So You Want To Shoot ... Seven Tips and Tricks for Anyone with a Camera Phone or a Point and Shoot

Today as the internet and social media are saturated with pictures, it seems that more people than ever (Myself included!) have become interested in taking better pictures. And really, why not? Whether you want to improve photos for your work or social media accounts, capture memories of your children's fast-changing lives, or even snap a few pictures in your garden or on vacation, photography is a skill that everyone can enjoy.

So, for this post I wanted to focus on seven easy tricks that anyone who has a camera phone, a point-and-shoot or even a DSLR (a digital camera that changes lenses) in 'auto mode' can use to instantly improve their photos. Most of these photos came from my own iPhone 6.

I must warn, that once you get started, and are bit by the shutterbug, your life will never be the same again! Consider yourself warned. :)

#1 My first trick is simple: 
Shoot Outdoors or Near a Window 

A nice, shady location outside is best. Overcast days should become your new best friend! Camera phones don't do as well with indoor light because, well, there isn't as much of it. Less light means your camera has to slow its shutter speed or increase its ISO (a technical phrase basically referring to the amount of light your camera's sensor detects) and both of these actions decrease the quality of your pictures. 

But, when you shoot outside, those little camera phones work pretty well.

(Warning! Shooting outside does not mean to place your poor subject in direct sunlight. Unless of course, you want to make his/her eyes squinty and bloodshot and end your photoshoot in a meltdown. Been there. Instead, try to find a nice shaded location without a lot of light in the background and shoot away!)

Also, if going outside is not an option, just head towards a window. If the sun isn't direct, you can use it as is (see bottom right picture below), but if the sun is shining brightly through the window, lower the blind a bit, or pull a curtain or shade in front of it (see bottom left picture below). The point is to allow more light to enter your camera. This will improve you pictures a lot.

                 

#2 Okay, so trick number two: 
Declutter Your Background

Whether you are shooting indoors or outside, this is a big one. It's amazing how much better a photo of your little one will look without that pile of laundry in the background, or an open laptop, or a garbage can, ect. It seems a little finicky, but it really does make such a difference. Just take a second before you click that shutter to scan your background and make sure it looks clear. That's about it for this one!

#3 Trick number three:
Stand Back and Zoom In

This is one of my favorite little tricks. Why? Well, have you even seen a picture where the subject seems to really pop and the background is all fuzzy and soft? They are gorgeous, right? Well, the easiest way to get that look without changing lenses and reprograming aperture levels (more technical stuff) is to stand back and zoom in. It naturally creates a more shallow depth of field and takes your picture from "point and shoot" to "portrait". That's it! Stand back and zoom in. 

One note, this works much better in well lit areas, so when possible do this outside or near a window!

#4 Trick number four: 
The Rule of Thirds

This trick comes naturally with a little practice and it really works wonders. Essentially, when you crop your image, pretend that there are two lines vertically dissecting the image into thirds and two lines horizontally dissecting the image into thirds like this:

What you want to do, is make sure the subject of your picture falls along the line of one of those thirds. Top line, bottom line, either side, doesn't matter, but if the subject falls in place where two of those lines meet, you get extra points! It's all about where the viewer's eye will naturally be drawn. Here are a few examples:

One last thing. When using this 'Rule of Thirds', it's a good idea to give your subject plenty of space to look into, like this: 

All of this may sound confusing, but I bet if you start paying attention to it, (This rule is used in the movies all the time!) it will become an easy habit very quickly.

#5 Okay, trick number five: 

Focus on the Eyes

For any kind of portrait, whether it be human, animal or ... umm ... I guess even a potato, the trick is to focus on the eyes. Crisp eyes make or break a portrait. Push that little focus button on your camera screen directly over the face/eyes of your subject and your images will look very nice. 'Nuff said.

#6 Trick number six: 
Steady Hands

This one is pretty basic. If your hands are moving all over the place, the picture will be fuzzy, so hold those hands as still as possible, especially when you are in low light situations. Freeze and shoot!

#7 Finally, trick number seven (this one is mainly for camera phones):
Make Use of your Phone's Photo Editing Program

As far as basic editing programs go, your camera (I use an iPhone 6) will most likely have a decent little editing program. To edit your pictures with a camera phone, simply click on the image and push the "edit" button in the top righthand corner of the photo you've selected. You'll see a number of options along the bottom of your screen which will allow you to crop, filter, adjust light and even mark up the picture to your little heart's content! Play around with it, and not only with the filters. Adjust your shadows and highlights and play with the colors or contrast or lighting and see what you come up with. It can actually be a lot of fun!

I hope this little list of tricks helps you feel more confidant with taking pictures! I'll be sure to post more tutorials in the future, but for now, go on out and have some fun with your camera, and please comment below with any of your favorite tips I may have left out!