These days, most mobile phones come equipped with high-quality cameras that produce more than acceptable results! Sometimes, however, capturing the perfect shot can be tricky. In this article, we offer some simple tips and tricks to maximize your chances of getting great photos every time and preserving lifelong memories from your next getaway!

Essential steps

Clean your lens

The first step, often forgotten (or neglected), is cleaning your lens, which is essential for getting quality photos that are free of debris or anything that would make your photos blurry.

To be stable

If you're not steady, your photos may be blurry or of poor quality. Try holding your phone with both hands or resting it on a flat surface.

To focus

The focus is automatically set to the center of the screen, but it can be helpful to touch the screen where you want to change it. This way, you can choose where you want the focus to be.

Playing with angles

Don't hesitate to move around your subject to create different angles! Plus, you can easily click the button repeatedly to take burst photos. Sometimes, the best shots are the most unexpected ones!

Avoid

Do not zoom in

As a reflex, if your subject is far away, you'll tend to want to zoom in. However, be aware that most mobile phones have a digital zoom. In other words, a digital zoom only crops the image and enlarges it to 100%. Therefore, you're only losing quality by taking photos using the zoom!

No to flash

While your first instinct might be to use the flash to compensate for the lack of light, it's far better to use natural light for high-quality photos. In fact, some mobile phones offer a night mode, specifically designed for darker environments.

The rule of thirds: master it for optimal results

The rule of thirds, a technique widely used and known by both professional and amateur photographers, helps create a more visually appealing image. Not sure how it works? Keep reading.

How do I display the rule of thirds?

Most mobile phone cameras have a grid display option in the settings. Once the grid is enabled, it will be easier to properly position your subject to adhere to the rule of thirds.

How to use the rule of thirds?

In landscape mode

If you want to photograph a landscape, you have several options for using the rule of thirds, depending on the desired result. If you want to emphasize the upper part of the landscape (for example, the sky), placing the horizon in the lower third of the grid will make it the dominant element of the photo. Conversely, placing the sky in the middle third will emphasize the ground.

In portrait mode

To use the ruler in portrait mode, the easiest way is to place the person's eyes opposite the first line of the grid and position the outer corner of the subject's eye on the second point of the upper horizontal line.

Enhance photos with a photo editing app

After following all the steps for an ideal result, you can edit your photos using a photo editing app. Several are available for free through the App Store or Google Play Store.

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Our team had fun taking several photos during our colleague Alexandra's getaway last fall, as part of the Alexandra project in Punta Cana . Here are a few photos taken with just an iPhone and a little editing.

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