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10 Killer Tricks To Boost Your Smartphone Photography

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These ten smartphone photography tips will help take your smartphone pictures from ordinary to extraordinary in no time! We all enjoy taking pictures. It seems like a relatively straightforward thing to do, right? Well, it’s not. Taking visually interesting pictures can have a steep learning curve – ask any professional photographer.

10 Killer Tricks To Boost Your Smartphone Photography

With smartphones, most of us just open up our camera app, point, and click, and you are done. While you can get decent pictures at times, you’re not taking advantage of what your smartphone camera has to offer.

All it takes is a few minutes, adjusting some settings, and remembering the rules for taking a kick-ass picture, and you’ll have frame-worthy photos! Most smartphones have excellent cameras but don’t you want more than decent photos? Here are my favorite tricks for boosting my smartphone photography.

Smartphone cameras can take pictures just as crisp and clear as any DSLR camera, so there are no excuses to take bad pictures anymore! And you don’t have to be a pro photographer to take excellent photos! I’m continuing to learn new tips and techniques every day, and you should too. 

Follow me on Pinterest for even more great photography tips and tricks. 

Let’s get started!

1 – Override the Default Settings: This is one of the first things I do when taking pictures. It’s fast, easy, and gives you the spot-on features you need. 

Take some time to look at the advanced setting on your smartphone. Understand your phone’s exposure setting. You can use the sliders found in most camera applications to boost your photos too. When you are in your camera app, click on the “mode” settings. There, you will see settings for particular features to the shot you are trying to take, such as night, beauty face, sports, etc. The “pro” settings are great to play around with as well.

You can choose features like effects, metering, and more. For example, if you prefer grain to blur – all you need to do is turn up the ISO used by the camera manually, and if your photo is underexposed, you can use the sliders found in most camera applications to boost it. 

Currently, I’m using a Samsung Galaxy S6 – this is what the “Mode” settings look like. Be sure to get familiar with the settings on your phone’s mode feature. Take some time and play around with what each location has to offer. Snap some random test photos using each set. You can permanently delete them after you’re done playing. 

10 Killer Tricks To Boost Your Smartphone Photography

2 – Be Ready, Set, Go! It’s a good idea to keep your phone in camera mode. I have my phone ready to take pictures by pressing the “Home” button twice quickly on my phone. A good picture-taking moment is easy to lose if your phone is not ready to go. The best way to do that is to set your phone’s camera to open it quickly automatically. 

Click on the “Camera Setting” icon on your phone. There, you will see a preference for accessing your phone quickly. For the Galaxy S6, you can also change that feature in Settings – Applications —> Camera. 

10 Killer Tricks To Boost Your Smartphone Photography

3 – Light, Oh Magical Light! Good lighting is the key to taking better pictures. Even at night, the amount of light you have in your pictures is important. Always try to take photos in natural lighting. It’s simply the best. I know as a blogger,

I’ve taken shots of perfectly plated food outdoors to get better lighting. (I love my townhouse, but the lighting is not the best). As I mentioned before, your phone has a feature for taking photos at night – play with it.

You’d be surprised at how many awe-inspiring photos you can get in the mystical moments of the evening. Some good rules to remember about shooting in the evening are: the hour before and after sunset creates gorgeous light for landscapes and outdoor photography. The golden hour (before) makes fiery oranges and reds. The blue hour (after) gives soft, subtle blues.

4 – Using The Principles of Composition: 
Simplify the scene – The camera doesn’t discriminate. It’s important to remember that it captures everything in front of it, which can lead to a cluttered, messy picture with no clear focal point.

You need to choose your subject, then select a focal length or camera viewpoint that makes it the center of attention in the frame. In simple compositions.

Here are some key elements used in the principles of composition.

10 Killer Tricks To Boost Your Smartphone Photography


♦ Fill the frame – You can’t always keep other objects out of the picture, but you keep them in the background or make them part of your photographic story. It’s is said that silhouettes, textures, and patterns are all devices that work pretty well. 

♦ Aspect ratio – Try turning your picture to get a vertical shot instead by adjusting your position or the zoom setting as you experiment with the new style. You can often improve horizontal and vertical images by cropping the photo later.

♦ Avoid the middle – Centering your images produces static, boring pictures. There is nothing visually interesting about them. One of the ways to counteract this is to use the Rule of Thirds – that’s where you split the image up into thirds – both horizontally and vertically – and try to place your subject on one of these imaginary lines or intersections. 

♦ Leading lines – Converging lines can give a strong sense of perspective and three-dimensional depth that end up drawing you into an image. Curved lines can lead you on a journey around the frame, leading you towards the main subject. Lines exist everywhere. You can easily find them in nature. They are in walls, fences, roads, buildings, and telephone wires. They can also be implied, so use your creativity and start to think about natural and manmade lines.  

♦ Creative with colors – Try to be selective about isolating and framing your subjects to exclude unwanted stains. Try a bright splash of color against a monochromatic background. The key is to be selective about isolating and framing your issues to exclude unwanted colors.

