Just a few years ago, beautiful moments would pass us by every day without any way for us to remember them unless we carried a camera. Today, everyone is walking around with a camera in their pocket, via their smartphones. MailPix has come up with some quick and useful tips for helping you take great smartphone photos. Here is Part 2 of our Smartphone Photo Tips series! In case you missed it, you can also check out Part 1 of our Smartphone Photo Tips series HERE
Print Photos from your Phone
Is your camera roll filled with photos that you’ve always wanted to print? You can print them from your phone and pick them up at your local CVS, Walgreens or Walmart store using our 1 Hour Photo app, which you can download HERE. The prints take about an hour and are available in 4×6, 5×7 and 8×10 sizes.
Get a Phone Case for better grip
Most new smartphones are created with aesthetically-pleasing materials that include metal and hard plastic. Although these materials make smartphones look very nice, it also makes them quite slippery. The last thing you want is for your phone to slip out of your hands while you are taking a photo. Check out our selection of smartphone cases.
Use available lighting
As referenced in part 1 of our Smartphone Photo Tips series, getting the right lighting for your photos is important. If you are shooting outdoors, position yourself so that the subject of your photo is in the perfect area of diffused sunlight. This will give your photo a nice and soft feel. Stay away from areas where the sun is shining down harshly.
Do not use zoom
Most smartphones may have a zoom feature, but that does not mean that you should use it. Using the zoom setting on your smartphone can make your photo blurry and more pixelated. Instead, try moving closer to your object and then shoot from there. If your camera is capable of taking very high-quality photos, you can even capture the photo from afar and then crop it later.
Go for candid photos
If you look through your camera roll, you may notice that some of your best photos are candid photos. It is much easier to take candid photos now that smartphone cameras are so accessible. Wait for the perfect moment and then take the photo when they least expect it.
Use other apps!
Don’t limit yourself to your phone’s default camera app. Downloading new camera and photo-editing apps from the app store opens up a whole new world of possibilities for your photos. Here are some of our recommendations!
Snapseed: Our favorite for editing photos. Very easy to use and provides a plethora of photo-editing options.
VSCO Cam: Very cool app that gives you filter options that go for more authenticity than flash. After editing your photo you can post your photo either to VSCO Cam’s built-in grid or to another social network of your choice.
Pixlr Express: Pixlr Express is great if you like adding flashy text or cute icons to your photos. It also comes with many filters that can help your photos stand out.