By: Bryan Tropeano
You don’t need a pricey camera to take better photos with your phone. Modern smartphones already come with amazing lenses and smart software that make it easy to capture great moments. With just a few simple tricks, you can improve your phone photos and make them look like they came from a professional camera. And if you want to polish them up even more, there are plenty of beginner-friendly online tools that make editing photos quick and easy.
Find the Light
Lighting is the secret ingredient in good phone photography. Natural light will always look the best, so try to shoot near a window or outside during the morning or late afternoon. That time right after sunrise or before sunset, known as “golden hour,” gives your pictures a soft, warm glow that’s hard to beat.
If you’re indoors, turn off bright overhead lights and use a lamp or indirect light instead. And remember, avoid placing your main light source directly behind your subject, or your photos will come out dark and shadowy.
Tap to Focus
This is one of the easiest smartphone photography tricks that people overlook. Before snapping the picture, tap the screen where you want the camera to focus. Your phone will automatically adjust exposure and clarity for that area, giving you sharper and more balanced results.
Keep It Steady
Blurry photos usually come from small movements while shooting. Try holding your elbows close to your body or resting your phone on a stable surface. If pressing the on-screen button causes motion, use your phone’s volume button instead.
Here’s a bonus tip: if you have wired or Bluetooth headphones, press the volume button on them to take a shot. It’s like using a tiny remote control for steady, hands-free photos.
Clean the Lens
It might sound obvious, but your phone’s camera lens collects fingerprints and dust fast. A quick wipe with a soft cloth before taking pictures can instantly improve photo quality and color clarity.
Try Different Angles
Experimenting with angles can transform your shots. Instead of always shooting straight on, try crouching low, tilting your phone slightly, or capturing the scene from above. Different angles add depth and creativity to your phone photography.
For portraits, step back a bit and zoom in slightly instead of holding your phone too close. This avoids distortion and makes faces look more natural.
Edit, Don’t Overdo It
Editing helps bring out the best in your photos, but it’s easy to go overboard. Apps like Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile, or your built-in photo editor can help you brighten shadows, adjust warmth, and enhance colors naturally.
A few small tweaks in photo editing apps are usually all it takes to take better photos with your phone. Keep the look realistic and avoid cranking up saturation too much.
Practice Makes Perfect
Like anything else, practice helps you improve your phone photos over time. Shoot every day, experiment with lighting and composition, and study what works best for your style. Before long, you’ll be capturing better smartphone pictures without even thinking about it. You can always try it out with the TikTok photo editing trend.
About the author: Bryan Tropeano is a senior producer and a regular reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Washington D.C. and loves all things Tech.
