We might be talking about phone photography but it’s still photography. Give your phone the same respect you would give a normal DSLR camera.
1 – Get closer
Get as close as you can. You might be surprised by your phone’s macro capabilities.

2 – Lower the exposure
When you’re taking photos with your phone it will usually be over-exposed. Lower the exposure just a little bit. It can make for a much better image.


3 – Zoom in. Slightly
Zooming in just a little bit can help to flatten the photo by fixing some of the distortion of the lens. I find zooming in between 1.5x or 2x to work best.

4 – Use HDR wisely
HDR can be beneficial when you want to capture an entire landscape with all its detail. It can also make a great dramatic photo, such as the one below.

There will be times when you don’t want to use HDR. Such as when capturing a sunset or sunrise. With the photo below I wanted to focus mainly on the clouds and the color of the sky. The foreground was just a boring empty field and wouldn’t have added anything to the photo. So instead of using HDR mode, I used normal mode, lowered the exposure quite a bit in order to get the full color of the sky, and as a bonus the trees made for a great silhouette.

5 – Auto vs Manual Mode
The advantage of using manual mode is being able to control the camera settings yourself.
Using the images below as an example. The photo on the left was taken with auto mode. As you can see the image is soft and not as sharp compared to the one on the right. This is because of the high ISO. Because there wasn’t much natural light, the phone increased the ISO to make the sensor more sensitive to light and increased the shutter speed to get the sharpest photo possible. But the photo isn’t sharp because of the high ISO.
The photo on the right was taken in manual mode. I decreased the ISO to the lowest setting, then slowly decreased my shutter speed until the vine was exposed correctly.


If you found this helpful, here are 10 more phone photography tips.
Learn about using manual mode for phone photography.
Want to learn how to edit your photos with your phone?
Confused by some photography terminology? Here’s a list of photography jargon.
Categories
December 16, 2021 at 9:11 am
I will definitely try these tips with my phone…thanks
December 16, 2021 at 12:58 pm
Good luck and have fun! 🙂
December 16, 2021 at 9:13 am
Very helpful!
December 16, 2021 at 9:44 am
Great tips!
December 16, 2021 at 10:28 am
Interesting reading and very helpful
December 16, 2021 at 11:20 am
Brilliant tips. thanks
December 16, 2021 at 11:45 am
Thank you. Much needed.
December 16, 2021 at 12:04 pm
Great tops 👍
December 16, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Great reminders! I gave up my big DSLR camera and started doing only iPhone photography a couple of years ago. It’s both convenient and challenging. As you said, “it’s still photography”
December 16, 2021 at 8:29 pm
Challenging is definitely a good thing. I think it gives you the opportunity to become an even better photographer 🙂
December 16, 2021 at 2:10 pm
Wow. Double wow. It’s brilliant. I am highly impressed with your tips for phone photography as well as the pics. Awesome👏👏.
December 16, 2021 at 2:55 pm
Very accessible tips, thank you!!! I want all the pics! 😜🤪
December 16, 2021 at 3:59 pm
Thanks
December 16, 2021 at 3:59 pm
This was so helpful. Thank you🙂
Sandra Pilmoor
________________________________
December 16, 2021 at 8:26 pm
I’m so glad to hear that!
December 16, 2021 at 8:33 pm
🙂
December 16, 2021 at 4:27 pm
You’re a legit photographer! Thank you for the tops
December 16, 2021 at 5:41 pm
Thank you, Hannes! Great tips! Stay safe this season!
December 16, 2021 at 8:26 pm
It’s such a pleasure, Karla! Thank you, you too! 🙂
December 17, 2021 at 2:10 am
😊
December 16, 2021 at 6:00 pm
Well, I enjoyed reading this. I take photos, but never fiddle with the settings so much. Looks like you use a Samsung, are these tips true for iPhone too. LOVE your photos.
December 16, 2021 at 8:20 pm
Yes they are 🙂
December 16, 2021 at 6:55 pm
Great , will try these tips
December 20, 2021 at 10:40 am
Good luck and have fun! 🙂
December 16, 2021 at 10:03 pm
These practical tips are a great resource for those of us who are not experts in photography, but take a lot of photos in the pursuit of our hobbies. Thanks for the posts.
