iPhone Hacks For Photography

There is no doubt that the iPhone in your pocket is a great camera. That's especially true if you happen to use the iPhone X...

But as we all know, it's not just the gear you use that influences the quality of the photos you take.

That is, you have to do a little work to maximize how your iPhone photos look.

Here's a few iPhone photography hacks that are surefire ways to get the awesome photos you're after.

Add Movement

Adding an element of movement to your photos immediately makes them more dynamic and interesting.

Think about it - if you're taking a portrait and the model is simply standing there, looking straight at the camera, it's a little bit of a boring shot, right?

By adding movement, though, you have a mechanism by which you can create something a little more unique.

Whether you achieve that by using a slow shutter, having the model move around to get movement in their hair, adding a fan to cause their clothing to move, or some other trick, the results can be pretty awesome!

Learn More:

• iPhone Photography Tricks You Don't Want to Miss
• How to Find the Best Angles for Your Smartphone Photos

 

 

Review Live Mode Frames

What's nice about Live Mode is that you get a string of possible still frames with each shot.

That means that if the initial key frame isn't to your liking, you can make a selection from any of the other key frames in the sequence.

If you aren't sure how to do this, select a Live Photo from your library (or take a new one) and press Edit in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

On the next screen, move the white box at the bottom of the screen from left to right to find the precise frame that works best, and then select "Make Key Photo."

It's a super easy way to improve your photos without having to take another shot!

Use Exposure Compensation

Just like on your mirrorless camera or DSLR, your iPhone has an exposure compensation feature that makes getting the best shots much simpler.

You've no doubt taken a photo at some point that was a little too dark or too bright, but was otherwise a pretty good shot.

The solution to this problem is a simple one - just slide your finger up or down on the phone's screen.

With your iPhone camera turned on, simply tap the screen to bring up the yellow focus box. When you do that, you'll see a sun symbol immediately to the right.

Slide your finger upward from the sun symbol to lighten the image; slide it downward to darken it.

Now, this trick isn't going to solve all your lighting problems, but it will definitely help you out if you find yourself shooting in lighting conditions that aren't quite ideal.

Learn how to manually adjust the exposure on your iPhone in the video above by Anson Alexander.

Learn More:

• Want Amazing Landscape Photography With Your iPhone? Try These Mobile Photography Tips
• How to Take Good Photos With a Smartphone

Expand the Possibilities With an iPhone Lens

I've written before about how impressed I am with my iPhone X camera and its native lenses.

But despite how good they are, the hardware in my phone has its limitations...

That's why I often shoot with SANDMARC iPhone lenses - to expand my creative possibilities and take better photos.

I think what I like most about these lenses is that they're so easy to use.

There's two ways to attach these lenses to your phone - just clip it over the native lens or use the ultra-thin case mount as shown above.

Either way, the lens fits perfectly onto your phone without worry of light leaks, aberrations, or other image degradation.

Not only that, but since these lenses are crafted from premium multi-coated optics, you get crisp, clear images with an improved range of view. What's not to like about that?

I've used these lenses for landscapes, portraits, and even macro scenes, and I have yet to be disappointed.

The clarity and focus are superb, as are the colors and the contrast that these lenses are able to capture.

I've used other smartphone lenses in the past, and they don't even come close to getting the kind of results I get with my SANDMARC lenses.

If you're wondering how to take better iPhone photos, getting outfitted with high-quality lenses is a great first step.

Add in the other iphone photography tips I've outlined above, and you've got an easy roadmap to follow for taking improved photos with your phone.