Have you ever looked at a picture and assumed it was taken with an expensive professional camera, only to discover it was captured by a smartphone? For National Camera Day on June 24, Beth Anne Staub, assistant teaching professor of photography, who recently won first place in the photography section of the Arizona Treasures art show, answered some questions about how you can make phone pictures look like professional photographs.
When using a cell phone to take pictures, what are some tips for taking photos that look professional?
Composition—Keep it simple, less is more, rule of thirds, negative space. Don’t always center your photos; if a subject is looking left, leave more room to the left, and do the same for the right.
Is there a specific setting that you can use to improve natural light?
On most cell phones, you can tap the sky to get better light (or tap the lighter areas, so they darken) in edit mode. Do not be afraid to play with the tools there. Watch oversaturation— no one likes it, but we all do it, so get it out of your system.
What is the best time of the day to take outdoor pictures?
The golden hour is early morning or evening when harsh shadows aren’t a thing, but in Arizona, you quickly learn to adjust. Bring an umbrella or a diffuser to create nice, balanced light. Avoid putting a person under a tree with a lot of dappled light created by leaves and branches. You don’t want your subject to be spotty—you cannot fix this in editing.
Is there a filter you recommend?
I’m not big on filters, but I know a lot of people are. I say, the only way you know is to try so try them all and have fun!
What is the best position a subject can be in for the best portrait picture?
For bold pictures, you want to shoot from below up. For weak photographs, you want to shoot from above down. For a nice portrait, shoot just above the eyes (you should be at their forehead, tipping the phone down just a bit) so you get that jawline to pop. If you shoot from above, the subject’s neck and double chins are hidden. Play with what works and focus on the jawline.
Which apps do you recommend for editing pictures?
Your camera’s editing software is really great. When you outgrow it, I love Adobe everything. There are great free apps like PhotoDirector, YouCam Director, Pxlr (for photo filters) and PixArt.
Anything else you would like to add?
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Don’t be afraid to fail. A lot of my “failures” and “mistakes” are my best sellers. Do what makes your heart happy and have so much fun!