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Home Travel

11 Easy Tips and Tricks to Up Your Mobile Photography Game

Smartphones can be seriously powerful photography tools, here's how to make the most of your phone camera!

by Flo
July 25, 2016 - Updated on November 10, 2019
in Travel, Travel Tips
56
Mobile photography tips and tricks

I don’t own a DSLR, point-and-shoot or mirrorless camera, nor do I know how to use an actual camera. But here’s the thing: I love taking photos of my travels and yoga journey. I’m looking into options for good cameras (recommendations welcome!) but until I invest in a proper camera, it’s just up to me and my trusty 8 megapixel iPhone 6 camera to capture photos. Update April 2017: invested in a Canon 6D which I’m loving, but nothing beats the portability of my iPhone!

Up until about 2015, I didn’t always take photos while traveling, it just wasn’t something I was used to doing. In the past, my phone’s camera roll was full of overexposed and sometimes blurry shots, accidental floor snaps (you know what I’m talking about) and I haven’t (and will never) master the “art” of the selfie. Gradually learning to document my travels through photography has, in a way, changed the experience of traveling. I now think more critically about composition and framing shots, leading lines and most importantly, the practice of taking travel photos has driven me to become more observant of what’s around me and keep my eye out for interesting details.

If you also rely on your smartphone for travel photography, fear not! My photography skills are still not quite where I want them to be, but here are some easy tips and tricks that I’ve picked up along the way that have helped me to take (and edit) better photos with my phone, I hope you find these useful!

Venice Grand Canal 1

1. Make sure your lens is clean

No, this is not a cop out tip! Our phones are often in our pockets, bags or hands and the camera lens often gets dirty and greasy without us even realizing it. I can’t even tell you the number of times I’ve taken photos at the beach, only to find out I smeared sunscreen all over the lens so every shot came out blurry: devastating. These days I maniacally wipe my lens down in between shots with whatever I can get my hands on: my shirt, a tissue, my boyfriend’s shirt…the list goes on.

2. Use natural lighting and shoot away from the sun

This is especially true for smartphone photography and unfortunately shooting into the light often results in photos coming out overexposed or too dark. To adjust focus and exposure, tap your screen and slide your finger up to increase exposure, down to darken. You can also hold your finger down to “lock” the settings. If you’re not happy with how the photo is turning out, try using the HDR function.

HDR works by balancing the shadows and highlights of a photo but doesn’t always work 100%. Read these posts for more on when to use HDR (and when not to): here and here.

Santorini 1

3. Avoid zooming in

For some reason, photos taken with zoom tend to be much much grainier. So instead of relying on the zoom function, move closer to snap your picture (without falling off a cliff) and you can always crop the image later. Even if you have access to a smartphone like the iPhone 7 Plus that offers optical zoom (instead of digital zoom), I’d recommend avoiding this function unless you absolutely have to.

4. Consider your composition: framing, rule of thirds, leading lines

Framing is a technique to draw attention to the main subject of the photo by using something around the edge of the photo to block parts of it. It can help to create some depth and can help to make your photo more visually interesting.

Sri Lanka Dondra Lighthouse

The “rule of thirds” helps to balance out the composition of the photo and the idea is that an off-centre composition looks more natural and creates a more “interesting” photo. This is a great article illustrating the rule in action. To help you execute the rule of thirds turn on your phone’s grid setting. For iPhones, go to Settings – Camera – and then flip the switch to turn the Grid on.

Burano 13

Leading lines is a technique used to help to draw the viewers eye to the main focus of the photo. Leading lines can be found in tons of places: roads, stairs, alleyways, rivers, the list goes on!

Morocco 4

Here’s another example of the leading lines technique being applied to a yoga photography shot:

A photo posted by Flo • Yogawinetravel.com (@yogawinetravel) on Jul 3, 2016 at 10:47pm PDT

5. Take the same shot in both landscape and portrait format

The same shot can look very different in both orientations, and if you know you probably won’t revisit that particular spot or get to take the same shot again, you’ll want to take a few photos in landscape and portrait format. You can always decide which ones you want to keep afterwards! Here is an example, both photos were taken a second or two apart and I haven’t edited either photo so you can focus on the difference in orientation.

Monterosso 1

Monterosso 2

6. Be on the lookout for interesting details


A shot doesn’t have to be busy for it to be captivating. This shot remains one of my all-time favorites but its beauty is in its simplicity and tones.

Morocco 2

7. Check your screen brightness levels

Sometimes I’ll forget that my screen brightness is super dim, and edit a photo so much that it’s way too bright or way too saturated. Or, I won’t edit a dark photo enough because my screen is really bright – you get the picture (har har). When you’re editing (and before you post), make sure you’re happy with the photo at any brightness setting!