♦ Backgrounds – It’s really important to see beyond the subject you are focusing on and see the entire image in your camera lens. See beyond your subject and remember everything in the background is an integral part of your photo too. I’ve often used some creative ways to either add interesting elements or remove them from my background.

For example, if your background is too busy, you can angle the shot from the ground up, using the blank space on the ceiling where things are not so busy. This might require some kneeling and shooting upwards while your subjects remain positioned in the photo. 

♦ Breaking the rules – I always try to remember that even though there are so many photography rules, it’s always interesting to break them and try something different. You’d be surprised what a fantastic photo you can get using your imagination. Break a rule, take a risk – I’ve called some outstanding images that way. 

5 – Sideways Is The Best Way! This is my preferred angle for taking pictures with my smartphone. I rarely use the vertical position. Be sure to use the “landscape” orientation when taking photos. Not only will your images look so much better, but you’ll be able to have more photography real estate to do so – you can fit so much more into a photo by holding your phone horizontally.  

Holding your phone horizontally will also create photos that look better when viewed on a widescreen computer or television and you won’t get those awful vertical black bars on each side of the image. I especially dislike that in videos too! 

6 – Steady Now! Did you ever hold your camera at arm’s length to get a shot? If so, you are doing it all wrong. Turn yourself into a human tripod to get a good, sharp image. Hold the camera with both hands and pull your arms into your chest or stomach. You’re instantly sturdier, and so are your photos.

Also, I’ve purchased a few mini-tripods for my smartphone, which works terrific! You can even use them outdoors. They are great for taking selfies, too, or if you are out of the dining and you’re not into the whole selfie stick movement. 

7 – Apps Rock! There are so many fantastic apps out there for taking photos. I don’t just mean the filtering kind either. I mean actual camera apps that are loads more efficient and jammed with excellent features and functionality.  A few of my favorite camera apps are “A Better Camera, Cameringo,  Camera+, Manual, ProCamera, Camera ZOOM FX, and Camera 360. Apps can help you quickly edit and share photos and videos too. 

8 – Managing Your Photos – If you use a PC or MAC and want to be able to easily edit, save, and download your photos to your computer, then I suggest you give Mighty Text a try.

I don’t know what I’d do without it. You can easily text from your computer which is synced with your phone & number. It allows you to instantly & securely store photos & videos taken from your phone to your computer or tablet. Dead simple, 1-click photo sharing. Apply Instagram-like filters and effects too. One of my favorite tools for sure!

9 – Editing Is Your Friend: If you are not happy with the photos you’ve taken, don’t delete them – edit them instead! There are loads of apps to help you along – VSCO is a great way to edit photos for free, and Snapseed is another good mobile option.

Download one and start editing around. You’d be surprised how slightly increasing the saturation and warmth of your photos makes a huge difference.  Some tips – explore saturation, contrast, fill light, tint, grain, and other tweaks to see which improve your photos the most.

10 – Keep That Lens Clean! Oh my gosh – you would not believe how many great photos are ruined because of a dirty lens. I make sure to clean my smartphone lens several times a day.

I recently wrote a post about a fantastic gadget to help you do that. Plus, it’s germy not to clean your phone. Whatever you use to clean your lens, be sure to do so. You’d be amazed at the dirt on it that you don’t see! 

Be sure to read My Favorite Gadget Of The Week to discover new mind-blowing photography tips, tech tools, and gadgetry. 

I hope these tips will help you take better pictures with your smartphone. I know they sure have helped me. 

PIN IT For Later. Share Please!

10 Killer Tricks To Boost Your Smartphone Photography_Sassy Townhouse Living

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65 Comments

  4. Great tips! I agree with all of them except number 6. When photographing people, especially people of a certain age, the camera always needs to have a slight down angle. A photo from the chest will give one chins and make one look heavier! Other than that, love the tips!

  5. Great cell phone camera tips! I could always use tips on getting better pictures. I think most people need help. Lol

  7. Pinning. Pinning. Pinning. I have the same phone. I take ok photos but I haven’t taken time to learn about the settings. Thank you for this!

  8. Love love love these tips! I’ve already pinned your post to read again.

  9. I will def. be heading over to check out your article on keeping the camera and lens clean. Never thought to clean the lens. I appreciated all your tips but that one is new to me.

  10. Such a helpful – and necessary – post. Thanks for all the info. But…I have an iPhone 6, and can’t’ find any of the settings you are writing about…(I know, I’m a luddite). Help?

  11. Practical, applicable, easy to read! My kind of post! However I was not able to find the camera settings you reference. I have a Samsung 5

  12. Boy, do I need these tips. I wish you had an iPhone so you could walk us through their settings!

  13. Great tips, but I hate using the phone horizontally for photos. I think I look better in the vertical setting.

  14. I agree with Sheryl above. I have an iPhone and I can’t find the settings you mentioned. Can you translate please?

  15. Hi Estelle, yes for a selfie vertical does work well but for every other shot the horizontal mode is really best. You get a wider scope of field that way for sure. Thanks much and have a wonderful rest of the week.

