How To Do Mobile Photography

Mobile photography has become one more tool for the current photographer and, despite the fact that there are many debates about whether or not mobile photography is photography , you will know, dear reader, if you have been following us for a while, that for us it is answer is a capital YES.

Mobile photography is here to stay not only because it is probably the most used camera by photographers of all levels, but also because cameras are getting better and better. Its versatility, portability and immediacy has us trapped and it will continue to be so for at least a long time.

That is why we wanted to dedicate our mega guide format to photography with a mobile phone, or cell phone, compiling and expanding absolutely all the information you may need to improve your photographs taken with your mobile. Inspiration, tricks, tips, composition or technique. You have everything here.

Important, before continuing I recommend that you save this article in favorites so that you can retrieve it whenever you have a question, need inspiration or simply want to take a look at it again. Make yourself comfortable, here I come.

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How To Do Mobile Photography

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WHAT IS MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY?

Mobile photography is a photographic genre focused on using the camera of the mobile phone, or cell phone, as the main tool to capture photos. Unlike the rest of photographic genres, mobile photography is mainly defined by the type of camera used for its execution.

To take advantage of it, it is convenient to dismantle the typical myths that are associated with this type of photography: mobile photography does have merit, it can become professional, it is creative, it does have technique, and yes, it requires effort and knowledge.

Anyone can press a button, but not every image is photography as we photographers understand it, right?

HOW TO TAKE GOOD PHOTOS WITH YOUR MOBILE (MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY TRICKS):

Sometimes the seemingly simplest tricks are the ones that can make a big difference in the quality of your images. For this reason, we have prepared some very simple tricks with which you will quickly learn how to take better photos with your mobile.

1. Keep the optics in perfect condition. We must not forget that our camera is also a phone and a powerful computer 😉 and that we often accidentally touch the lens or carry it in our pocket in any way. So clean the optics before taking any photos. This is a small detail that we do not always take into account but that will take away a lot of sharpness from your photos.
2. Holds the phone well. Ideally, you should hold it with both hands and press the shutter using the button on the screen. Generates less vibration than other options such as the sides.
3. Be aware of the size of the mobile camera sensor. Being aware of the limitations of the smartphone camera allows you to stay ahead of problems. We know that the size of the sensor of mobile phones is very small, that is why we must try to make things easy for it. You will see that many of the tips are related to this fact.
4. Light, lots of light. If you want your Smartphone to render the highest quality, you should look for environments with good lighting, and possibly even lighting , without too much contrast between light and shadow. I’ll tell you more about this soon.
5. Never use digital zoom. The best zoom is your feet 😉 .
6. Turn off the flash. It is not one of the strong points of smartphones, so better find a place with more light before using the flash.
7. Turn off HDR mode by default. Activate it only when you think your image needs it.
8. Night mode is preferable to the built-in flash. If your phone has this function, it is a better option.
9. Compose correctly so you don’t have to crop the image. Take care of the background and activate the grid to help you.
10. Learn to work with the manual settings of your mobile.
11. Do not take photos using a filter. Think that, normally, there is no turning back. It is preferable that you add it later.
12. Take a look at the worst mistakes we make in mobile photography and run like hell from them.
13. Edition. You can improve your image with small editing adjustments, highlights, shadows, contrast or saturation, but remember that the more you touch up, the greater the loss of quality.
14. Download our infographic where we prepare the best tricks for mobile photography.

Have you been wanting more? I explain to them face to face 😉

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MASTER THE LIGHT IN MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY

Light is always our obsession as photographers. Mastering light in mobile photography is even more important due to the size of the sensor in our Smartphones, which is much smaller than that of a SLR or mirrorless camera.

However, all is not lost, far from it, here are some very simple tricks to master the light in your mobile phone photos:

• Homogeneous lights are the ones that work best. Remember that the sensor of our phone is small and does not have a good dynamic range.
• Soft lights cast fewer shadows and are easier for the sensor to process as well.
• Play with the possibilities of hard light:
• The backlights and their silhouettes.
• Shadows are a very powerful visual resource.
• Measure punctually in the area you want to expose correctly to avoid correcting the exposure in processing.
• Take into account the directionality of the light to play with the textures.
• An experiment in high and low key (I’ll let you in on the secret shortly).

