I feel like I never take my good camera out anymore because I always have my smarthphone and how easy is it to take pics and video with that?! If you have a decent phone, the picture quality is high and I feel like it’s more user friendly as well so anyone can use it! I have some apps I use to edit my photos I use for the blog, but Ashley, a blogger, lifestyle writer and mommy has some great tips on taking even better photos on your phone!
Chronicling all the adorable moments of your family’s daily life is one of the most delightful tasks of parenthood. But it’s not fun when a golden moment becomes a dark, grainy blur on your phone. Photography is a specialized skill, but it’s still possible to take great snapshots with your phone. Here’s what you need to know.
Seek the Light
Image via Flickr by MFer Photography
It’s impossible to take a good photo without adequate light. The phone you’re using makes a difference, and some are better at letting in light than others. For instance, T-Mobile’s Galaxy S7 has a brighter F1.7 lens and a larger 1.4µm image sensor to capture more of the available light than other phone cameras can. Regardless of the camera you’re using, though, better light will usually improve your photos. You want light that is bright but diffused to keep it from appearing harsh. Daylight is best, so if you’re indoors, try to move near windows. Harsh sunlight can create ugly shadows, so if you’re outdoors on a sunny day, move into the shade.
Choose Your Focus
Smartphone cameras focus automatically, but if you don’t tell your camera what you’ve chosen as the focal point, it has to guess. Get in the habit of touching the screen before you shoot to bring your camera’s settings into alignment with your goals. Touch your baby’s face or toes on-screen, and watch how the camera adjusts. Notice that if the scene looks dark, touching the darkest spot on the screen will trigger your camera to let in more light. If you’re seeing sharp, clear leaves in the foreground but your family looks blurry, touch the family to force your camera to shift focus.
Get in Tight
Some general photography advice that translates very well to smart phones is to photograph the details that tell a story. Don’t be afraid to zoom in on your baby’s toes, her eyes peering over her bottle, or his fingers curled around a pacifier. You don’t need to capture the entire scene if your baby is sleeping adorably on Daddy’s shoulder. Zoom in on the baby, and include Daddy’s gentle smile. You don’t need to show his feet.
Minimize Your Zoom Use
When you’re trying to get in tight, try not to overuse your phone’s pinch-to-zoom feature. Unlike point-and-shoot cameras, phones don’t have an optical lens that adjusts when you zoom. Your smartphone is really just cropping the photo, not enhancing detail. Zoom in by moving closer if possible. You might also consider buying an optical lens accessory that snaps onto your phone.
Loosen Up
Straight shots with centered subjects can look very stiff. Professional photographers rarely center their subject in the frame. Try to place the most interesting bit of the photo off-center. Imagine drawing a tic-tac-toe board on your screen, and place the subject along one of the dividing lines or intersections. Your phone may even offer a grid to help you.
Experiment with tilting your camera a bit to bring a sense of action and energy to your shots. Babies are oblivious, but children and adults will start posing and smiling stiffly when they see the camera. Once you have their permission to take pictures, let them pose stiffly once or twice, then keep the camera out and casually grab a few candid shots once they’ve relaxed.
Preserve Those Memories
Once you’ve captured some good shots, don’t leave them to fate. Remember to back them up, and be sure to use multiple methods. Back up to your computer and to the cloud. Get prints made of some of your favorite shots, or have them blown up on canvas. The more formats you use, the safer your memories are.
Taking good photos with your smartphone involves many of the same skills as traditional photography does, including composing shots well and taking advantage of natural light. Any resource that helps you learn more about photography will improve your shots, no matter what camera you’re using. But your smartphone camera is a little different. Knowing its limitations when it comes to zoom and lighting, for instance, will help you avoid taking dark, grainy photos of your radiant family.
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