  16. These are fabulous tips Carolann! I’ve pinned it because I know I’ll be referring back to it constantly! Finally tips I can follow and actually understand. Plus I have the exact same phone. Love, love, love this!

  17. The tips are great. I will go back and revisit my settings on my Galaxy5. Also, the photo programs you mentioned sound great. I will definitely investigate them. Wonderful as always!❤

  21. Hi Shelley, Thanks so much and so glad you enjoyed all of the tips and tricks. Oh yes, once you clean your lens your pictures will improve dramatically. Have a wonderful rest of the week!
    Carolann

  22. Hi Carol, So glad you enjoyed the post. Once you use these settings your pictures will be even more amazing! Thanks so much for pinning too. Means the world to me! Have a great rest of the week!
    Carolann

  23. Hi Helene, thank you so much for pinning! Means the world to me that you did! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and tips and tricks. It’s so much fun learning new stuff to make our photos even better. Have a great rest of the week!
    Carolann

  24. Hi Cheryl, so glad you enjoyed the post and all of the kicking tips and tricks! I always love learning new ways to improve my photography. Thanks much and have a great rest of the week!
    Carolann

  25. Hi Cathy, so glad you enjoyed the post and all of the kicking tips and tricks! I always love learning new ways to improve my photography. Thanks much and have a great rest of the week!
    Carolann

  26. HI Cascia! so glad you enjoyed the post and all of the kicking tips and tricks! I always love learning new ways to improve my photography. Thanks much and have a great rest of the week!
    Carolann

  27. Hi Tam, yes I agree with you on that tip for sure. Those were general rules but it’s so important to be able to break them when the occasion calls for it. So glad you enjoyed the post and all of the kicking tips and tricks! I always love learning new ways to improve my photography. Thanks much and have a great rest of the week!
    Carolann

  28. Hi Shelly, I agree lol. so glad you enjoyed the post and all of the kicking tips and tricks! I always love learning new ways to improve my photography. Thanks much and have a great rest of the week!
    Carolann

  29. Hi Haralee, so glad you enjoyed the post and all of the kicking tips and tricks! I always love learning new ways to improve my photography. Thanks much and have a great rest of the week!
    Carolann

  33. Great info Carolann. I had all the settings already and have some work to do with your tips on the Apps and editing add-ons, so thank you for the great tips.

  39. Wow Awesome Smartphone Camera tips Carolann. Especially the sideways angle one! I will try em for sure!

  41. i’m such a proponent of good photography – but so many people just get it wrong! i’m not perfect, but i’ve learned so much about taking quality photos and editing them to make them better. it’s amazing what a difference it makes!

  43. Great tips! I’m pinning this so I can refer to it later. Photos are so important to our blog posts, so really appreciate these.

  46. Thanks so much Terri. I am so glad you subbed too. thanks so much for that. It’s always great meeting other awesome bloggers as yourself! I subbed and followed you as well. Have a wonderful St. Patty’s Day!

  47. So nice to meet you! Glad you liked the tips. I love making my smartphone pics the best they can be and had to share my tips with you! Thanks so much for stopping by and hope to see you again soon!
    Carolann

  48. Hi Lori, thanks so much for pinning! I love taking great photos with my smartphone and had to share my tips with you! Thanks so much for stopping by and hope to see you again soon!
    Carolannn

  50. HI Carolann,
    Wow! Over 600 people stumbled your post! Congratulations!
    I have blogged about Snapseed and use it. My favorite part of this post I think was the horizontal blue building. Wow! You took that with a smartphone?! Impressive post and impressive photo. Congratulations on an engaged community.
    Janice

  51. Hi Janice! Thanks so much for the SU. I love using SU and get so many great page views from them. What fun your post is! I’ve met a few awesome bloggers bc of it. Thanks so much again. Have a wonderful day!
    Carolann xo

  55. Great tips. I have a Samsung 4 note. Some things are the same not all. I do use the modes . Love the food one. I downloaded snapseed and I have no clue how to use it I had also downloaded vsco too and could not figure it out. I need an editing class. Maybe you could write a post about that…lol. Pin for future reference. I came by your blog via Mostly Blogging.

  56. Hi Lisa,
    thanks so much for stopping by! Snapseed is awesome You can do a lot of editing with it. Sure, I can do a post on editing. I think that would be a great idea thank you! I’m on your blog now reading around. I love getting good ideas for baking. Everything looks so yummy! I also connected with you via social media. So nice to meet you! Hope to see you again soon!
    Carolann

  59. I’m printing this right now so I can follow every single instruction! Thank you so much for this!

  61. Great article! You’re right, you can take amazing pictures with your smartphone. You’ve reminded me I need to purchase a mini tripod for my iphone 6plus. I think it will really help.

    Cheers!

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