A common perception is that if you want to take professional-looking photos, you need an expensive camera. This is not true! You can easily take professional photos using your mobile phone. Thanks to technological advances, mobile phone cameras are as good as professional cameras.
A question you may have is how to take professional photos using your mobile phone camera. Read on to know the answer to your question.
Tips to take great photos using mobile phones
1. Know your camera features
Mobile phones today have advanced camera features. You can get mobile phones with a camera resolution of 64 MP, which is more than sufficient to take great photos. Mobile cameras also have a range of features like timer, image stabilization, zoom function, camera control options, flash, etc. You need to understand all these features. Read about them in the manual. Better still, try them all out to understand how these features work.
2. Take multiple photos
With mobile phones, you can shoot as many photos as you want. Today’s phones have ample memory space that can be expanded using memory cards. If there are too many photos, you can back them up to the cloud. This will allow you to take multiple photos. Taking burst photos ensures you will get at least one good photo. You can always delete the others later.
3. Use natural light as far as possible
Using flash illuminates your photo, but the result may not look professional. The best photos are taken in natural light. Taking photos outdoors allows you to get the best quality images. Use artificial lighting only if necessary.
4. Avoid zoom
When you use the zoom function, it helps you get a close shot. But the image resolution can be reduced. This is not something professionals do. Instead, get a camera with the optical zoom feature. While digital zoom reduces picture quality, the optical zoom does not. It works like a telephoto lens used on a regular camera. If you do not have this feature, then move closer to your subject take your photos.
5. Use the HDR feature
HDR or High Dynamic Range is a feature that allows for a more balanced exposure. It makes your photos look as though they have been taken using a professional camera. Look for this feature before you buy a mobile phone.
6. Use gridlines while composing shots
The rule of thirds in photography states that the image should be broken into nine parts. The object you are shooting must be at the intersection and along the lines. You can put this rule into practice by using the gridlines feature in your camera. It allows you to compose your shot perfectly.
7. Consider getting a tripod
If you don’t have a steady hand, your phone may shake slightly. This can ruin the image making it blurry. Consider getting a mobile tripod to avoid shaky pictures. Miniature tripods are available that are handy to use and help you stabilize your shots.
8. Go for small details
Try to capture small details in your photograph. This makes it look professional. Close-up photos would help you focus on the smaller details. The sharpen option will help you sharpen your photos and allow the details to be brought out.
9. Use manual exposure
The camera exposure should be set manually to get the best photos. Adjusting it manually allows you to adjust the light level until it is perfect. This is the best way to take photos professionally.
10. Get candid photos
Mobile phones are ideal to get candid photos. The phone is with you all the time, and you can quickly whip it out and take a photo. Take photos when you see an opportunity. Such candid photos will help you capture the emotions of people. They are interesting photos that look good. Such photos look much better than posed photos.
11. Consider a third-party camera app
Most users use the camera app that comes with the phone. But there are many third-party apps that offer professional results. Apps like Manual and Afterlight have a range of features that can help you take great photos.
12. Edit the photos
You can edit the photos you have taken using your mobile phone. There are many free apps available that you can use for editing. During editing, you can fine-tune the photo and make it look better. Any blemish in the photo can be corrected while editing. You can use filters to enhance the photos. You can touch up the photos within seconds and share them with friends.
Mobile phones these days come with advanced features that make photography a lot easier. Test out your phone camera and you will be surprised at the high-quality pictures you take.
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