

Now that you’ve gotten the basics down, it’s time to get creative. Adding movement to your images adds a layer of depth to the story you are trying to tell. Instead of simply standing around for your group pic have everyone dance. Not into dancing? Have them jump. Not ready to jump around? Ask them to walk as a group. Just get the gang moving, this is going to add a dynamic that allows uniqueness to shine throughout the image. Don’t shy away from having fun with it. You can even go as far as including props that encourage creative images. Your pictures will be more fun which means your smiles will be more authentic and genuine too.

5. For all time.

Don’t ever underestimate the value of that timer. I can’t begin to tell you how many times we’ve relied on a timer to capture a wonderful memory. The convenience a timer offers is incredibly underrated. We often use ours to capture group photos with the family, why sacrifice on missing the moment when you can set your timer and capture the shot with the whole squad? Most, if not all, phones will have this option in the camera settings represented as a clock. A word of caution, it’s probably not a good idea to set up your phone with a timer in a crowded area, be safe and perhaps ask some kind person in the crowd to snap the pic.

Bonus Tip:

Ok, so here’s a little bonus tip for you on taking better phone photos, just because we like you so much. If you have an iphone, your Apple Watch has a camera option as well. Open the camera app on your phone, then open the camera app on your watch. They will work together to provide you with a mini viewfinder and shutter. The default for the app is a 3-second timer, but you can always remove it if you wish. This is another great option when you are trying to capture a selfie on vacation. Pair your phone with a mini tripod and use your watch to snap pics without having to rush back each time to get the right shot.

There you have it, now go out there and have some fun taking the best photo out of the group. Like anything else, the more you practice the better you will become. We hope you enjoy! We decided there was no need to plug our beautiful and friendly mobile presets that will elevate your images even further. So, be on the look out for the next blog post that will tell you all about all the presets available to you here.