10 iPhone Photography Tips
Sandra and I went around for 15 minutes to capture some examples of each tip.
1. Keep is simple.
Photos that are simple can draw the viewers eye in. Simplicity is a great way to create a photo that stands out from all the other photos in your camera roll.
2. Change your angle/perspective
A different angle or perspective can provide an interesting way to look at a scene. Everyone knows what a beach scene looks like from eye height. Taking the camera and bringing it low to the ground can make an ordinary photo more interesting.
3. Depth and the rule of 3rd’s
The rule of 3rd’s is very simple but a highly effective way to create pleasing photos. If you take the frame of the photo and divide it into nine equal sections. The point at where the dividing lines intersect are a great place to put the subject of the photo.
4. Capture close up details
The details of a scene can provide context or a new view of the experience or situation. When we shoot a wedding it is very important to capture everything. The details are something we focus a great amount on. These photos can be used in many different ways, such as giving the viewer an idea of the surrounding area. Think of a great book, the writer doesnt just say “Bill walked into the room.” they give context of the room itself. What kind of furniture is in the room, how much light there is ect.. Details photos provide that context.
5. Shadows
Shadows can provide a level of interest to your photo that would not be possible without them. They can also give you leading lines that can push the viewers eye in the direction of the subject in framed properly.
6. Reflections
Reflections are a wonderful way to add depth to your photos. Using mirrors or still puddles or other water sources can give a great look to your photos.
7. Symmetry
Symmetry would fall under the rule of thirds but using symmetry when photographing can give you a pleasing final image.
8. Panorama’s
Creating a great landscape is a lot of fun. The way we do this is with stitching many different photos together in software after a shoot but by using the iPhone you can do it in real time. If you are dealing with issues of overexposure try tapping on bright area to give the phone a chance to correct the exposure before recording the panorama. Don’t forget that panorama’s can also be taken vertically.
9. Portraits
The iPhone camera’s portrait mode has been improving drastically for years and it does a great job in creating an artificial bokeh effect. There are a few bugs that the software has but they can be avoided with some planning. If you are photographing a person and they have unruly hair blowing in the wind this can create some gaps in the artificial background blurring. The key is to have hard lines on the subject of the photo. This can be a hood or hat on a person. Toning down the effect after the face can help hide the software flaws as well.
10. Edit
The iPhone has basic corrections built right into the camera. These can be a great way to tone down the highlights or bring up the shadows and they work quite effectively. The best way to learn how to edit is to just jump in and mess around with each slider and tweak the photo to your liking.