{"id":516,"date":"2023-03-24T06:15:55","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T20:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/?p=516"},"modified":"2025-05-14T16:32:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T06:32:09","slug":"phone-photography-for-beginners-how-to-take-better-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/phone-photography-for-beginners-how-to-take-better-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Phone Photography for Beginners: How to Take Better Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\">6 Beginner-Friendly Tips to Help You Get Started with Phone Photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Photos are a big part of life \u2014 from capturing milestones to sharing daily happenings with loved ones, taking photos has become second nature. Photos tell a story and reveal emotions, which is such a powerful asset in everyday life. And with technology advancing the way it is, taking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.photobookaustralia.com.au\/prints?utm_source=AUblog&amp;utm_medium=seo&amp;utm_campaign=betterphotos_2023\">quality photos<\/a> has become more and more accessible. Everyone can be a photographer with their mobile phone these days. And believe it or not, in 2023, having great photos will work in your favour. Whether it\u2019s for marketing products or services online or having a strong personal branding online, photos are worth a thousand words or dollars, if you\u2019re targeting the right crowd. That\u2019s why, here at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.photobookaustralia.com.au\/?utm_source=AUblog&amp;utm_medium=seo&amp;utm_campaign=betterphotos_2023\">Photobook Australia<\/a> we\u2019ve compiled some of the tried-and-tested ways to help you get creative and to get that money shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Making Full Use of Your Settings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/my\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/camera-setting-527x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-640\" width=\"362\" height=\"704\" \/><figcaption>photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/936748791219162993\/\">@iphonephotographyschool<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Like we said, you no longer need heavy and expensive equipment to capture great photos anymore. Your smartphone will do just fine. However, depending on the type of smartphone you have, their settings and functions may not be the same. Understanding your camera settings will help you stay ahead of the photo game and get you stunning photos. For example, if you\u2019re shooting outdoors, you may want to set your ISO (the sensitivity of the camera\u2019s sensor) to a low number because it\u2019s already bright, perhaps between 100-400. Contrastingly, shooting at night or dimmed environments require a much higher ISO number. Furthermore, it would also help to familiarise yourself with the rule of thirds, a basic composition rule in photography. Enable this setting on your phone and start framing the key objects at intersecting points and positioning them off-centre, that way you\u2019ll have a well-balanced photo. You could even try on different clip-on lenses for your device to achieve a whole new look or accessories like tripods and ring lights are a great place to start. Having a basic understanding of your device\u2019s capabilities and its key features will leave you with flawless photos every time. Some other common phone camera features include: white balance, shutter speed, and aspect ratios.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Understanding How Lighting Works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/my\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/85f14ef87fb1030805a20d4c54117bf5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-641\" width=\"470\" height=\"449\" \/><figcaption>photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/936748791219162993\/\">@iphonephotographyschool<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to photography, lighting is an absolute essential. Photos that are too bright or too dark rarely make the cut. Where possible, always use plenty of natural light to get the vivid colours in your photos. Depending on the look you\u2019re going for, you could always play with soft and hard light to nail the mood of the shot you\u2019re going for. Understanding how to create hard and soft light using a small light source can transform a regular photo into a quality photo instantly. Hard light is a quality of light that casts a harsh and well-defined shadow onto the subject. Soft light or also known as diffused light casts a gradual blend of shadow and highlight. Play around with the distance between the light source and subject, soft light requires the light source to be \u201cbounced\u201d off walls or ceilings, while hard light does not. If you\u2019re going for a more dramatic, sporty, or street look \u2014 hard light works best because it showcases that contrast. But if you\u2019re going for something elegant and almost cinematic-like, soft light works well. Switch things up and get creative with the shots you\u2019re trying to achieve. Here\u2019s a tip from pro photographers, wait till the last hour before the sun sets or the first hour after the sun rises to experience \u201cthe golden hour\u201d or \u201cmagic hour\u201d that promises stunning results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Choosing Subjects and Backgrounds<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/my\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/c6b3f301a10c047e714b283a7efc2418.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-649\" width=\"461\" height=\"488\" \/><figcaption>photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/936748791219162993\/\">@iphonephotographyschool<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re living in the generation of selfies and wefies. Believe it or not, a lot goes into planning the perfect selfie. Some general tips include: holding your phone at a higher angle and as far as possible, shooting in daylight, keeping your poses and smiles natural and not too intense. How about subjects that aren\u2019t human? Go back to the rule of thirds, keeping in mind how colours would look when layered on a specific background. Choosing backgrounds isn\u2019t always the easiest task because it\u2019s hard to imagine your subject in the foreground unless you\u2019re physically present. However, some key things to consider would be to look for backgrounds with minimal distractions so your subject can stand out and be the focal point. Choosing backgrounds with patterns work well too because they create a sense of continuity to the shot, again, allowing your subject to be in the spotlight. If you\u2019re going for something minimalist, seek backgrounds with negative space that allows the viewer to imagine and fully appreciate the atmosphere within the photo. You may want to try exploring with angles too. Let your subject get comfortable in the space and encourage them to move naturally as you capture the flow and expression they exude\u2026 which leads us to our next part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Posing