8. Correct the perspective

Burano Before Perspective Correction
Potted plants in Burano Italy

So you’ve taken a photo and it kind of looks a little off because it was taken from too high up or too low down, or too slanted from the left or right. You can fix minor slant issues with the “adjust” function in Instagram or other photo-editing apps and tools. Here’s a useful article to read on the perspective function, and here’s an example of how I used function to “un-tilt” this photo that was taken from a lower angle. Pay attention to the pipe on the right to see the difference it makes.

While you’re at it, make sure that your photo is level and straight, especially if you’re capturing a photo that includes the horizon – you’d be surprised how much of a difference rotating your photo by 0.5 degrees can make!

9. Get rid of unwanted elements from your shot

Krka Skradinski Buk in Croatia

Touch Retouch is a seriously incredible app ($1.99 in the Apple app store) that lets you remove unwanted objects from your photos. I’ve found that it works best when you’re removing objects or people from photos of water or more solid backgrounds. Don’t ask me how it works, but it’s pure magic.

Krka Skradinski Buk in Croatia

Here’s an extreme example of how I used it to remove a bunch of people and a no-swim barrier from a photo of the Skradinski Buk in Krka National Park. I’ve also used it to remove birds, rubbish bins and other random things from my shots.

10. Leverage good editing apps

There are a ton of great photo-editing mobile apps out there. My favorites are Afterlight and A Colour Story. Some other popular apps include VSCO and Snapseed. Instagram’s in-app editor, while not perfect, is pretty good for photos that don’t need much editing. The lux feature (tap the sun icon at the top of the screen) is a good way to slightly up the vibrancy of photos and balance out some dark spots.

11. Make your phone work for you

As Fabio wisely reminded me, take advantage of the fact that your phone is a small and light device and use it to find new angles – check out some of his professional photos here! Your phone’s camera lens can get where some professional cameras cannot. For example, this photo looking down Giotto’s Campanile in Florence was taken by sticking my phone’s camera lens through steel grating.

Florence Italy Duomo Bell Tower 1

That’s it! What are some other good tips you have up your sleeve? Share them with me in the comments section below!

Want to see more of my travel and yoga photos? Follow me on Instagram!

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Taj Mahal in Agra India with text overlay

Woman taking photo with phone in Cinque Terre Italy with text overlay

Mobile phone in front of Hong Kong skyline with text overlay

Woman taking photo with phone in Cinque Terre Italy with text overlay

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Comments 56

  1. Leeann says:
    3 years ago

    GREAT tips! I have been thinking I need to get a “real” camera but I’m just going to try these tips instead. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      There are definitely advantages to using your phone to take photos! I haven’t gotten around to getting a “proper” camera and I want to make sure that I can make the most of it, so still in the research stage. Let me know when you’ve tried some of these tips 🙂

      Reply
  2. Cynthia says:
    3 years ago

    Thanks for these awesome tips, Florence! I’ve only recently been starting to take both landscape and vertical shots. We need them for all those different social media channels which have different optimal image sizes haha.

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Thank you for taking the time to read through, Cynthia! And absolutely – Twitter and Facebook seem to favor landscape shots, whereas Pinterest loves vertical photos. You can always delete the extra shots later, right? 🙂

      Reply
  3. Summer says:
    3 years ago

    Hey Flo! Thanks so much for sharing this post – I’ve been trying to find a few good photo editing apps for my phone. Going to check out Touch Retouch, Afterlight and A Colour Story now 🙂

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      So glad you found it helpful, Summer! Let me know how you find those apps 🙂

      Reply
  4. Dan Fogarty says:
    3 years ago

    I can’t believe you take all these great pics with just your iPhone. Shows what a good eye you have! The best camera is the one you have at the time.

    If you’re thinking of a new camera, take a look at the Sony RX100, Mark III. It’s expensive (USD$450), but pocketable and more importantly it has a huge chip in (a full size DSLR chip!) and is amazing at taking night and lowlight pics. (The newer versions shoot 4K, but you don’t need that, just hogs all your storage). I also carry a Canon 5D lunker, but honestly it is becoming harder to tell the difference in quality between the two. The zoom on the Sony isn’t the best, but that’s why you can fit in your pocket. If you want a bigger zoom, Sony has a new RX10 that is the same camera and chip but a big zoom on it. Still it’s much smaller than a typical DLSR.

