Before We Start

Shooting footage with a mobile phone is a big trend. People make so much money posting on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, and all other platforms. They use additional lights, microphones, tripods, stabilizers, and all other gear that helps them improve the quality of their products.

But In a way, they lose the main focus of what photography should be. Shooting should be something simple that represents a moment of a second that stays forever. So, it is just a wait for the perfect moment and later just a bit of editing touch. So, if you are an amateur photographer, do not forget that. Take your phone and imagine it before you even take the click. I use the Lightroom software to edit it because it is easier to use than Photoshop and you can edit so much faster on it.

Is My Phone’s Camera Good Enough!

It is. Do not think about that. My only recommendation is to get a phone with fast autofocus. Because the slow autofocus loses time that you do not have. I will give you an example. You are out in the woods, walking, and you see a bug on the ground. You take your phone, turn on the camera and try to do a micro picture. But the bug moves fast, and while you are trying to focus, it is already gone. So, the autofocus really matters in that moments. And believe me, nothing is more annoying than not capturing because it cannot focus on time. Or even worst, you capture it, but it is out of focus. So really, the megapixels, the zoom, or the phone lens are not as important as the fast autofocus. So, when you choose your next phone, and if you are planning to use it for photography, keep that in mind and try some quick shoot tests while you are there to see if the autofocus speed fits you.

What to Watch for While Shooting on My Phone!

There are a few things you need to do even at home before you go shooting. The first and the most important it is to set your settings properly. I know most of you will shoot on Auto, and it is kind of easier. But if you want to be PRO and get better, try to learn how to adjust the settings.

Use the right ISO for the right time of the day. From morning till sunset, try to use low ISO, for less noise in the picture. If you go above 800 ISO, your picture would have so much noise and make it uneditable. Set the speed on 1/125 for fast capturing. My camera and my phone are always set on that speed, and sometimes during the night, I change it to capture it with better light during the night. The autofocus setting should depend on what exactly you are shooting. If it is a macro, or if you try some zoom or a portrait. So, check it out. And last but very important is the white balance. Try to set it up for whatever time of the day it is. I’m adding an article below, so you can learn a bit more about it.

Express the Way You Feel About What You See

So let’s say you are somewhere, just with your phone. You set the settings right, and you are ready to shoot. What now? I always try to find the angle that represents how I feel about what I see. I use a low angle if I want to show the object power or make it look important. I go down on my knees or even lower. I use that trick when I want to shoot something on the ground and have the panorama in the background. If it is a picture of an animal or a flower at sunset on sunrise, that technique is doing a fantastic job. Another trick I use is to try to shoot the same object from different angles. Low, medium, and high, so if you want to post them somewhere you have from what to choose. Or even to show how the same object can look different from a different perspective.

Last but Not Least

Before you go out shooting, always check the remaining memory you have left on your phone. That way, you know how much space you have left and how many megapixels you can shoot. And my advice to you is to always make a folder with the day, time, and place when you get home. That way, you keep your work organized, and it is easier to archive it. Delete what you think is not good enough, and save just what stands out.

Thank you for spending your time reading this article, and I wish you many happy moments, enjoying yourself while shooting!