Some of the best photos are of just one interesting and captivating subject. Pro photographers say that the main subject shouldn’t fill the entire frame, and according to the rule of thirds, two-thirds of the photo should be negative space. Tap your phone’s screen to make sure your lens is focused and the lighting is optimized.

If the subject in your photo is at a distance, it could be tempting to use your phone’s zoom feature — but you shouldn’t. When you do, photos tend to end up grainy and pixelated. Instead, try and get closer to your subject, unless, of course, that subject happens to be a wild animal!

The flash function isn’t the greatest, but it can actually be helpful if you use it during the day. When used in well-lit spaces, a flash can help soften dark shadows under or behind your subject.

Sure, posed and planned photos are great, but sometimes the best pictures are the most unexpected and candid ones. Candid photos capture real emotion and real moments. Snap a few photos of people laughing or interacting at a party or gathering the next time you’re out.

One of the best ways to make sure you have a straight, level, or balanced photo is to turn on the gridlines on your phone’s camera. It will superimpose a series of horizontal and vertical lines based on photography’s “rule of thirds.” This means that an image should be broken down into thirds, both vertically and horizontally, so you’ll see nine squares on your screen. Place your main point of interest in the center of all nine squares, and your photo will be perfectly balanced.

A photo taken with a flash rarely looks good. Colors and faces end up looking washed out, and photos appear to be overexposed. Instead, always try and take photos in natural light and take advantage of the shadows it creates.

The most breathtaking photos are often the simplest ones. When there’s too much going on in a photo, it can become cluttered and confusing. Simplify the compositions of your photos as much as possible.

“When shooting video, good audio is more important than sharp footage. Your phone’s internal mic is meant for making phone calls — not recording high-quality audio. Headphone jacks may be disappearing from phones, but you can get a microphone that plugs directly into your USB or Lightning port, or one that works with your phone’s audio dongle. Just make sure to read some reviews to make sure the mic is compatible with your particular phone and its operating system,” says PC Mag.

Childhood is fleeting, and it’s a time in a person’s life when they’re the most carefree and happy. Capturing photos of kids in their sweet and innocent stage of life makes for great photos. Break out your phone’s camera when you see a moment worth capturing.

Instead of shooting a photo just straight on, why not change up the perspective and take the picture from an unexpected angle? It can also create illusions of depth and height. For example, take a photo looking straight up at a building and use the sky as negative space. Or, try a downward angle like this photo.

Tripods are great for when you want to set a self-timer and be in a picture or if you just want to make sure you have a very steady base for a perfectly focused and balanced photo. Often times, the tripods are nearly the same size as your cell phone or just a bit bigger.

Use a photo to evoke laughter and smiles. Whether that’s making your actual subject laugh or making the viewer of your photo smile, it’s a win-win for your photography.

“Choosing the right wardrobe for mobile photography can be challenging. With time and experience, I have been able to select my favorite wardrobe pieces to photograph with my phone — especially for Instagram. I love to have fabrics with texture or a pattern, but not too busy. Having something with stripes, aztec print, polka dots, or plaid is a great way to show off and add another point of interest for the photo. I also love having a pop of color that contrasts with the background. My favorite colors to have in the wardrobe are red, mustard yellow, and a bright royal blue,” a professional photographer shared with Artifact Uprising.

“Don’t be lazy, read the manual and make sure you’re using your phone in the most efficient circumstances. We may be self-confident and think that we know it all, but sometimes little tips in the manual can help us improve our photos in a big way. Learn how you can control the exposure or focus on the objects better, for example,” says 500px.

Another type of great photo you can create with your phone is one using lines that draw in the viewer to a certain point. And remember — the line doesn’t have to be straight! Make use of train tracks, spiral staircases, roads, and trails to take beautiful photos.

Your phone comes with a few photo editing features that you shouldn’t be scared to use. In fact, they can really help your photos stand out! You can even download photo editing apps that allow you to fix blemishes, brighten colors, and more.

Ever since smartphones have ended up in everyone’s possession, the attachments and gadgets that go along with it have come a long way. Experiment with different types of external lenses for your phone’s camera like wide-angle and fish-eye lenses.

Don’t be afraid to modify your photography plans while you’re in the middle of taking photos. Even just a slight change in angle, perspective, distance, or lighting can make your photo so much better. Try a photo of an object in the morning, and then try again in the afternoon light to notice the differences.

Another trick to creating fantastic photos with your phone is creating scale. Showcase the space and surroundings around your subject to really put scale into perspective.

While you’re out and about, keep an eye out for repeating patterns — both in nature and man-made. Whether it’s shapes, lines, forms, or colors, patterns can make a gorgeous visual impact in your photos.

“To adjust where you want your camera lens to focus, open your camera app and tap the screen where you want to sharpen the view.