and Directing Your Subject<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/03\/photo-3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-519\" width=\"512\" height=\"287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/03\/photo-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/03\/photo-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/03\/photo-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/03\/photo-3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><figcaption>photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/shotkit.com\/selfie-poses\/\">@shotkit<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Seeing that most of us aren\u2019t runway models, posing in front of the camera may not be our strong suit. That\u2019s why as the one who\u2019s holding the camera, you\u2019re required to do some directing\u2026 yes you! When your subject feels comfortable, that\u2019s when you have the opportunity to capture the best shots. Sometimes, all they need is a little conversation to make them feel at ease and bring out their natural smile. Because when people focus on the conversation and stop worrying about how they look, they\u2019re able to let loose and be natural. Apart from that, you can get your subject to try different poses, incorporating hand and\/or leg movements, expressing different emotions, all that good stuff. Ultimately, you want your subject to feel good about the photos you\u2019re taking, so giving them some encouragement in between shots is always a good idea. Also, don\u2019t forget to be clear about your instructions. If you\u2019d like them to move their hand up, tell them which hand, in what direction, and move by how much. Because looking good on camera while trying to digest information and make changes to the poses, is a lot to take in for the average Joe and Jane. After all that work in getting the perfect shot, it would only make sense to bring those photos into the real world through a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.photobookaustralia.com.au\/photobooks\/readybooks?utm_source=AUblog&amp;utm_medium=seo&amp;utm_campaign=betterphotos_2023\">personalised photobook<\/a>, one you\u2019ll be able to flip through and savour your best shots. If you want something a little more dainty to fit your notebook, get those shots printed as cute photo prints to remind you of your photography skills and the time you were the camera person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Tweaking Photos with Simple Edits<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/my\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/photo-editing-apps-903x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-645\" width=\"408\" height=\"462\" \/><figcaption>photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/33214115986508952\/\">@pinterest<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>So, you\u2019ve got the photos. All that\u2019s left to do is edit them and they\u2019re good to go. Where to start? Well, here are some basic techniques. Cropping first, if the background is too wide and your subject isn\u2019t the focal point, crop it to achieve the rule of thirds. Next, you\u2019d want to adjust the white balance and colour correction, so your photo doesn\u2019t appear too blue or too yellow. From there, you could look into the vibrancy and contrast of your photos. It will help the intensity in your photos if they are blurred or too faded, which ties in nicely with exposure \u2014 too much of it then it\u2019ll be too bright and vice versa. While it might seem like a lot to do, the good news is that there are tons of apps for doing those edits. Some popular ones that many photographers love are Adobe Lightroom, VSCO, Snapseed, and Pixlr.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Practicing and Experimenting&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve read until here, congratulations because you\u2019re all set to take stunning photos! The key to getting better at photography is to practice \u2014 doing something consistently often leads to mastery. The more you photograph subjects, the more you\u2019ll notice what poses and backgrounds work and which don\u2019t. Spending time to shoot will give you better insights on what to look out for and how you can make each shot better than the last. In case you\u2019re wondering, is practicing enough? That\u2019s just half of the equation. As much as you should practice, you should also keep your thinking hat on. Experimenting with different backgrounds will put your photography and creative juices to the test. After a while, your subject will feel more comfortable when shooting and you could even incorporate props or have other subjects on set with them. The key is to try new styles and get creative, if something doesn\u2019t work, just switch it up. Remember, a combination of practice and experimentation will lead you down a path of curiousity that will challenge your mind to generate new ideas and concepts. Most importantly, have fun! You know what they say, if you\u2019re not having fun, if you\u2019re doing it wrong!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Start Snapping Right Now<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/my\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/photo-prints-2-1024x411.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-646\" width=\"679\" height=\"272\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>After all the basics we\u2019ve covered, it\u2019s time to put everything into practice. Remember the importance of choosing soft light or hard light, framing your subjects according to the rule of thirds, getting your subjects comfortable in front of the camera and experimenting away! If you feel like you\u2019re not where you want to be yet, just remind yourself that <em>every master was once a disaster <\/em>and that <em>it\u2019s never too late to start something. <\/em>There is no secret or cheat sheet to getting better at photography, only to keep at it. Eventually, you\u2019ll find that you have some favourite photos, and if you want to turn them into precious keepsakes for loved ones, check out the endless one-of-a-kind gifting options at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.photobookaustralia.com.au\/?utm_source=AUblog&amp;utm_medium=seo&amp;utm_campaign=betterphotos_2023\">Photobook Australia<\/a>. It\u2019s a great way to showcase how far you\u2019ve come on your photography journey and make your loved ones happy with thoughtful gifts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>6 Beginner-Friendly Tips to Help You Get Started with Phone Photography Photos are a big part of life \u2014 from capturing milestones to sharing daily happenings with loved ones, taking photos has become second nature. Photos tell a story and reveal emotions, which is such a powerful asset in everyday life. And with technology advancing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":518,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[54,39],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/03\/photo-2.jpg","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=516"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.photobookworldwide.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}