How To Take Great Photos On Your Smartphone

Female retiree with adult daughter looking at a smart phone

In this edition of our Tech Tips, we have a closer look at taking great photos with your smartphone or tablet and how to achieve success every time.

There’s nothing worse than getting home after a great day with friends and family to discover that none of the photos you took are worth keeping. With such cameras on our smartphones and tablets there are no longer any excuses to take a bad, blurry or dark photo. As with anything, practice makes perfect and we’ve put together some handy tips to help you on the road to taking great photos and becoming the best photographer you can be!

Lighting

Low light and the camera on your phone or tablet are not friends. You will need to get as much light as you can on the person or object you’re taking a photo of, as well as ensuring they are facing the light. You should avoid facing the camera towards a bright light as it can distort the photo with a strobe of light. Turning on the flash is not always the answer as the type of flash on your phone and tablet can be very harsh, giving everyone in the photo a ghost-like appearance!

Composition

Before you rush into taking a photo, have a look at the background behind the people or object you are photographing: is it messy or cluttered with items such as tables, bins, street signs, groups of strangers It’s best to find space that is clean for the background. The Rule of Thirds is great to keep in mind: try having the person you’re photographing stand to the side of the image, rather than in the middle to add some interest to the photo. Once you’ve got the hang of this, you’ll be taking great photos in no time.

Steady yourself

While the camera in your phone or tablet can counteract some movement when taking a photo, a twitch as you hit the button can lead to a blurry photo. Help your camera out by locking your elbows into your side to steady your arms, or rest your arms on a stable surface if possible. Another tip is to avoid speaking and trying to take the photo at the same time.

Get Snap Happy

Take more than one photo to give yourself a better chance of having one that is perfect. Being the photographer can be quite a bit of pressure, especially when taking a photo of a group of people as there will always be at least one person blinking or looking away. By taking a few photos at once, you increase the odds of having one perfect shot. You can also go through them on the spot so if none have worked out, you can go again!

We would love to see your photos from life at the St Ives Retirement Villages so please send them to us at [email protected].

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