Why mobile phone photography?
Mobile phone photography has come a long way since the early days of blurry screens and cameras with a resolution of less than 1 megapixel. Now, it’s possible to capture high-quality imagery on your smartphone - as evidenced by the stunning photography that adorns many people’s Instagram feeds.
Whilst smartphone cameras are already capable of taking beautiful pictures and are improving every day, that may not be enough if you’re looking to channel your inner Annie Leibovitz. In which case, you’ll be eager to browse MyMemory’s range of mobile photography accessories. From projectors and wide-angle lenses to artificial lighting and remote-control shutters, we’ve got all you’ll need to take your mobile photography skills to the next level.
Mobile photography tips for beginners
1. Keep you lens clean – Use a microfibre cloth and cleaning fluid to clean the lens on your smartphone camera. None of your pictures will look good if your fingerprints are all over the lens!
2. Take pictures in well-lit areas – Your smartphone camera needs light to "see" the picture it's going to take. Do not take pictures with the light behind you, as whatever is in the forefront will be dark and difficult to see.
3. Frame your pictures - Try to have the subject of the photo slightly off centre, with a background that doesn't make the picture too busy. A soft background with a sharp subject makes a great picture, and it's something newer smartphone cameras can do.
4. Take a lot of pictures - Because you can delete things easily on a smartphone camera, take lots of pictures and go back to find the best one.
5. Choose the right mode - Shooting the sunset? There's a mode for that. There are also modes for portraits, close-ups etc. However, auto is best until you learn how to use manual controls.
6. Don’t use zoom - Your smartphone camera has no optical zoom. Instead, when you use the zoom feature, your smartphone is essentially blowing up the image and cropping it. This makes pictures pixelated and difficult to see, so just try to get closer!
7. Don’t use flash - The camera flash on smartphones is getting better, but they still have a habit of washing out pictures and giving you red-eye.
8. Use an app to correct your picture – Does your subject have red-eye? Or are they blinking? There’s an app for that. Apps can correct imperfections as well as adjust the tone and focus of your picture; just don’t get too filter-happy and obstruct the natural beauty of your photo!
9. Preparation is key - Framing your shot, getting the right lighting and angle is vital to taking the perfect picture.
