How do I take good smartphone photos in any lighting conditions?
Taking good smartphone photos consistently in different lighting conditions is very challenging. Even worse, not all techniques are easily transferable across different scenarios. But there are a handful, and today I’m going to share how I take good smartphone photos in any lighting conditions.
1 Make the most of the shadows
Knowing how to use shadows in your photos will have a big impact on the results you get. One of my favorite ways to use shadows is to capture the silhouette of a person or building; this works especially well when taking smartphone photos in harsh lighting.
I also like to use shadows to create interesting effects. Whereas I used to be impatient and pull the trigger straight away, now I’ll wait for someone to walk into a bright area when they emerge from the shadows. You can also use shadows to show sharp contrasts in buildings.
When shooting on a smartphone, I don’t recommend keeping your main subject in the shadows; it is often much harder for the viewer to know which way to look.
2 Understanding when to overexpose and underexpose
Having been shooting for over seven years, I’m happy to tell you that sometimes it’s worth breaking the rules with overburns and underexposures. Most of the shots you don’t like will be from accidentally setting the exposure too high or too low, but you can get excellent results if you experiment with it.
Underexposing images is useful if you want to edit them later, and I also like to underexpose images if I want them to look moody. On particularly bright days, I move the meter down so the end result doesn’t look too harsh. Fixing underexposed images on iPhone and Android is usually pretty easy, so you shouldn’t worry if you accidentally go too far down.
On the other hand, I think overexposure works well in snowy conditions when it’s already light. I also sometimes overexpose my sky on sunny days; This will make it even clearer how much natural lighting there is. You just have to be careful not to destroy all the details of your image.
3 Stick to a handful of smartphone photography tricks
As you get more advanced in your photography and develop and find your photography style, a few tricks and types of composition will naturally catch your eye and become your favorite. I take some of my best photos when I keep things simple and use the same techniques that have worked for me in the past.
To this day, the rule of thirds is still one of my favorite compositional styles. Simply put, you divide your image into three parts, and each one should form a vital part of the story you’re trying to tell. I find that the rule of thirds works especially well when taking street style photos or product shots.
Lead lines are another way to get the perfect composition on your smartphone shots. Here, you use a line – such as a road or a river – to show viewers where they should focus their attention. Also worth considering is the rule of having a foreground, center and background; I use it when taking landscape photos on my phone.
It’s also worth considering a few tips and tricks for smartphone photography, but only if it makes sense. For example, you can capture reflections and point the camera upwards for unique perspectives, regardless of lighting conditions.
4 Know when to use each camera mode
Ever since I got an iPhone, my camera has different modes. At first, I always used Portrait mode because I thought it would produce the sharpest results. However, this is not true.
Portrait mode is great for taking pictures of people and things, especially when you’re already physically close to them. However, it is not the best choice for landscapes; in these cases the standard camera mode works well.
I also think about when to use different filters in different lighting conditions and apply them as needed. This will take some time to experiment with, but I highly recommend it.
5 Adjusting my camera settings beforehand
Even though your smartphone will have a default shooting mode, you don’t have to keep your settings as they are. If your device allows you to adjust your phone and video settings, I highly recommend doing so.
Turning on the grid is a very good idea for composition, and most phone cameras offer access to it. You should also consider turning on lens correction if you have that option.
Be sure to adjust your iPhone or Google Pixel’s camera settings before shooting to get better results in any lighting conditions.
6 Using third-party camera apps
I still remember the early 2010s when smartphone photography was largely useless. But even if they’re no longer potato-like, smartphone cameras still have their limitations.
Fortunately, you can use a number of third-party camera apps to give your camera more options than it would otherwise have. For example, if you want to take vintage-style images, consider downloading an app like 1998Cam, while an app like ProCam lets you adjust the ISO.
Some apps require a paid subscription or one-time purchase, but you can access a few for free.
7 Analyzing my old photos by turning on live photos
Looking through your old photos and critically analyzing them is a fantastic way to get better pictures in the future. Depending on your device, you may be able to turn on Live Photos or something similar. It’s a great way to see what you were doing before you took the picture.
When analyzing your Live Photos, look at how you set up your camera, what the lighting conditions were like, and whether anything else contributed to a good or bad photo.
Turning Live Photos on uses more storage and drains your battery faster, but it’s worth doing if you see an improvement in your photography. You should also learn how to get better Live Photos on your phone.
Good photographs are not specific to light, and anyone who tells you otherwise is projecting their own limiting beliefs. You can take amazing pictures with your smartphone in all kinds of conditions if you have some practical techniques and know how to use each camera mode. Pre-adjusting your camera settings will also go a long way.