5 Tips to taking better iPhone photos

4/5/2020

These days I take about 95% of my personal photos on my iPhone. It's the most convenient camera to use at a moments notice, and with 2 small kids, convenience is key. ;) With the quality of smartphone cameras the possibilities are endless with what you can capture in your everyday life. Here are some tips for understanding how to create better images with the camera that is always with you...

1. Keep it Simple.

Shot with: iPhone X // iPhone 6 // iPhone 5

Less is more in my opinion. Too many details can be unnecessary in a photo. When you are taking a photo, check to make sure there are no distracting elements in your shot. If you can't physically remove unwanted objects from your photo just reposition yourself or move closer to crop them out of the frame.

Here is my current view as I write this blog post. :) When I simply stood up and shot from above, it cropped out all the unnecessary stuff in the background AND is a much more flattering angle.

Shot with iPhone X

2. Try different Angles.

Along those same lines of keeping it simple, sometimes just changing your angle or moving in closer to your subject can drastically improve the shot. Next time you take a photo try several different positions (up close, far away, down low, rotate to a new spot) before deciding on a final image.

Shot with: iPhone X

3. Pay attention to lighting.

It's a good rule of thumb to make sure that your subject is in even light, especially if you are photographing people. You can see the photo on the left looks speckled and uneven on our faces and clothes from the sunlight. It was an easy fix to just shift a few inches to get out of the spotty sunlight into the shade.

Shot with iPhone 6

4. Think about composition.

The 'Rule of Thirds' says that the focal point or subject should be located at one of the 4 intersections on the grid. I definitely think this is a rule that can be broken. But if you are wanting to make an image more interesting try placing your subject at one of those 4 points. You can turn your grid on in your iPhone camera settings. (settings > camera > grid)

Shot with iPhone X

Another compositional element to watch for is the horizon line. Making sure it is straight can dramatically help the aesthetic of your photo.

Shot with: iPhone 5

5. Edit your photos!

Most of the elements I discuss above can actually be fixed with editing! Nobody is perfect and trying to catch every technicality in the moment can be difficult. Especially when you first start applying them. Cropping, straightening and fixing exposure (lighting) can help you turn a good photo into something great.

Shot with iPhone 5

There are so many great apps you can use to edit your photos on your iPhone, but some of my favorites are: Adobe Lightroom, Snapseed, & VSCO. Using presets is an easy way to edit your photos on the fly. You can purchase my custom presets HERE.