HOW TO COMPOSE A PHOTOGRAPH WITH A MOBILE (CELL) PHONE

Many times you ask how to take beautiful photos with your mobile. To that question, we always answer: with a good composition. Composition in mobile photography is a very important aspect, since many times we lack other functions such as depth of field or lighting as narrative elements.

Here are my mobile photography composition tips for more visually appealing images:

1. Define a center of interest. It is key for any type of photography.
2. Try not to focus. Use rules such as the thirds to place the protagonist in a strong point of the image where the eye is directed more naturally).
3. Use the lines as a compositional element. They give a lot of play when composing with your mobile phone.
4. Activate the grid to help you compose and keep the horizon straight.
5. Less is more. Simple layouts are easier to read and perform better.
6. Add a human element to increase the interest of the image.
7. Play with the scale.
8. He uses color as one more compositional element.
9. Use natural frames to frame your image: doors, windows, bridges, arches…

To go deeper, I recommend our article on how to compose in mobile photography and then go through this other one with 17 tips to achieve better photographs with your smartphone.

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HOW TO TAKE GOOD PORTRAITS WITH A MOBILE OR CELL PHONE?

One of the star themes in mobile photography is, without a doubt, the portrait . Whether your thing is to portray others or delve into the depths of your own soul (what they now call selfie 😉 ), what is certain is that a good part of your photographs contain some kind of portrait.

Let’s see how to take a good portrait with your mobile phone :

Get closer: take advantage of the fact that the mobile phone is not a camera that imposes too much on the people portrayed and obtain images and expressions that would not be so easy to achieve with another camera.

• Take care of the background, no unwanted elements in the frame.
• If the eyes reflect some kind of light, you will fill them with life and always remember to make sure they are well focused.
• Always try to have enough light so that your image does not come out blurred or underexposed.
• Try moving closer to a window indoors.
• Experiment with the shadows on the face, I already told you before that they are a very interesting compositional resource.
• Play with the different planes in the image.
• Also try the vertical format. For portraits, it is very grateful.

HOW TO TAKE GOOD PHOTOS FOR INSTAGRAM?

If there is a social network that has helped the rise of mobile telephony, that is, without a doubt, Instagram. The immediacy of the publications, the stories and now also the video format, have positioned it as the most used social network by photographers of all kinds.

To take good photos for Instagram with your mobile phone:

• Learn to compose in square format.
• Minimalist images tend to work best.
• Take good care of the background.
• Don’t abuse filters.
• Try to have a consistent line of sight.
• Look for original frames, and unique points of view.
• Upload photos that you feel proud of, without getting into a perfectionist loop ;).
• Get inspired by photographers who ooze authenticity, like these must-have portrait photographers, most of whom you can follow on Instagram.

And of course, try to avoid these mistakes in your profile portraits. Better follow these tips for your profile photos on social networks.

Oh, and if you still don’t follow us on Instagram maybe it’s a good time to do it, we’d love to see you there 🙂

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STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MOBILE PHONE

If there is a star theme in mobile photography, it is street photography, street photography, Streetphotography , or whatever you want to call it.

The size, discretion, portability and speed of a mobile phone make it one of the best options for lovers of this discipline. Surely you are waiting impatiently for some tips for street photography with your mobile:

• The human element is vital, try to include it directly or indirectly in your compositions.
• Take advantage of every moment of the day. Every light and every hour tell different stories in street photography.
• Just like rainy, foggy or windy days. In bad weather, good photos 😉 .
• Always carry an extra battery to charge your mobile.
• Make sure you have enough space on your device before you start shooting.
• Locate places where you anticipate that interesting situations may occur (subway exits, crowded places…).
• Work on lines, shapes, and geometry.
• It uses the architectural elements as possible natural frames.
• Be discreet and respectful.
• Always have your mobile handy and ready to take pictures.
• Black and white is a great ally of this type of photography. Do not miss our complete guide to black and white photography if you are passionate about the subject.
• Tell a story, make your image speak.

Be sure to take a look at our article with 15 tips to improve your street photography with your mobile to expand this information, as well as our 100 express tips for street photography. You can apply and practice many of them with your mobile phone.

NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MOBILE PHONE

A few years ago it would have seemed impossible to do night photography with a mobile phone, but today, not only is it possible, but we can also achieve surprising results. My tips:

• Use a tripod to help stabilize your shot. Later, in the accessories, I recommend an ideal one.
• Take advantage of available light . Get close to light sources whenever you can.
• Forget the zoom, the sensor is not a good friend of the dark, and even less so if you add Zoom.
• If you have RAW , use it, otherwise, use an application for your mobile phone that has this format.
• If you have any night mode integrated in your mobile, activate it.

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MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MOBILE PHONE

Saving the distances with macro photography taken with a specific lens or other systems for SLR or mirrorless cameras, you can also practice macro photography with your mobile phone. These are my recommendations for macro photography with a mobile phone:

1. Adjust your expectations.
2. Check that the optics are perfectly clean.
3. You have at your disposal macro lenses for mobile, but also applications that offer this function.
4. Get close enough.
5. Focus manually.
6. Control the exposure.
7. It stabilizes the phone well.

MOBILE PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES

When the technique is put at the service of emotion, the result can be brutal. Knowing different photographic techniques will give wings to your creativity in the long term, along with a general knowledge of composition, and light, and will make a difference in your photos.

Here I leave you with a few very simple ideas for you to practice different photographic techniques with your smartphone :

MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY IN HIGH AND LOW KEY

Each of these techniques has very marked emotions associated with them. The high key is purity, joy, and happiness; the low key, on the other hand, is mystery, elegance, and drama.

With a white background for your high key and a dark background for your low key along with these step-by-step tips for stunning high-key and low-key photography with a mobile phone, you’re guaranteed success.

LONG EXPOSURE WITH MOBILE PHONE

There are techniques that seem reserved for another type of camera, but if you have a tripod and an application that allows you to work manually, these types of photos are also within your reach.

I recommend you take a look at apps like Slow Shutter Cam o Pro Camerato to achieve impressive long-exposure photos, lights, movement, and an explosion of sensations simply by playing with the exposure speed.

PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MOBILE PHONE

I bet that if you have a phone with the panoramic option you have already used it several times 🙂 . But have you applied these tips to photographing panoramas with your mobile phone ? With them, you will undoubtedly improve your panoramic compositions with mobile.

CLONING WITH A MOBILE PHONE

As you hear it, without Photoshop or magic, or test tubes or anything more than a mobile phone with a panoramic option and a good samaritan to pose for you. It’s all you need to clone someone with your mobile phone.

Well, follow these tips to clone yourself with your mobile step by step (and without resorting to San Photoshop).

MAKE A TIME LAPSE IN MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY

With a simple tripod, your camera, and an external battery, you can make a Time Lapse video. Yes, those videos speed up slow processes like the growth of a flower or the movement of stars. In this video you have some examples:

Now, how to make a Time Lapse with your mobile phone? Here we explain it step by step and here are some applications to make Time Lapse with your smartphone.

MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY ACCESSORIES

Accessories for mobile photography are many and varied and, what is better, they are usually very affordable, allowing you to further increase the creative possibilities offered by a smartphone with little investment.

These are the most interesting accessories to expand the range of photographic possibilities with your mobile phone:

• Smartphone lenses : they are very cheap, so don’t expect the same results as with an 800 Euro lens 😉 . Although their quality is not impressive, they are not bad at all and allow you to experiment with different focal lengths and thus obtain different images. Aaah… what do you want to know more?!! Well check out our article to spark your creativity with these super cheap mobile lenses .
• Mobile tripod: another essential accessory with which you do not have to invest too much to obtain good results and that will allow you to use techniques such as long exposure, obtain groundbreaking angles or simply improve your landscape photographs . In this guide you will find the best mobile tripods .
• External battery: nothing worse than running out of battery in the middle of a photo shoot, whatever the type. And, if you also lose your mobile phone, your “connection with the world”, then even worse 😉 . Always carrying an extra battery with you is a winning option.
• Waterproof case: also multiply the creative possibilities of your mobile phone with this accessory. For taking photos at the beach or pool, and even underwater. Watch out! Always check its effectiveness by following the instructions for use before jumping into the pool.
• Folding light box: to achieve the most professional product photos.

MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY PRINTERS

Following the line of immediacy provided by mobile photography, having a printer at home is usually a very interesting option to give physical life to all those photos taken with your smartphone.

Here are our smartphone printer recommendations and a full review of the Instax Share , to give you an idea of ​​what these types of printers look like and work.

THE BEST APPS FOR MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY

Many times, mobile photography would not be understood without the applications behind it. These complement the ever-improving cameras and offer plenty of creative resources.

In the blog we have several articles dedicated to the best applications for photography. We especially recommend:

• Applications to dominate the camera of your mobile phone
• The best mobile applications for photographers, where you will find from applications to plan outings, edit, for the camera or sell your photos.

MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITING TIPS

Mobile photography and editing are two concepts that are difficult to separate. In the previous section you will find applications with which to obtain great results in editing.

When editing your mobile photos , keep the following tips in mind :

• Any adjustment reduces the quality of the image. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you obtain as perfect a result as possible at the time of taking the image.
• Cut as little as possible.
• Slightly adjust the highlights and shadows, brightness or contrast depending on the image and the result you want.
• Correct spots or areas that need improvement.
• Play with the dominant color, it can give you very interesting results and help you with the fundamental thing: emotion!
• Adjust the white balance to your liking.
• Always save the adjustments as a copy and never on top of the original image.
• Choose an editor that works for you and investigate all its possibilities well.

The free app that I highly recommend as a mobile photo editor is Snapseed. To convince yourself how great it is you can watch a basic tutorial on how it works.

WHICH PHONE HAS THE BEST CAMERA?\

There is no single answer to this question because it depends on your needs and tastes. What I can do is help you with the search work and make a list of the most interesting options. Leave me a moment… You have it ready! This is our mobile article with the best cameras .

You can also read our reviews of the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro , the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro, the iPhone 11 , the Google Pixel 4 and 4XL or the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra , if they are on your favorites list.

HOW TO TAKE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS WITH THE MOBILE?

Whether you want to become a professional, or if you just want to take good photos with your mobile phone, the path is perseverance, although these tips will help you along the way:

• Get a mobile with a very good camera. In the previous point we have left you a few options.
• If yours is the product, get a light box.
• Do not skimp on the quality of the accessories you buy.
• Get constantly inspired to stay up to date with news and fashions.
• Learn to use 100% manual mode.
• Don’t make composition mistakes.
• Stabilize the phone to get the best possible sharpness in your photos.
• Do not upload photos to social networks that do not have good quality, they are your cover letter.
• Apply the filters and, in general, the edition, with a head. Images with a very exaggerated development, although today you can see them well, soon go out of style and can look unprofessional.
• Be aware of the limitations of the camera you are using and work within them.
• The best photography is obtained in the camera, not in the process.

MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS

I always like to recommend a good book that can accompany you in your learning, a guide to go a little further, to turn to when you have doubts or want to delve into a topic, or turn the pages while enjoying a good coffee. Here are my book recommendations on mobile photography :

• Mobile photography in the palm of your hand . In our ebook on mobile photography, with almost 200 pages, we explain in an entertaining, practical and simple way, all the tricks you need to know to capture incredible photographs full of life and emotion using your mobile phone.
• Smartphone Photography: Shooting like a proby Wale Adekile.
• Everyday Mobile Photography: How to take cool photos using your phone’s cameraby Michaela Willlove.

INSPIRATION FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the technical part of the images forgetting that inspiration is the place where everything begins , my friend.

And you know that at Photographer’s Blog we attach extreme importance to looking for inspiration when you can’t find it, and to browsing through millions of images to help you find it. In this sense, we have prepared this article with 33 images taken with a mobile phone , so you can see that great photos can be taken without having to resort to a 2,000-3,000 Euro, 2kg camera.

We are almost done, I just want to tell you that this mega guide on mobile photography is meaningless if you don’t practice it. You know that, right? Your mobile phone is waiting for you to squeeze it to the max.

It is the camera that you always carry with you, use it. But not just any use. I want you to take this task as seriously as when you have the SLR in your hands, or the EVIL, or whatever camera complements your smartphone . Yes? Done deal!

I have loved sharing these minutes with you. If it’s mutual, share this mega guide with whoever you think might be interested, who wants to improve or take their mobile phone photography seriously. Thanks. We read 🙂