Tips to get the best Summertime photos on your phone.
Summertime is the perfect time to take lots of photos.
From school holidays, to trips overseas, parties, festivals and outdoor events; we all love to have fun in the sun!
Here are a few tips to help you capture magical moments perfect for adding to a canvas or photo gift.
1. Use portrait mode.
Use portrait mode for photos that focus on people or a single subject. This blurs the background slightly so the emphasis is on the person and it can also gives better skin tones which is always a bonus! Try and stand roughly 8 feet away from your subject ( your phone should guide you to do this). Note, this mode is not suitable for action shots or low lit settings.
2. Use burst mode.
Off to the theme park? Want to shoot your kids jumping into the pool? Taking photos of moving subjects is tricky. If you use your burst mode, your phone will take photos in quick succession and you are more likely to get one that is perfectly timed. Hold down the shutter button rather than clicking it. You will hear a rapid burst if your volume is on.
3. Lighting is everything!
Summertime sunshine can play havoc with your photos. Days are longer giving you more time to shoot in natural lighting but remember that midday sun is stronger and brighter and can negatively affect photos. Your subjects may end up squinting or have strong shadows on areas of their face. You can always find some shade. Keep the sun to your back and the sun towards the subject's face. Try standing slightly above your subject and them lifting their chin to look at you
4. Turn off your flash.
Your flash is just an LED light and not that strong. It can sometimes give photos a strange hue. Try opting for natural sunlight in the day.
4. Use HDR.
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range which is a photography technique that combines several exposures of one scene into one properly exposed image. HDR works to create perfectly lit photos and more colour and detail in both the light and dark areas of the photo. HDR solves exposure problems and is very easy to use. Simply click the HDR button and let the phone do the work. So when should you use HDR? HDR is perfect for high contrast scenes with dark shadows and brightly lit areas. Landscapes are a good example, so don't forget to use this at the beach at sunset. Basically if the shadows look too dark and the highlights are too bright then switch to HDR.
If you want to create a silhouette effect or use shadows in your photos then do not use this option.
5. Use 3rd party apps
Camera phones can be limited compared to professional cameras but don't forget there are lots of apps out there to improve your photos. For example, Apple users can access apps for shutter speed, ISO, white balance and exposure giving your photo much more clarity. Have a play around when you have time and see what is out there. You'll be an expert in no time! Have you ever taken a perfect holiday photo then realised there is an ugly bin or mess in the background? Touch Retouch is an app that can magically remove all of this. So get professional, especially if you want to use your photos for a canvas, poster or photo gift.
So whilst you're at the beach this Summer, why not have a play around with your camera and see if these tips help you get a higher quality photo. We look forward to seeing your Summertime photos soon!
