Here’s how to take better architectural photos with your smartphone

Architectural photography is one of my greatest passions, but it presents several challenges. Different textures can look strange on smartphones, and capturing unique shots around popular locations is also difficult. However, I use a few tricks to capture better architectural images; here are some of my tried and true favorites.

1 Taking wide-angle photos of multiple buildings

When you think of architecture photography, do you mainly think of capturing a single building? If so, I would urge you to reconsider this approach. I often include multiple buildings in my shots, and when I’m doing it on a smartphone, it makes perfect sense to shoot wide-angle shots.

Smartphone camera lenses often default to wide-angle, but if you can, I recommend zooming out even further than the default setting. For example, when shooting on my iPhone, detail often looks much better at 0.5x than normal. This is a game changer especially when taking panorama shots.

I also recommend thinking about how the buildings work together. For example, if there is architecture on two sides of the street, look for symmetry. I have also used numerous photography rules to improve my smartphone photography (including architecture photography) such as leadership.

2 If possible, include water in the image

I’m lucky enough to live in a city with beautiful architecture and lots of water because it makes smartphone photography so much easier. I like to include canals and rivers in my shots, especially when buildings are reflected off the water. It is for this very reason that I also enjoy photographing harbor areas along the coast; the sea often balances everything nicely.

You can approach this in a number of ways. While some people may want to adopt a more minimalist Wes Anderson style frame, others may go the complete opposite route and include as much as possible. All I would say is stop and think about your scene before you photograph it; when photographing inanimate objects, you have the luxury of getting everything right.

3 Photographing colorful buildings

Having grown up in a city with mostly gray architecture, I can’t tell you how much of a difference any color makes. When traveling, I always try to find scenic views with colorful buildings. Another advantage is that these colors are often complementary, meaning you can automatically implement color theories.

Sometimes I capture wide-angle photos of colorful buildings. However, I also like to put many of them next to each other, zoom in and point the camera up. Another of my favorite compositions is when all the roofs are the same color – for example, where I live, many of the older buildings have orange roofs.

4 You are looking for unique perspectives and role models

Sticking to one vantage point is one of the biggest urban photography mistakes to avoid, and this is especially true when photographing architecture. In the past I have been guilty of taking one picture and then walking away, but now I make a conscious effort to explore all the possibilities. Even if you see the same building multiple times, you’re likely to find a unique angle that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.

In addition to looking up, I also enjoy photographing buildings from their corners. Another alternative to consider is capturing only part of a building – for example, you might only photograph a church steeple or the aerial of a skyscraper. Some buildings also have tiles and other textures that are worth capturing.

5 Turning on my camera grid

I recommend turning on the camera grid for all types of smartphone photography, but it’s especially important when shooting architecture. Trying to guess what a building should look like on your phone is quite challenging, and far too often I’ve ended up with sub-optimal results because of it.

It only takes a few seconds to turn on the network, but it will have a huge return on investment. If you plan on using different compositions, turning on your grid will also make things infinitely easier. Knowing the best type of smartphone camera grid will also help you take your photography game to the next level.

6 Analysis of shapes

Even the most boring buildings have interesting shapes that are worth analyzing. I love looking at the different window patterns; many modern buildings have experimental layouts, while older buildings often have a charm that cannot be replicated. Taking pictures of balconies is also quite fun.

Closer to the ground, I recommend looking for different door shapes and considering how you can make them more interesting. Roof shapes can also be interesting, and you should also look for flamboyant exteriors like stacked cubes.

7 Including the people in my architectural photos

While architectural photography is very different from street photography, it’s still sometimes fun to include people in photos where buildings are the main focus. While in street style photos I would enlarge the person, in architecture photography I often reduce their scale. This makes it easier for me to show how small they are compared to the structure.

I also like to include people in architectural shots because they help tell the story better. This is especially true in busy cities like New York City, where it’s virtually impossible to avoid people anyway.

I also include people in my panoramic photos, especially when shooting in popular spots with lots of tourists. This automatically gives you a unique perspective.

8 Changing the My Phone filter depending on the type of architecture

Your smartphone’s photo filters make a huge difference depending on the lighting situation, but they’re also good for capturing different types of architecture. For example, if I want to take pictures of colorful buildings, I often use Vivid to make them look more colorful. Photos of architecture taken on rainy days will benefit from a more dramatic filter.

I love moody photos and these filters make it easy to get the results you want.

On the other hand, with modern buildings I often experiment with warmer and cooler tones. It depends on the lighting already in the picture, along with the color of the building itself. Apart from using camera filters, you can also use several mobile apps that offer creative photo effects.

While architectural smartphone photography is quite challenging, there are a few things you can do to take better pictures. Turning on the camera grid is an easy solution, but you should also think about the different filters available on your phone. And finding unique perspectives will go a long way to ensuring you capture more interesting images than others.