December 20, 2021 at 10:40 am
I’m so glad you found them helpful. Have fun!
December 16, 2021 at 11:32 pm
Thanks! Practical and helpful!
December 20, 2021 at 10:22 am
It’s my pleasure!
December 17, 2021 at 1:45 am
I got my first iphone last May or so, and have taken precisely six photos with it: four for a customer who needed some documentation of a project. I’m not exactly a Luddite, but I think I probably fit into the ‘slow adopter’ category. I enjoyed this, and I’ve been poking around in your archives. There’s a lot of good advice here.
December 17, 2021 at 9:49 pm
I hope you’re able to learn a thing or two about photography 🙂
December 17, 2021 at 7:50 am
Thanks for these. Been trying to improve my photography
December 17, 2021 at 9:48 pm
Good luck and have fun!
December 17, 2021 at 4:27 pm
Thank you for the helpful hints. They were clear, helpful and concise.
December 20, 2021 at 10:20 am
It’s my pleasure. I’m glad you found them helpful! 🙂
December 18, 2021 at 9:36 am
Beautiful! The sunset, the daisy,the fern….
December 20, 2021 at 10:18 am
Thank you 🙂
December 18, 2021 at 5:23 pm
Thanks for the tips!!! I think my phone is so old it doesn’t even have manual mode or access to ISO ha! But this was helpful for my regular Canon 🙂 thanks for sharing your great pics!
December 20, 2021 at 10:18 am
It’s my pleasure! Haha. I hope you find success with the tips using your DSLR 🙂
December 19, 2021 at 9:32 am
Very Informative
Thanks Shannon
December 20, 2021 at 10:17 am
So glad I could help Shannon 🙂
December 20, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Have a great week..
December 20, 2021 at 2:36 pm
Thank you! You too 🙂
December 19, 2021 at 4:18 pm
Wow, I learned a lot just reading this. I’ve never been good at taking photos but I will give them another shot.
December 19, 2021 at 4:20 pm
Good luck and have fun! 🙂
December 19, 2021 at 7:34 pm
Interesting
December 20, 2021 at 3:09 am
Great tips, my photography skills needs need help. 🙂
December 20, 2021 at 10:12 am
So glad I could help! Good luck and have fun 🙂
December 20, 2021 at 4:37 pm
great tips, can you add how to do those things for us uber beginners? For example, how do we change to HDR, lower the exposure, choose auto vs manual??
December 20, 2021 at 8:02 pm
Yes! I will create an article surrounding that 🙂
December 20, 2021 at 9:09 pm
awesome, thanks!
December 20, 2021 at 11:12 pm
My pleasure 😊
December 20, 2021 at 8:04 pm
Do you have an iPhone or Android?
December 20, 2021 at 9:09 pm
android
December 20, 2021 at 11:12 pm
Thank you!
December 21, 2021 at 11:37 am
Wow, I’m totally sold on the manual mode! Thanks! & Merry Christmas!
December 21, 2021 at 5:45 pm
So glad I could help! Thank you! Same to you 🙂
December 21, 2021 at 11:50 am
Great post. I use an iPhone 11 to video our church services. We started out using a video camera designed for YouTube, but later learned the power of the iPhone camera. I use Clip-On Lavalier Lapel Microphones for better sound quality. I also use LED studio lights, but I am still learning as I go.
December 21, 2021 at 5:45 pm
That’s incredible!
December 21, 2021 at 1:31 pm
Good article.
I am a CSI investigator and in the course of my work ive used some high end cameras for capturing crime scene images but their have been times ive wiped out my phone and shot a scene with it and to be honest, I couldnt tell much of a difference.
December 21, 2021 at 5:45 pm
That’s quite interesting. I’d imagine the biggest difference in image quality should be seen between indoors and outdoors. Most phone camera sensors usually aren’t as good in low light. But other than that, most phones have incredible cameras, as they should have. Because most phones are more expensive than DSLR cameras.
December 22, 2021 at 6:39 pm
Very helpful post
December 23, 2021 at 6:46 am
So glad I could help!
December 24, 2021 at 12:45 pm
I actually respect my phone camera more than I do my DSLR at this point.