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Thank you so much for these amazing recommendations, Dan! I will definitely look into these options. Your photos and videos are ridiculously professional 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kana says:
    3 years ago

    Flo, this is a great post – absolutely love it! Really helpful too! I don’t own a DSLR either so it’s all about great apps! xo

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Thank you so much Kana! I absolutely love your photos as well 🙂 x

      Reply
  6. Jen Morrow says:
    3 years ago

    Great tips! I am still working on #4, that is the hardest to master (or even get better at) for me. I totally follow #5, and am amazed at the difference between portrait and landscape for the exact shot. Beautiful photos.

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Thanks for taking the time to read through, Jen!

      Reply
  7. Angela says:
    3 years ago

    Thanks for the great tips. this is really helpful

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Glad you found these tips helpful, Angela!

      Reply
  8. valerie hansen says:
    3 years ago

    WOW This is so amazing and helpful, some of this I knew , but most of it I did not! Thank you so so much for sharing this..i will share on social media!

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      So glad you found this helpful, Valerie! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
  9. Gee says:
    3 years ago

    What an awesome article. I currently use my phone too while saving up for a camera. Hadn’t even heard of the rule of thirds or thought of the layout. Such great advice in here. I’m on my way to download some apps ?

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      So glad you found this useful, Gee! Let me know how you like those apps – TouchRetouch is MAGIC.

      Reply
  10. Toni says:
    3 years ago

    What an awesome post! I so didn’t know about the app where you can remove objects! I need this in my life! Great tips considering I use both a phone and a SLR.

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      So glad you found this helpful, Toni! I’d love to expand my range of photography equipment one day but am loving using my phone at the moment!

      Reply
  11. Sally from Passport & Plates says:
    3 years ago

    These photos are amazing! They definitely don’t look like you took them from your phone. Also that Touch Retouch app sounds magical. Going to download it right now! Thanks for sharing such great tips!

    Reply
  12. shayan Naveed says:
    3 years ago

    I quickly downloaded that touch retouch app! That is awesome. Thanks for sharing thatone.

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Enjoy! It’s addictive. Like, super addictive.

      Reply
  13. Sean says:
    3 years ago

    Hi Flo,
    I don’t think I have ever commented on a blog. Great shots and tips. Few cameras you may like is Sony A6000 or the new one A6300 can’t go wrong. I have a Lumix G7 which has great video capabilities. So many cameras to choose from but I think you want one you can put in your pocket.

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Sean, thank you so much for the ongoing support and amazing recommendations! Will definitely add these to the list that I’m putting together of cameras to look into.

      Reply
  14. Jessica C says:
    3 years ago

    Great tips! Just got the Galaxy S7 and am looking forward to seeing how I can make awesome pictures from a cellphone. Gotta love technology!

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Ooh! How’s the camera on the Galaxy S7? I think Samsungs take wider photos as well so the shots should come out amazing!

      Reply
  15. Kelly | A Pair of Passports says:
    3 years ago

    These are great tips! Even though we have a camera, our phones usually end up being the most accessible and therefore our go to. We use Snapseed and VSCO and have learned that just playing around on those for a bit can introduce you to ways to improve photos you never would have thought of before. Next step for us is to work on composition 🙂

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Thank you for taking the time to read this, Kelly! Absolutely agree – there are lots of different ways to experiment with editing tools and it’s fun to see how different editing styles change the look and feel of photos 🙂

      Reply
  16. Courtney Jones says:
    3 years ago

    Checking your screen brightness is so important! My phone battery life is pretty horrible, so I keep my screen brightness turned waaay down so that it will last longer. For the longest time, I didn’t clue in to what my photos would look like on a normal screen, and ended up with super saturated images (definitely over-edited!). Lesson learned!

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      I spend way too much time on Instagram so I try to keep my screen brightness on low to conserve energy. I definitely learned the hard way as well!

      Reply
  17. Ruth says:
    3 years ago

    I really like your tips especially the ones related to apps. I need that app that removes objects! Your photos are great. Would be nice to see you taking photos with an actual camera (which is not as compact as a phone).

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Thanks Ruth! Definitely looking into different camera options at the moment. What do you use?

      Reply
  18. Courtney says:
    3 years ago

    Great tips! I take all of my photos on my iPhone 6 as well, and I’m happy with the overall quality. I’ve considered investing in a “real camera” to improve photos for my blog, but it’s really so much easier when all you have to carry around is your phone–I always have it with me anyways!

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      The portability is a massive selling point! I’ve heard the mirrorless cameras are good, light options so I will be looking into that!

      Reply
  19. Kat says:
    3 years ago

    Woah I need that app that removes the unwanted stuff from your photos – that’s a serious game changer!

