7 tips for taking better cell phone pictures

Perpetually carrying a camera

Virtually everyone carries a camera with them most of the time. After all, you never know when a camera will come in handy, whether you’re in the real estate industry and you need to take a quick picture of a listing or you want to take a quick picture of your loved ones at dinner. It can’t get any more convenient than having a camera on your phone. And these days, nearly every cellphone has a built-in camera. Cellphone pictures have a reputation of being sub-par, but they don’t have to be. Here are seven ways to take better cell phone pictures:

1. Cool Gadgets – You no longer have to accept your camera phone as it is. You have the power to enhance it by attaching any number of awesome, unique gadgets. You can attach a variety of lenses and shutter grips and remotes—to name a few options.
2. Hold Still – While this advice seems obvious, it’s an essential part of taking better pictures with your phone. Even the smallest shake or shiver can create blurry photos. If you can’t hold the camera steady, get a tripod gadget to help you stabilize. Some say that shooting with a smartphone camera is like shooting at a gun range – breathe in while stabilizing, breathe out slowly while shooting steadily.
3. Don’t Delete Photos – Because the resolution on your phone screen isn’t as good as your computer screen, keep your photos—even the ones that you think are bad—until you can check them out on a better screen. You may have caught a beautiful picture, but you just didn’t know it.
4. Get Close – The camera on your phone does have limitations. So, get close to the subject of your photo. You will find that your pictures have a better quality just from scooting up a few feet before you hit that button.
5. Find the Right Light – Appropriate lighting can make or break a photo. If you’re not sure which type of light will best suite your photos, it’s time to do a little research. Once you have the lighting figured out, you have the ability to take your photo-taking skills to the next level.
6. Practice – The more you practice taking photos with the camera on your phone, the better you’ll become.  And you’ll pick up little bits of knowledge and tricks along the way.
7. Experiment – While there are basic and advanced rules for taking great pictures, there is also a time to break those rules. But before you can break them, you must first understand them. And then you can find ways to bend those rules to create the effects you’re looking for.

Taking a photo with your phone shouldn’t be considered the next best thing. Instead, it’s the hot new thing. It’s convenient, fun, and fast. Go crazy with the seven tips above and then find out even more tips on your own. Don’t be afraid to try new gadgets or methods. You’ll never know how great your pictures will turn out until you give it a go. And there’s no better time than now.