December 27, 2021 at 9:08 am
That’s incredible to hear! How so?
December 28, 2021 at 2:46 pm
Because it takes better pics and is easier to use. It also has to do with the fact that nowadays I use it more to take pics. Sure, professional photography and the feel of a proper camera is different, but nowadays I prefer the phone.
December 28, 2021 at 5:50 pm
That’s so true, Most phones today have such incredible cameras.
December 24, 2021 at 8:20 pm
Awesome
December 27, 2021 at 8:57 am
Glad you liked it 🙂
December 25, 2021 at 7:43 pm
This was very helpful
December 27, 2021 at 8:54 am
I’m so glad you found it helpful 🙂
January 2, 2022 at 6:34 am
Awesome and helpful!
January 2, 2022 at 11:56 am
I’m so glad you found it helpful! 🙂
December 27, 2021 at 6:47 am
Wonderful post…. Very helpful.
Thanks for sharing these tips
December 27, 2021 at 8:39 am
It’s my pleasure. I’m glad you found them helpful!
December 27, 2021 at 10:49 pm
Love the sunset photo under point 4! Outstanding!
December 28, 2021 at 9:12 am
Thank you! 🙂
December 28, 2021 at 9:02 am
Nice tips!
December 28, 2021 at 9:11 am
Glad you liked them 🙂
December 28, 2021 at 2:26 pm
I appreciate these tips as well as the other links, especially in editing photos.
December 28, 2021 at 5:51 pm
I’m glad you found it useful! 🙂
December 31, 2021 at 1:22 pm
Hello, Hannes van, it’s amazing
December 31, 2021 at 2:50 pm
Glad you found it helpful!
January 1, 2022 at 10:54 pm
Interesting tips! I wonder how to lower the ISO on an iPhone 10…?
January 2, 2022 at 12:00 pm
There are quite a few premium photography apps in the app store 🙂
January 1, 2022 at 11:14 pm
This was a timely article for me to find. I have been frustrated taking good pictures on my phone. When I got to #2 I didn’t know how to make that adjustment so started poking around in settings. I found a bunch of useful stuff there. Thank you for sharing this information.
January 2, 2022 at 11:54 am
I’m so glad I was able to help you to spark your curiosity to learn more about phone photography 🙂
January 2, 2022 at 8:30 am
thanks for the tips–very useful
January 2, 2022 at 11:55 am
It’s a pleasure! I’m glad you found them useful 🙂
January 2, 2022 at 10:15 am
thanks for these tips i am using a samsung phone myself and did not even know a manual mode existed :’)
January 2, 2022 at 11:54 am
Well now you do! Good luck and have fun! 🙂
January 2, 2022 at 1:26 pm
Tips very helpfull and interesting
January 2, 2022 at 1:36 pm
I’m glad you found them helpful 🙂
January 3, 2022 at 9:34 am
Wow @wanderingambivert, thank you for such great insights on Phone Photography. I need to learn more so will check out the other blogs you did around the subject. Very useful information indeed 💯👌👌👌
January 7, 2022 at 8:41 am
I’m glad you found it helpful!
January 10, 2022 at 12:59 am
Enjoyed reading some of your blog. I wonder if you have any advise on shooting sunsets. The sun always bleaches out a picture where with film photography, you get that nice clean circle that we all see of the sun. of course, depending on your settings.
January 15, 2022 at 9:15 am
Lower your exposure by increasing your shutter speed 🙂
January 10, 2022 at 2:34 am
I take a lot of pics using only my phone. These tips will come in very handy👍🏾.
January 15, 2022 at 9:14 am
Good luck and have fun! 🙂
January 13, 2022 at 12:17 pm
This is highly expository
January 15, 2022 at 9:12 am
I’m glad you found it helpful 🙂
January 16, 2022 at 9:51 pm
Thank you for this post. I own a Samsung Galaxy S21 ultra which has an amazing camera. I am going to Iceland in February and I will use these tips to try and improve the photos I take.
January 17, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Have a wonderful journey! If you’re on Instagram, feel free to tag me. I’d like to see how your photos turn out! 🙂
January 17, 2022 at 10:34 pm
Thank you!
January 19, 2022 at 8:59 am
This seems like solid advice, I hope I can apply this to my Tecno phone and take better images. Thank you for sharing
January 19, 2022 at 1:35 pm
I’m sure you will be able to. Consider joining the “wanderings ambiverts” Facebook group and post some of your photos on there 🙂
January 20, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Oh there’s a Facebook Community. Amazing. I doubt I’d be posting fire pictures like others but I’d love to check it out. ❤️🌅
January 20, 2022 at 4:50 pm
It’s not a competition 🙂 Everyone can be inspired by each other and the world they share.
January 29, 2022 at 4:56 pm
Good info👍
January 30, 2022 at 9:22 pm
Wow – what timing, as I prepare for a cross-country journey. I intended to take photos and just expected mostly bad ones. You also inspired the CLOSEUP and how. It’s a pilgrimage – what I see CLOSEUP is the most important thing. I love the beauty/technology drawn to a highest end here. love, in lak’ech, Debra
January 30, 2022 at 9:32 pm
I love photography. thanks for the tips!
January 30, 2022 at 10:20 pm
My pleasure! Glad you found it helpful!
February 5, 2022 at 7:39 am
Great tips I ll definitely try it 👍🙃
February 9, 2022 at 2:05 pm
Great tips. Thanks for sharing!
February 11, 2022 at 10:11 pm
I love your layout on this! Super cool, great information too, as well as pictures!
February 17, 2022 at 9:12 am
Glad I could help!
February 13, 2022 at 5:28 am
Helpful tips. Thanks.
February 15, 2022 at 7:23 am
Great work…Throw light on the term lower exposure
February 16, 2022 at 10:50 am
Wow this is amazing!
February 20, 2022 at 12:48 am
Excellent tips! Thanks!
February 21, 2022 at 1:05 pm
Informative tips for beginners.
February 24, 2022 at 6:48 pm
Tried them out today n my oh my!! Thanks alot
March 2, 2022 at 10:47 am
I thought this was excellent and helpful, thank you 😊
March 3, 2022 at 8:24 pm
Great site!
Everytime I visit I learn something new.
Keep up the good work!
– ed
March 4, 2022 at 7:19 am
So glad i found you. I love taking pictures to the point that my friends bought me a shirt that says paparazzi Very helpful I especially liked your HDR advice and photos
March 4, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Good job
March 6, 2022 at 11:27 am
Great tips thanks for sharing
March 11, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Great tips. I also have a knack for photography. I will definitely need these tips. Thanks and keep up the good work.
March 12, 2022 at 5:11 pm
Goodluck and have fun using them!
March 14, 2022 at 9:10 am
Thanks.
March 15, 2022 at 7:23 pm
I had to get a tmob Nokia because my sweet Huawei p30 doesn’t work with USA carriers, the camera on the nokiax100 stinks, but my Huawei updates resolution never getting rid of it
March 18, 2022 at 6:46 am
I love the slider effect you added ! It really shows a visual difference for your tips . Great post 👍
March 18, 2022 at 9:25 am
Glad you found it helpful!
April 2, 2022 at 8:09 pm
I think you make some really good points about phone photography. After all, we all have one in our pocket. There are so many apps now that help you to make better images with your phone and, of course, to edit those photos right on your device. As the quality of phone sensors improve it’s a niche worth serious consideration.
July 8, 2022 at 11:59 am
It’s definitely a niche worth considering. After all, we’re carrying this device with us all the time, so why not learn how to use its camera the best we can? 🙂
April 27, 2022 at 3:29 am
Great shots, good tips. 🙂
July 6, 2022 at 3:11 pm
Thank you. I’m glad you found them useful 🙂
May 7, 2022 at 7:12 pm
Great work
May 7, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Excellent
June 2, 2022 at 2:54 pm
This is really useful! I am mostly an aim and shoot person , however, this is helpful
July 6, 2022 at 1:21 pm
I’m glad you found it helpful 🙂
June 29, 2022 at 9:27 pm
Thanks so much! Very helpful info
December 11, 2023 at 3:40 pm
Thank you. I often use my own phone photos for art reference, so your post is a big help.
December 11, 2023 at 4:57 pm
I’m so glad I was able to help!