In today's digital age, our smartphones have become glued to us and therefore accompanies us during the most beautiful moments of life. The technology is evolving so well and these little squares can already do so much - but most people don't even know what hidden talents their phone has. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just starting out in photography, your iPhone can be your go-to device for taking high quality photos of your loved ones, landscapes or adventures. I collected some tips and tricks I learned over the last years and hope they might inspire you to capture life more crisp as well:
1. The Depth Effect:
While Portrait Mode is fantastic for blurring the background, you can take it up a notch by adjusting the depth effect. Experiment with the depth slider in Portrait Mode to control the intensity of the background blur and achieve the perfect bokeh.
Giving your portrait more depth will shift the eye on the motif and blends out a distracting background (like a good camera lens).
2. Hack the Exposure:
Did you know you can manually adjust the exposure even in automatic mode? Tap and hold on your subject to lock focus, then slide your finger up or down to adjust the exposure. This handy trick ensures your subject is well-lit and the background isn't overexposed.
I can tell on iPhone photos when people used this trick - and especially when they did not. I barely take a phone picture without this little adjustment.
3. Burst mode for moving objects:
I sometimes capture spontaneous and action moments by using Burst Mode. Simply hold down the shutter button to take a rapid series of photos (for the latest iPhone versions push the shutter to the left instead). Burst Mode is perfect for capturing fast-moving subjects like sports, wildlife, or street photography. Use it to freeze action and choose the perfect frame from the burst to tell your story (and delete the rest afterwards - so don't worry if you take 400 pictures, you can always delete).
4. Experiment with Lens Attachments:
A few years ago I made use of lens attachments and I still believe it's a great tool. A macro lens, for example, allows you to capture stunning close-up details, while a fisheye lens adds a unique perspective to your shots. It's a lot of fun to play around with. Now, I usually also have my professional camera equipment with me so I don't make use of the lenses anymore. If you are a hobby photographer and on a vacation and want to travel light, I would definitely suggest you to try one of these lenses.
You can either order the moment lenses, I heard they were good or start with a lower budget version, like the keywing fisheye lens, first.
To get the maximum out of your phone camera I would suggest to always have these settings on:
1. The coolest new kid on the block: ProRAW:
If your iPhone supports ProRAW, enable it for maximum flexibility and control over your photos. ProRAW preserves more image data, giving you greater latitude for editing without sacrificing quality. If you upload these photos in your Lightroom App you clearly see the difference :)
2. Also recommended: Shoot in RAW + JPEG:
Opt for the RAW + JPEG shooting mode to have the best of both worlds. RAW files retain more detail and allow for extensive editing, while JPEGs are convenient for sharing straight from your phone. Just see what your personal preference is. It is of course also a question of storage on your phone.
3. Get Creative with Night Mode:
Don't let low light conditions hold you back. Night Mode on newer iPhones automatically brightens and sharpens photos taken in dimly lit environments, producing HQ night-time shots without the need for additional lighting. Don't hesitate to use it in dark restaurants, twilight or romantic light settings. I have one of these small phone tripods, and was able to take an iPhone photograph of the Ha Long Bay by night (while I barely saw anything with my eyes). I was so surprised - had the phone for several weeks already but was not aware that it can do such magic.
4. Use the Rule of Thirds for Composition:
Compose your travel shots using the rule of thirds to create visually appealing images. Imagine your photo divided into a grid of nine equal parts, then place key elements along the gridlines or at their intersections for balanced composition. Most phones also offer a grid function - I can recommend that for videos as well.
I prefer to place a person in the left or right grid on landscape shots and centered for portraits.
Recommended Gear for Smartphone Photography
Some accessories that payed off so far - well as gear I'd love to try are collected here (I'll update the list every time something new comes up):
Polarizing Filter: Reduce glare and enhance colors in your outdoor shots with a polarizing filter attachment. I haven't worked with it the last time but I really should! Every time I use a polarizing filter I think " why didn't I use it before".
Wireless Remote Shutter: I use this to take hands-free selfies, videos or group shots with a wireless remote shutter, allowing you to trigger your iPhone camera from a distance. Especially useful while solo-traveling or for long shutterspeed shots, to avoid touching the phone.
Mini Tripod with Flexible Legs: As already mentioned, I never regretted bringing a mini tripod along. I just found this one on sale and might get it for my next trip since it can also hold a little light and wrap around objects. Especially handy when filming myself - I could wrap it around a lantern or similar.
Lens Cleaning Kit: Every time someone asks me: "Why are your iPhone photos so much more crisp?" I first ask: "Did you clean your lens?". Mostly that was the reason haha. Keep your smartphone camera lens clean and smudge-free for crystal-clear photos. I am a bag fan of these sticky thingies and the cleaning wipes in travel size.The smallest piece of sand or fingerprint can make an impact on the photo quality - therefore I started carrying around a little cleaning-helper (especially when I go on hikes or to the beach)
I hope these tips inspired you to grab your phone and go out there explore! Capture those professional-looking photos and please share them in the comments - I can not wait to see.
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