Smartphone Photography: Get the Most Out of Your Smartphone Camera with These Tips

Smartphone fotografie: Haal het beste uit je smartphone-camera met deze tips

These days, you don't need an expensive camera to take beautiful photos. Your smartphone is a powerful photography tool. Whether you're capturing landscapes, portraits, or action shots, a few clever tricks will help you get the most out of your camera. In this blog post, we share handy tips to help you take better photos instantly, right from your smartphone. With the right techniques, you can take your smartphone photography to the next level.

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1. Ensure good lighting

Correct lighting is one of the most important factors for a beautiful photo. Smartphone cameras perform best in sufficient light, so try to use natural light as much as possible. Avoid using a flash, as it can create unnatural colors. Instead, use a lamp or a well-lit room. For particularly beautiful photos, you can also take advantage of the " Golden Hour ." This is the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. At these times, the light is beautiful and perfect for taking beautiful photos.

2. Keep your smartphone stable

  • Hold your smartphone with both hands for a more stable image, this will prevent blurry photos,
  • Or use a tripod or selfie stick for sharper and steadier photos. This is especially helpful in low light or long exposures.
  • Use a remote shutter . This way, you can take photos from a distance, without the hassle of a self-timer. Or you can prop your smartphone up against something or on a tripod, so you don't have to hold it while taking photos.

3. Make your photo more beautiful with the right composition

  • Use the grid. You can find it in your camera settings. Turn on the grid and place your subject on one of the intersections. This will create better balance in your photo.
  • Use different angles. Shoot from above, below, or at an angle for a more interesting shot; this can make your photos less boring.
  • Create a natural-looking image. Leave space around the subject you want to photograph with your smartphone. Don't place a person or object right up to the edge of the photo. Extra space between the subject and the edge creates a more natural and calming image. This gives a professional look.

4. Choose the most suitable focus

  • Tap the screen to focus on the part you want to highlight in the image. This makes the subject clearer and sharper.
  • Adjust the exposure. After tapping the screen, you can increase or decrease the exposure. This helps if the photos are too light or too dark, for example.
  • Use portrait mode. This mode provides beautiful portrait photos of people, for example, but also works with objects. This ensures that the person or object is extra highlighted and the background becomes more blurred, so that all attention goes to the foreground.

5. Edit your photos for a professional photography look

  • A beautiful photo becomes even better with a little editing. For this you can use photo editing apps.
  • Use apps like Snapseed, Lightroom or VSCO. In these free photo editing apps you can easily adjust brightness, contrast and sharpness.
  • Keep your colours natural. Too many filters or editing can ruin the photo and make it unnatural. So make sure you have a good balance.
  • Crop and rotate the photo as necessary to improve the composition.
  • Remove distracting objects or elements with retouching tools if you don’t want something in the background. You can use the apps Snapseed or Adobe Photoshop Express for this. These apps have a spot-healing function that allows you to easily erase objects from your photo.

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6. Which smartphone has the best camera?

Here are the four best tested smartphone cameras:

  • Google Pixel Pro 9 XL : This camera is excellent and tested as the best for photography.
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: Has the best camera for recording videos.
  • Motorola Edge 50 Ultra : is the cheapest of the list with a premium camera.
  • Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Also has one of the best smartphone cameras for both photography and video.

Want more info on the best smartphone cameras? Read our more extensive blog article on the best smartphone cameras .

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7. Smartphone photography tips

  • Use the right camera mode for every moment. Every smartphone has different camera modes, such as portrait mode, night mode, and panorama mode.
  • Don't zoom in digitally; move closer. Digital zoom often makes photos blurry and grainy. You don't want this; instead, move closer to your subject in person.
  • Take multiple photos and choose the best one. Experiment. Sometimes you think something isn't beautiful at all, and sometimes it turns out to be. So experiment from all angles and lighting.
  • Use reflections and shadows for creative effects. Reflective surfaces like water can give your photos a fun and unique look. Shadows can also give your photos a playful touch.
  • Pay attention to the background. A cluttered or distracting background can ruin a photo. Keep your background simple and uncluttered, so your subject stands out more.

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