The Complete Guide to Professional Smartphone Photography
Most of us have a powerful camera just sitting in our pockets that isn’t being used to its full potential – our iPhones (or any smartphone, really. If you prefer Android – we don’t judge). While it’s a tool many use to capture moments in a convenient fashion, can you actually take professional photos with just your smartphone?
We’re not saying throw away your DSLR or mirrorless camera, but do you always have it on you? Maybe you want a handy second camera that can shoot photos or videos for a multi-angle setup?
Smartphone technology has come quite a long way since the first iPhone took off. Lady Gaga’s video for “Stupid Love” was shot entirely on an iPhone 11. If a now-outdated smartphone model is good enough for a multi-platinum artist’s music video, it can certainly be an effective and convenient photography tool, even if you only use it in a pinch.
If you’re just getting started with your photography business and haven’t built your equipment setup yet, or you need a quick-access camera for a professional shoot at a moment’s notice, this guide is for you. We’re going to cover how you can take advantage of your iPhone’s full potential to capture some professional images.
Easy Tips for Professional-Grade iPhone Photography
Treat your iPhone as if you’re handling a professional camera. Basic principles of photography still apply, and keeping them in mind can help you maximize the effectiveness of your smartphone photoshoot. For example:
Don’t Ignore Lighting
Lighting is photography 101, but understanding how the light interacts with your lens is essential. Whenever possible, seek natural light like diffused morning or later afternoon sun to create a flattering tone. You could also take advantage of a harsher midday sun to create a washed-out aesthetic.
If you’re working in a studio, make sure you light the space as if you were planning a professional shoot. You may have to adjust some of the lights’ brightness or angles to help get the best shot possible, but the fundamentals will still apply.
Composition and Framing
What’s the main reason most iPhone photos look amateur in quality? The answer is because most users just take a dead-center, point-and-shoot approach to using their camera. They aren’t thinking about the artistic qualities of their images as much as they are about capturing a memory in the moment.
As the professional photographer in the crowd, you can use many techniques that you would also use with a standard camera. For example, try intentional framing and utilizing the rule of thirds grid in your camera settings to experiment with artistic elements like:
- Placing the subject off-center
- Create visual tension between the subject and their environment
- Guide the viewers’ eyes toward specific features in the image
- Highlight leading lines that draw the viewer into the scene
Exposure & Focus
iPhones have auto settings designed to help anyone take a half-decent photo, but you know better than to trust the camera app to do your job for you. Instead, adjust the exposure and focus settings manually to enhance the brightness and clarity of your image at various perspectives.
Build a Quick-Access Equipment Setup
As any photographer knows, building an equipment setup is never easy. We’ve all been there – tinkering with various new pieces of gear in an endless pursuit of that perfect collection.
In reality, it often ends in just too much money spent and too many trips to return items you thought you needed but realized you didn’t. It happens to the best of us.
Thankfully, iPhones are a bit simpler in the way of extending their capabilities with pieces of equipment. Some ideas to consider when you’re creating a smartphone photography kit can include:
- Smartphone camera lenses to enhance the shot and bring the familiar customizability of traditional photography to a pocket-sized format
- A tripod with smartphone mount to keep the camera steady if you need to step away to be the subject of your own photos
- Bluetooth remotes to take a shot without even having to touch your screen
- A steadicam harness to keep your camera balanced and shake-free when taking photos or shooting video
- Professional photo editing apps like the Adobe Creative Suite mobile versions to edit while you’re on-the-go
Shoot in Raw
Newer iPhone models allow for RAW capture for more control when you’re in the post-processing stage. You can even open a photo app like Lightroom Mobile when you’re doing work in the field to edit right in the moment.
Experiment with Camera Apps
Smartphone app stores are full of different app options designed to enhance your photography capabilities with your device. For example, iPhones have limited long exposure settings when using the default camera as-is. With an app that allows for greater control over long exposure, you can capture more dynamic images.
Create a New Aesthetic
The greatest criticism against iPhone cameras is usually their shallow depth of field and some find that it has too intense of a lens flare.
Recognizing the iPhone for what it is and not expecting it to replicate a high-end camera completely, is that really a limitation or a chance to cultivate a new aesthetic that you can use to extend your portfolio?
When used for photo and video, the smartphone becomes a storytelling tool. You can create countless images through almost every imaginable visual format with just a few swipes and taps. You can capture more stories in less time to extend your capabilities beyond what a single camera can do on its own.
Think of it not as a competitor to your favorite camera, but a supplement to the great photography work you’re already doing.
Join the Best Freelance Photographer Community for More
At Funnel, we provide an online marketplace for photographers, videographers, and graphic designers to more effectively showcase their portfolios, find reliable work, and be part of a community of other creatives with shared interests and goals.
Whether you’re looking to network, to find work, or to share in insightful dialogues with other creatives in your field – Funnel is the home for you. Learn how it works to get started.