Over the past few years, the smartphone has evolved into a fully capable camera, and for many people it is the only camera they use. A smartphone's convenience—always at hand, fast and intuitive—makes it an ideal tool for spontaneous moments. What should you consider when taking photos with a smartphone? Let's look at how a few simple techniques and adjustments can help you get more out of your smartphone camera.
1. Camera Settings
Automatic mode works well, but it is worth exploring the 'Pro' settings from time to time. New smartphones have a built-in Pro mode, where you can manually adjust settings such as ISO, shutter speed and white balance.
• ISO determines your camera's sensitivity to light. The higher the ISO, the more light your sensor captures, but this also produces more noise. Try to keep the ISO as low as possible for sharp, detailed photos.
• Shutter speed determines how long your camera captures light. Fast shutter speeds freeze motion, while longer shutter speeds record movement, which can create attractive effects such as light trails or smoothly flowing water.
• White balance ensures that your photos have the correct color temperature. In many situations, automatic white balance works well, but manual adjustment can be useful for a particular mood or lighting condition.
2. Exposure: The Right Amount of Light
The iPhone 12 and newer versions often have automated camera settings, but it can sometimes be useful to adjust the settings yourself to get the best results.
• To control the exposure of your photos, touch the object or person on the screen that you want to focus on. A square with a sun icon appears; slide it up or down to make the subject brighter or darker. The cameras on most iPhones adjust this automatically by default, for example when you move the camera or the object in front of it moves.
• Although smartphones continue to improve in different lighting conditions, a few basic principles still matter. Natural light is your best friend. Shoot in natural light whenever possible, especially during the 'golden hour,' the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. The soft, warm light at those times creates beautiful shadows and highlights.
• Your smartphone's HDR feature can be useful when photographing high-contrast scenes, such as a landscape with a bright sky and dark shadows. HDR (High Dynamic Range) combines multiple exposures into a single photo so both the bright and dark areas are properly exposed. This produces photos that are much brighter and more detailed than a 'standard' photo.
In the camera settings on an iPhone—or on a refurbished phone from another brand—there is an option to enable HDR. Open Settings and select Camera, then select the HDR control to enable it.
• For a long exposure, enable Live Photos using the round button before taking the photo. The icon will turn yellow and display 'Live.' Photograph the moving object while holding the camera still. Then open the photo, tap Live and select Long Exposure. The photo is optimized automatically.
3. Focus and Sharpness
Your smartphone may sometimes have trouble focusing, especially in low light or when you want to capture a moment quickly. What can you do?
• Tap to focus. Touch the point on the screen that you want to appear sharp. Your phone will focus there and adjust the exposure for the selected focus point.
• Use burst mode when photographing a moving subject. This takes several photos in quick succession so you can select the sharpest one later.
• Use portrait mode, a popular feature that lets you take professional portrait photos by blurring the background with a bokeh effect while keeping the subject sharp.
• Also enable the grid in Settings. New in iOS 17 on iPhone are plus signs that help when photographing something from above. Align the white plus sign with the yellow one, then take the picture.
• Starting with iOS 17, you can also straighten the horizon directly in the Camera app. In your iPhone settings, enable the Level option if it is not already selected. Point your iPhone at the subject and watch for the white line in the center of the screen. Make sure the line is unbroken, then tap the shutter button.
• Also use the new level feature when you want to take a photo from above. First enable it in the app settings. The level is just one of the options that is easy to overlook. Also see these iPhone camera settings for more control while shooting.
• You can also create bokeh with an iPhone by holding the phone no more than thirty cm from your subject and tapping the subject on the screen.
4. Post-Processing: A Final Polish
Post-processing can transform a good photo into a truly beautiful one. Although your smartphone may already offer ready-to-use filters, many apps give you greater control over the details of your edit.
• Snapseed and Lightroom Mobile are examples of post-processing apps. These tools let you precisely adjust contrast, exposure, sharpness and color balance. Read more in The Ten Best Photography Apps for Your Smartphone.
• Experiment with brightness and contrast to add more dynamism to your photo. A subtle adjustment can often make the difference between a flat image and a vibrant one.
• Framing and cropping can have a major impact on your composition. Use the crop tool to remove distracting elements and direct attention more clearly to your subject.
Photography is about observing, experimenting and daring to try. Your smartphone offers endless possibilities, but the photographer makes the difference. With the right knowledge, a good eye for composition and some patience, you can use your smartphone to create artistic photos that can sometimes rival those taken with professional cameras.
