It is not easy to capture the perfect iPhone photo, in fact, it can even be rather intimidating. There are so many unlabeled buttons and settings you can pick from. But don’t worry, if you are struggling with perfecting the perfect iPhone photo here are some tips to hopefully get you the perfect instagrammable pics for this summer!
Get to know your iPhone camera
Before you are thrown into a moment where you need to capture the perfect picture, don’t be afraid to try out different features and settings that are already built into the iPhone camera. There are many cool settings you can change on just your iPhone to help improve your photo quality. Try changing out the shape and the layout such as using a square or rectangle frame. You can also use the portrait setting that sharpens the focus on your subject while slightly blurring the background. Test these settings out so you can be confident when your time to shine comes.
Clean your camera
While it might not be something you notice, after a day of being in your purse or pocket your camera lens is sure to be dirty. You might not think so, but this can greatly impact the quality and clarity of your iPhone photos. You can use a microfibre towel or glass cleaner to get that lens in tip top shape before anything else.
Find the angle
When the time comes to take some photos, don’t be afraid to try out different angles. While it might seem embarrassing, shift around and lean to find the best angle. Shooting a subject straight on rarely works and often results in awkward looking photos. Try shooting from the sides and at an upward angle, it usually looks more natural in pictures, even if you look a little crazy while photographing.
Focus
If you tap the screen when taking a photo you will see a small sun appear, this indicates the focus point. You usually want this to be the subject or thing you are trying to capture. If it is extremely sunny out try making the focus in the bright area of the screen so the subject can be seen more clearly. You can even play around with sharpening the focus on your image which often has a nice result.
Know your audience
One of the best tips you can employ is to know your audience. You are likely not working with professional models or the perfect sunset, so learn to try out different things. When photographing children or animals it is sometimes easier to capture screenshots from videos. It is also sometimes easier to burst, taking lots of photos very quickly, when trying to capture a moving object such as a car or quickly fading moon.
Lighting magic
Lighting can really make or break any photo, so it is important to be aware of how the lighting is shown in your image. If you tap the screen when taking a photo it can help center the lighting around what you are capturing. For the most part you will want a soft light behind your subject so if the sun or artificial light is particularly strong, try having them angle slightly in front of the light to help block some out. You can even go back and change some of the lighting features so don’t worry too much if it isn’t perfect.
Edit to perfection
After you have taken a plethora of photos go through and favorite some to edit. iPhones allow you to edit photos on them but you can also use other apps such as Vsco. You can use filters to change up some features, or play around with some of the settings for a more natural look. Exposure, contrast, clarity, saturation, and other elements can all be adjusted on your phone while also keeping an original copy to create your perfect photo!
No matter how beginner you are with iPhone photography, never be embarrassed to take the photos. The memories will last forever and you can always go back and edit your finger out of the frame later!
