How to take great holiday photos with your smartphone?

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Hoe maak je leuke vakantiefoto's met je smartphone?

The holiday season is the season to capture memories. Beautiful summer evenings, colorful markets, impressive nature or just a relaxing moment by the pool: these are the moments you want to look back on later. Fortunately, you don't have to drag an expensive camera along for that. With your smartphone you can take surprisingly beautiful photos if you just know what you're doing. In this blog you can read how to take the best holiday photos with simple techniques and smart choices.

Tip 1: Light is everything

The way light affects your photo is perhaps the biggest difference between a good picture and a photo that exudes professionalism. The best times to take photos are during the so-called golden hour . This is the moment just after sunrise or just before sunset. The light is soft, warm and flattering. People automatically look better at this time, and landscapes get a nice glow.

Tip 2: Think about your point of view and composition

What makes a photo interesting is not just what you capture, but how you capture it. Most people hold their phone at eye level and quickly snap a photo. Try to train yourself to look differently. Play with the heights of your phone to get a low angle or a higher perspective.

It is also important to pay attention to your composition. Divide your image imaginarily into three equal boxes, horizontally and vertically. Place your subject at one of the intersections. That feels much more pleasant than a subject that is in the middle.

Sometimes simplicity works best. A photo on the beach with just a footprint in the sand and a beautiful horizon is also an image that can convey a sense of peace and space.

Tip 3: Use your smartphone consciously

Smartphones have increasingly better cameras, but you have to learn how to use them. Most people rely on the automatic mode, but with a few simple adjustments you can gain much more control over the end result of your photos.

Adjust focus

Tap the screen to manually focus, ideal if you have a subject in the foreground. Then swipe up or down to adjust the exposure, preventing the sky from being completely white or someone’s face from being too dark.

Turn on HDR

Also turn on HDR when you are shooting in situations with a lot of contrast. For example, a sunset behind a dark mountain landscape. The camera will then make multiple exposures and combine them into one balanced image.

Avoid zooming in

What you do want to avoid is using digital zoom. Zooming in with your phone can make the image grainy and can lead to loss of quality. Want something closer in the photo? Then literally walk a few steps forward.

Tip 4: Bring useful accessories

One of the biggest advantages of taking photos with your smartphone is that you don't have to lug around heavy equipment. With a few handy accessories, you can get the most out of your holiday photos.

For example, a compact or flexible tripod is ideal for group photos, night shots or creative angles. Combine it with a Bluetooth remote control and you no longer have to ask anyone to take the photo. This is perfect for solo travelers or family photos. Read our article tips for choosing a tripod .

Want to get more creative? Then smartphone lenses are a nice addition. The wide-angle lens captures more landscape, while the macro lens is ideal for details such as flowers or shells.

Are you going to the beach, swimming pool or waterfall? Then a waterproof case for your phone is not superfluous. This keeps your phone protected from sand and water. This is ideal in combination with a tripod for tropical holiday shots.

Finally, we always recommend bringing a power bank . This will prevent you from running out of power while you are shooting.

Make your holiday photos better

Tip 5: Edit your holiday photos

Use apps like Snapseed, Lightroom or VSCO to subtly enhance your photos. Think about adjusting the brightness, contrast or shadows. A little bit of post-processing can make the difference between a nice holiday picture and an impressive photo.

Read more tips for editing photos and videos in our blog how to edit a video or photo on your smartphone .

Tip 6: Use burst mode

Want a photo that shows a certain action? For example, someone jumping in the air or diving into the pool? Use burst mode. This will let your smartphone take multiple photos in a row, so you can pick the perfect moment later.

Tip 7: Use reflections and shadows

Play with reflections in water or long shadows during a sunset. This gives your photos more depth and a more unique atmosphere. Reflections in a puddle or swimming pool can produce surprisingly beautiful photos.

Hopefully, these tips will help you get the most out of your smartphone camera. That way, you can capture your holiday memories like a pro! Questions or looking for tips and inspiration? Feel free to contact us.

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