People say I’m a pretty good photographer. There’s a lot of study and experience necessary to make a camera work for you. There are also a few very easy tips which will make a huge difference in your cell pics or any pics.
The three shots here were all taken on my phone, a first generation HTC One. Your camera’s as good, maybe better.
Hold the camera steady. I know. Sounds too easy. I see your shots flash by and stalk your pages while you’re not looking. This is your biggest problem.
When a camera is starved for light (like if you’re shooting at the bowling alley) its shutter stays open longer. Your photo is now susceptible to the slightest motion.
Relax. Take a breath. Bend your elbows and hold the camera/phone in front of your chest. Lean against something if you can.
Seriously, holding steady will fix most of the problems I see online.
Shooter closer. There’s an old photographer’s expression that says get as close as you can, then take another step in.
Family members complain getting close makes them look heavy. No. Usually showing a person from the chest up is a more flattering view.
Hold your camera so the longest edge is horizontal. It’s referred to as landscape mode. That’s the way the human eye sees, more wide than tall.
Just as important, a photo shot landscape matches your screen’s shape. A landscape mode shot fills more screen than portrait mode.
There’s hardly ever a reason to shoot vertically.
These tips work for video too, especially the hold steady part.
Panning on a camera is disorienting, especially when it’s done as fast as a human head turns. Go slow. Be graceful. Fluid motions.
Here’s a bonus selfie tip. When you’re ready to take your shot look at the cameras lens in the mirror, not your screen.