    Thanks for the tips with this post. I have a camera (it’s a bridge so between a point-and-shoot and DSLR) but it’s a pain to carry around and I don’t always take it everywhere so I’m trying to get better with my phone. Honestly a lot of phones take such good photos nowadays that you probably don’t even need to carry a camera unless you’re doing it professionally. People have often shown me photos they’ve taken with their phones that are better than I’ve taken with my camera!

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      I love my phone for photos! The only thing is that it doesn’t so poorly in the dark/at dusk, and you can pretty much never shoot into the light. I’m a massive sunset fan so would love a camera for this!

      Reply
  20. Chloe Hahn says:
    3 years ago

    Love this post! I am continually trying to up my game when it comes to photos and your tips are amazing. Love your Italy pictures too, ugh I want to go back so badly! Also, thanks for joining #FlyAwayFriday lady. So happy we are following each other and I can see your fabulous posts. Have a great weekend! Xox Chloe @timetravelblonde

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      2 years ago

      Thanks so much for checking this out, Chloe!

      Reply
  21. Kana says:
    3 years ago

    I know I already left a message here but I just love the post, I’m so glad you shared it on the linkup! We really appreciate you joining! Hopefully we’ll see you next week! xo

    Reply
  22. Claire at Tin Box Traveller says:
    3 years ago

    Great tips! I always end up taking some of my travel pictures on my phone as well as my camera – it comes with juggling kids while travelling! I’ve not heard of the Touch Retouch app before – that’s epic! #flyawayfriday

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      2 years ago

      Hope you’re having fun with the Touch Retouch app!

      Reply
  23. JASCHEN says:
    3 years ago

    What!??!?!?! Can’t believe you took all these photos on a phone, they are absolutely beautiful!!!!! Tip #5 is my favorite. I myself always get stuck taking photos in portrait format that I forget landscape may be more suitable. And that Touch Retouch app looks amazing, definitely need to download it on my phone ASAP. Thanks for the great tips!

    Jasmine,
    http://www.mysuitcasejourneys.com

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Jasmine, thanks so much for taking the time to read this! So glad you found some of these helpful 🙂 Let me know how you go with the app!

      Reply
  24. Ashley says:
    3 years ago

    These are some awesome tips. Especially the one with screen brightness; I’m so bad at remembering I always have my screen turned way down!! It’s funny because I’m the opposite of you, give me a camera and I feel far more comfortable then with my phone. Something to be said about limiting yourself to make yourself grow. Maybe on my next trip I’ll leave my camera at home… well maybe for only a half day!

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      I wish I knew how to maneuver a camera like you, Ashley! I think the benefit of a phone is really portability and the ability to get into different spaces. I’m upgrading to the iPhone 7 Plus soon so I’ll keep you posted on how that goes!

      Reply
  25. Samantha says:
    3 years ago

    Such great tips!! I just have my smartphone camera that I use on my travels, too! I’ve been able to capture some really great shots. I also sometimes just point and shoot and hope for the best haha.

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Haha I’m upgrading to the iPhone 7 plus because it’s supposed to have a better camera! Thanks for reading this, Samantha!

      Reply
  26. Stacey says:
    3 years ago

    These are all great tips, especially the first one which seems like common sense but many people forget to check.

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      Exactly, and then it’s too late when you get home!

      Reply
  27. Nadine Smith (Scenes From Nadine) says:
    3 years ago

    I love all the tips that you included here! You can really take amazing photos with your phone, you just have to know how! Noted on the zooming in. I tend to make that mistake sometimes. 🙂

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      The iPhone 7 Plus now offers optical zoom! However I find that the you are still better off either getting closer or taking the photo with no zoom, then cropping in an editing program.

      Reply
  28. Monika Pietrowski says:
    3 years ago

    Awesome tips – thanks so much Flo. I’m a little way off buying a camera and have been wanting to improve my phone camera skills so these tips are perfect!

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      3 years ago

      I’m so glad you found these tips helpful, Monika! I love my trusty iPhone 7 Plus – the camera is great!

      Reply
  29. Megan says:
    6 months ago

    Awesome article and great tips on what apps I should be using 🙂

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      6 months ago

      Thanks for taking the time to read this, Megan! Hope you found the article useful.

      Reply

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Hello!

Yoga, Wine & Travel

Hi! My name is Flo. I'm a wanderlusting yogi who won’t say no to a good white sangria. I believe that travel and yoga are important avenues to experience new stories, lifestyles, culture and views - join me on Yoga, Wine & Travel as I share destination & travel guides, tips and hacks as well as stories from my Yoga journey! Read more about me and Yoga, Wine & Travel here.

