How to Take Better Photos with Your Phone: Tips from a Professional Photographer

Here are a few quick tips for anyone who wants to improve their photos, whether you're using your phone or a non-professional camera. It’s simpler than you might think to make small changes that can have a big impact.

 

1. Choose the Right Light

Soft, natural light is your best friend when it comes to photography.
One of the easiest ways to get beautiful results is to photograph your subject near a window. Window light is often soft because it bounces off clouds and nearby surfaces. It falls gently and creates a nice balance between light and shadow, giving just the right amount of contrast.
Golden hour, the hour before sunset, is another great option. The light is warm and soft, which makes everything and everyone look better—your subject, the background, and even the mood of the photo.
Try to avoid low light and artificial light if you can. Phone cameras are getting better, but they still struggle in these situations, often creating noisy or grainy photos.

 
Portraits of a musician Jordan Sand

Soft light on the left, sunset on the right 

 

2. Watch Out for Mixed Lighting

Here’s something that might explain some odd colors in your photos: when you combine natural daylight with indoor lamps, you get a mix of light temperatures. Daylight is cooler and bluish, while indoor light is warmer and more orange. Your phone’s camera tries to balance them, but it often gets confused, leaving your photos looking strange.
The simple fix? Turn off any lamps when shooting in daylight. Your phone will now only have to balance one light source, and the colors will look more natural.

 

 

3. Declutter Your Background

A busy background can distract from your subject. Look for clean, simple backdrops or change your angle to avoid things like cables, furniture, or random objects creeping into the frame.
A fun way to think about it: if it’s not something you’d want to paint, don’t let it sneak into your photo.

 

4. Pay Attention to Composition

Composition is easier than it sounds, and you probably already have a good sense of it just from seeing so many photos and ads every day.
The simplest rule? If you're photographing a person, place their eyes along the upper third of the frame. For objects, position them in the lower right third. This creates a balanced and natural feel in the image.
Make sure your image feels balanced overall. Don’t crop too tightly—give your subject or object space to breathe within the frame.

 
Portraits of an artist Erin Murphy

 

5. Zoom in (but Not Too Much)

Taking a photo close to the subject and zooming in aren’t the same thing. Try it out and see the difference. Don't overdo it though, as zoom on phones is still not the best. A little zoom can help create the effect or perspective you’re looking for, but it’s important to use it carefully.

Zooming in vs coming closer

 

6. Shoot in RAW for More Control

If you want more freedom when editing your photos, try shooting in RAW format. Unlike JPEGs, RAW files store a lot more information, giving you more flexibility to adjust exposure, colors, and shadows without losing quality.
Quick Note: iPhone Pro models and some Android phones have RAW modes built in. Just remember that RAW files take up more space, so you’ll need to keep an eye on your storage.

Don't forget to play! Rules are here to help us make better photos, but the key ingredient is fun (: