With Social media becoming a major marketing strategy for businesses, creating content is a number one priority for marketing managers and taking good quality photos with a Smartphone, whether it be for your social feed or blog, is a very in demand skill.
Every month here at Hello Smart Blog we get to collaborate with one of the BEST photographers in the business, FJ Potgieter of Eye Poetry Photography. Being the topnotch cool guy that he is, we knew FJ wouldn’t mind if we picked his super talented brain on the very important subject of how to up our Social-media-photo game and take better cellphone photos.
Here’s what our FAVOURITE photographer had to say:
Being a photographer I believe that the best camera you have is the one in your hand and with all the amazing technology built into a Smartphone camera these days, you have access to one of the best value-for-money compact cameras money can buy.
Here are my TOP TIPS for taking better cellphone photos:
#1 Clean your lens
Probably hands-down the most important tip for taking good photographs on your phone!
Always clean your camera lens of your Smartphone before taking a photograph. During normal use of your phone your lens touches all kinds of surfaces that might be oily and makes your photographs look all mushy and soft which results in poor image quality.
*Before cleaning your Smartphone lens
*After cleaning your Smartphone lens
#2 Always look for the best light
Better light equals better photographs.
When taking a picture indoors, try your best to take the photograph as close to natural light as possible, natural light will increase the image quality.
When taking it outdoors don’t take a photograph directly into the sun, it will just darken the foreground and all you’ll see is a ball of light.
*Photo with poor light
*Photo with good light.
#3 Don’t use your flash unless you REALLY have to
Your flash results in an ugly colour tone and takes away the ambience in a photograph. Rather use natural light, especially in day time, it just gives a better feel to a photograph.
*Photo with flash
*Photo without flash.
#4 Don’t use Zoom
When zooming, your Smartphone uses a digital zoom, so all your doing is cropping the photograph and reducing photo quality. Rather walk closer if possible.
*Photo with zoom
*Photo without zoom.
#5 Manually set your focus and exposure
Before taking the photo, click to focus on the subject. This will ensure a sharp and in-focus photograph.
Set the exposure before taking the photograph by clicking and dragging on the screen, if you get it right while taking the photograph you don’t have to edit the photo as much later on.
*For a demo of setting focus and exposure click on this how to video –> Manually set your focus and exposure video
#6 DON’T over edit your photos
I believe that photo editing should be like make-up on a woman – it should enhance, not overpower.
I personally use Filmborn and VSCO to edit my photos. Use a filter that enhances the photograph and move the exposure, contrast etc. –> not too far though, the further you move it, the more image quality you lose.
*Photo before editing
*Photo after editing –> For demo of editing click on this how to video Editing your Cellphone photos
*Photo before editing
*Photo after editing –> For demo of editing click on this how to video Editing your Cellphone photo
#7 Keep your camera straight
Use the horizon, a wall or something straight as a guide to keep your phone straight and try to get the photo as straight as possible.
There you have it Smartguys and Smartgirls – Enjoy taking amazing cellphone photos and let us know if FJ’s super tips worked for you.
Now that’s what we call #instacool 😉
Credits
Photography and written by:
- FJ Potgieter for Eye Poetry Photography
