Take Better Pictures with Your Phone!

I’m a professional photographer with a full frame camera and a variety of awesome lenses.  I’m also a mother of four who always has her phone in her hand or in her pocket.  Guess which one I use to take pictures with the most? That’s right – the one that’s most convenient: cell phone!

And honestly, cell phone quality has gotten amazing!  It doesn’t rival a full frame camera, but it’ll definitely do the job for social media or even small prints.  And it helps us capture and share our moments.  How often do you take a selfie with a friend?  How often are you snapping pictures of your kids?  Think about that first day of school… social media is littered with images of our kids all dressed to impress and looking their best. 

So, without further ado, here are a few tips for taking a better picture with your phone:

1. Plan the shot! Look around for a background that will have the least distractions (power lines, cars, etc).  A hedge makes a nice impromptu backdrop, as does the beach, or a flowering tree.  But the big thing to look for are visual distractions.  Keep moving your subject until you find the best backdrop.
2. Eye level! Folks, the mile high forehead and oversized eyeballs are going to trend out the same way the “duck face” did… learn to position your camera (phone) correctly NOW.  Camera phones have wide angle lenses – they distort your image slightly.  And the closer the subject is to the camera, the greater the distortion (yes, selfie sticks WILL actually and dramatically improve your images… if you hold the stick correctly).  You want your camera to be at about eye level, not above your head!  Worried about your double chin?  Stick your face out a little.  And think about it when you’re taking pictures of your kids, too… kneel down if you need to, but get to their eye level. 
3. Use your flash!  Okay, if you’re doing a selfie, the flash won’t help you.  It’s on the other side. But if you’re taking a picture of your kids or your friends… the flash will light the shadows (just make sure you aren’t too close to them).  This is especially true when you’re trying to get people in front of a sunrise or sunset.  If you put people in front of a sunrise, either your camera will focus on the sky and the people will be a silhouette, or your camera will focus on the people and the sky will be bright and blown out and you won’t see the colors of the sunrise.  Using the flash can change the game for you.  Set the flash to fire, then tap the sky so the camera reads that light.  Then snap your shot. 

Try these – they are game changers!  Next thing you know, your friends will be suggesting that maybe you should be a photographer, because you’re the only one who takes good pictures of them… or their kids… or your kids…

Special thanks to my hubby for trying my tips and getting me these blog images ;)

Tried my tips? Leave me a comment and let me know how it went!!!