How to Take Better Pictures with your Smartphone

I am a Blogger Ambassador for U.S. Cellular and I’m sharing ideas on how to take better pictures via that partnership.
All opinions are my own.
Have kids? Use the free U.S. Cellular parent-child agreement tool to set up smart phone practices.

With more and more people using their smartphone camera as their primary way to take photographs it is getting easier and easier to share memories and magical moments with friends and family. I’ve partnered with U.S. Cellular to share tips on how to take better pictures with your smartphone to ensure the photos you take are high quality, and the images are everything you were hoping for.  

Convenience is Key for Images that Rival a DSLR

A recent survey shows increased use of built-in cameras by smartphone owners on a daily and monthly basis as well as directly sharing those images with friends and through social media. Smartphone devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, have high-resolution cameras that can shoot high-quality images that rival those of expensive Digital SLRs – but users want convenience.

• U.S. Cellular’s survey revealed that four out of five smartphone owners are taking advantage of the quality and convenience of cell phone cameras and two out of three say they’re sharing those photos through email and social media.
• Mobile technology really has changed the way people communicate and stay connected, and now it’s helping people capture all of life’s best moments and easily share them with their loved ones.

How to Take Better Pictures with your Smartphone

Want to get the most out of your smartphone camera?

With so many people relying on their smartphone cameras, U.S. Cellular wants to help make sure that all those photos are quality images that will look great. Learning how to take better pictures with your smartphone can be simple, just keep in mind these easy tips:

• Check the Lens: A dirty lens will cause parts of the picture to be out of focus. Use a clean, soft cloth to wipe away any dirt or lint from the lens on the back of the camera as well as on the front (for selfies).
• Light Your Subject Well: The better lit your subject is the clearer your image is likely to be: this is just as true with a mobile device as with an expensive camera. Shoot in the sun if you can and move around to get the best light on your subject.
• Hold Steady: The steadier your camera phone is when taking your shot, the clearer your image will be.
  • Use a small tripod or lean your device against a solid object when taking shots, especially taking into account that in low light situations ‘shutter lag’ (the time between when you press the shutter and when the camera takes the shot) can be noticeably increased.
  • Manual Mode on the LG G5 has an on-screen Level Gauge setting that ensures you get squared and level pictures every time.                          
• Consider Your Composition & Framing:
  • Follow the Rule of Thirds – avoid placing your subject squarely in the middle of your frame, shoot for a third of the way in instead.
  • Frame your shots through windows, mirrors, other objects that provide some depth and interest to the photo. 
  • Watch your backgrounds so that poles or wires don’t appear to be going through people’s heads. 
  • Look for different angles; and Look for color differences, patterns, and shapes to add compositional interest to your shot. Try your photo both vertically and horizontally to choose which orientation best portrays your subject.
• Take Plenty of Pictures & Learn: The advantage of digital photography (including that of camera phones) is the ability to shoot off many shots quickly, we have unlimited film, instant feedback and all at no cost. 

How to take better pictures – photography apps to explore:

• Camera+ (for Apple) and Camera for Android are apps that are great for photo sharing and editing. Both feature a full photo editor that is very user-friendly, along with the ability to connect and share your photos with others.

• Adobe Photoshop Express is an app that helps edit photos just like the desktop program – one-touch adjustment for contrast, exposure, white balance along with blemish and red-eye removal and 20 one-touch eye-catching effects to give your photos special “looks.”

• Snapseed is an app that helps you tune an image to create depth and vibrancy with color saturation, brightness, and contrast and also helps you crop and adjust perspective across the vertical and horizontal axes.

• Magnifier & Microscope is an app that allows you to get great close-ups of small items or subjects.

All of these apps are available for free in the Google Play store or the Apple store. With U.S. Cellular’s 4G LTE network, the apps can quickly and easily be downloaded to smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy 7 and 7 Edge, the Apple iPhone 6s and SE, and the LG G5.

One-on-One Photography Help!

Need additional help with your built in camera? U.S. Cellular hosts monthly Device Workshops at locations across the country, and anyone is welcome to attend to learn how to make the most out of their individual mobile device to enhance everyday life. Find a store near you!

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