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  • How was your weekend   A little offline life update from me  I had all these grand plans involving getting outdoors and making the most of the good weather in Hong Kong  but instead I came home to a half-eaten box of grapes on the floor and a very guilty looking dog  Grapes are toxic to dogs so off we went to the 24-hour emergency vet  Poor doggo is ok  thank goodness  but all my plans were sidetracked                   Things don   t always work out but I   m just glad I was able to get him to the vet immediately and that he is doing okay    srilanka  visitsrilanka  weligama  yogasrilanka  amazingSL  exploresrilanka  srilankatoday  hashtagsrilanka  srilankatourism
  • 5 years ago there was 1 little beach bar on Hiriketiya Beach  I learned to do turtle rolls and surf green waves here  and afterwards we would sip on coconuts on the beach  It is one of my favorite swimming spots in Sri Lanka because it remains fairly protected year-round from wind and swell  and the water is crystal clear   Fast forward a few years - this horseshoe-shaped bay is booming with visitors  and the secret is out  Hiriketiya Bay could possibly be the most beautiful beach in all of Sri Lanka  It   s scary how quickly things have changed  but if all goes to plan the local business owners are dedicated to transforming Hiriketiya into a sustainable destination and community   Here are some quick tips for visiting Hiriketiya        consider visiting during the off peak months  Most people only visit the south coast from November to February March  but it   s actually lovely all year round - with the exception of a few days here and there it very rarely pours for weeks on end     leave no trace - take all your trash with you and don   t leave them on the beaches     dress appropriately - it is not respectful to walk around the village in skimpy clothes or your swimwear  Save the swimwear for the actual beach     bring a reusable bottle bag  Most places have large water dispensers where you can fill your bottle     surf responsibly - especially when there are crowds of people in the water  No one likes being hit in the head by a surfboard     use the bay as a base for exploring the south coast  Udawalawe Yala national parks are approximately two hours away and Galle is a 50-60 minute drive away     ask if your accommodation recycles their trash  The local council is implementing garbage recycling or there are services that organize recycling for a small fee     tipping is not really expected in Sri Lanka  especially if a service charge has already been applied  But it is always appreciated by those in the hospitality and transportation industry  We are in the process of opening a pair of pool villas here - follow along at  samandlolas for updates    srilanka  visitsrilanka  hiriketiya  yogasrilanka  amazingSL  exploresrilanka  srilankatoday  hashtagsrilanka  srilankatourism
  • Staycations for the win       My boyfriend and I have been absolutely swamped with work  me with Yoga  Wine   Travel and  samandlolas and him with Sam   Lola   s   talalla surf AND  stolenparadise lk  So what do we do  Book a last-minute time out to hit reset and spend some quality time together  We always end up going to the same places that we love in Sri Lanka  so as an early Christmas present to ourselves we booked a staycation at none other than Cape Weligama   Believe me when I tell you that it is one of the best luxury hotels in Sri Lanka - the hospitality is quintessentially Sri Lankan and the views are to die for  Not to mention they have some of the most experienced and award-winning mixologists on the island       If you   ve been thinking about treating yourself to a little local getaway  do it - you deserve it    srilanka  visitsrilanka  weligama  yogasrilanka  amazingSL  exploresrilanka  srilankatoday  hashtagsrilanka  srilankatourism
  • Sure  cricket may be the national sport of Sri Lanka but I for one would much rather watch doggoes go surfing        Swipe right to see this cutie in action    srilanka  visitsrilanka  arugambay  yogasrilanka  amazingSL  exploresrilanka  srilankatoday  hashtagsrilanka  srilankatourism
  • 5 years ago I had no idea where Sri Lanka was  I decided one night at 4 AM that I was going to learn to surf  so I googled    best surf camps in Asia     emailed all of them  and a surf camp in Sri Lanka was the first to get back to me     Why not     I thought to myself  and booked myself in for 2 weeks of surf   Yoga and hopped on a plane  I   m fairly sure that all my friends were convinced that I was having a quarter life crisis  but that random  impulsive decision changed my life and I haven   t looked back since   Have you ever made a last-minute decision that worked out for the best    srilanka  visitsrilanka  stiltfishermen  yogasrilanka  amazingSL  exploresrilanka  srilankatoday  hashtagsrilanka  srilankatourism
  • Any guesses what this island off the coast of Weligama is   A  Prison B  Temple C  Hotel D  Abandoned property E  Someone   s private house  Hint  It   s only reachable on foot during low tide    srilanka  visitsrilanka  weligama  yogasrilanka  amazingSL  exploresrilanka  srilankatoday  hashtagsrilanka  srilankatourism

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