“If you’re taking a photo of something in motion, for example, it can be difficult for your camera to follow this subject and refocus as needed. Tap the screen to correct your phone camera’s focus just before snapping the picture to ensure the moving subject has as much focus as possible. A square or circular icon should then appear on your camera screen, shifting the focus of your shot to all of the content inside that icon,” shared Hubspot.

Most people have the tendency to throw a filter on their photos thinking that it makes them look better. But the thing is, your phone’s camera has incredible megapixels and with some fine-tuned hand-editing, you can get better results than a filter. Save it for your Snapchat messages.

When you remove color from your photos, it allows you to focus on light, textures, and structures. Once you take photos, edit them to black and white for an entirely new perspective.

Have you ever taken an awesome picture but then realize that the background is less than ideal? Just crop your image! You’d be surprised how you can transform a good photo into a great photo with a bit of cropping.

“Abstract photos are meant to capture the essence of an object, or a series of them, without revealing the entire landscape as a whole. In other words, they serve the purpose of creating unique, surprising images from ordinary subjects.

“This look can be accomplished by cropping an abstract portion of an otherwise normal photo, or by taking close-up shots of objects that leave the viewer wondering — in admiration, of course — what the subject might be. And subjects with patterns or repetition are great candidates for abstract photography, like in the photo of sliced figs below,” explained Hubspot.

Negative space simply refers to the areas between and around the main subject of the photo. If you happen to include lots of negative space around your subject, it can make your subject stand out and evoke strong emotion.

“The web is a horizontal medium. We consume content horizontally, not vertically. As a content creator, you should aim to produce horizontal pictures that take up the entire screen and not just a tiny slice,” explains Digital Branding Institute.

For many phones, the volume “up” button is used as the shutter button. So, when you’re holding it sideways, it’s like you’re holding an actual camera with the finger placement of the button.

“Google Photos is more than just a photo backup service, as it has a variety of photo editing tools as well. These tools allow you to adjust everything from lighting and colors to orientation and crops.

“Nevermind all these adjustments, though, because one of the best smartphone photography tips is to simply use the “auto” fix option (hit the edit option, then tap “auto”). Do this, and you should instantly get some aesthetically pleasing adjustments to your otherwise drab snap,” explains Android Authority.

When photos can be uploaded and shared in an instant, it’s easy for yours to get lost in the mix. Stand out from the crowd by trying out some non-conventional ideas. Look for unexpected images in the ordinary.

Water and glass can be great at helping you produce some fantastic photos. People are drawn to reflections, so when you see an opportunity, snap that photo!

If you have a newer smartphone, you should have the ability to turn on the HDR function for your camera — High Dynamic Range. It will help you create evenly-lit photos with incredible detail, even in shadows and highlights.

The thought of taking your smartphone underwater might give you a heart attack, but now there are plenty of waterproof cases that allow you to do so! Which also means you can take some epic photos underwater too! Try it on your next vacation.

Are you finding that your smartphone from 5 years ago just isn’t cutting it when it comes to the photography you’re trying to achieve? It’s probably time to upgrade. The good news is, you can really do your research to find out which brand offers the best camera options for you.

This might sound like a useless tip, but it’s often one that people forget. We carry our phone in our pockets and purses, and we’re constantly touching it. Your camera lens gets dirty very quickly. Before each photo session, be sure to give your lens a quick wipe with a soft cloth.

Play around with some close-up photography of smaller objects like plants, flowers, insects, or even gravel. Details and textures are absolutely everywhere.

Another incredible feature of newer phone models is the “portrait mode” for your camera. It creates gorgeous, crisp, detailed, and focused photos of your subject while the background is slightly blurred out. They look like professional portraits!

Since you already have your phone on you at all times, why not just snap pictures of anything and everything? Hone your photography skills by practicing every single day. If something looks beautiful? Take a picture! Then have fun editing all of them later.

When it comes to mobile phone photography, have fun and experiment with different ideas and techniques. Let your creativity flow every single day, and capture the world around you from your unique perspective.

People are always drawn to symmetry — it’s very pleasing to the eye. Symmetry can be found both in nature and in the city. You just have to keep your eyes peeled!

“Another mobile camera feature you’ll want to set manually is your exposure. Tapping your screen when your phone’s camera is on doesn’t just refocus the lens on a new subject — it also automatically adjusts how much light the camera lets in. This, too, won’t always look just right. It’s best to adjust it by hand.

“To change your mobile camera’s exposure by hand, open your camera app and tap the screen. When you see the lens refocus, you’ll see a very small sun icon and a vertical scale. Slowly swipe your finger up and down this scale to adjust the light level,” explains Hubspot.

Another fun feature your phone’s camera may have is the burst mode function. This is perfect for capturing action shots! It’s hard to capture a photo of a cartwheel or the throw of a baseball at the exactly perfect moment. But with burst mode, it will take a series, “burst,” or multiple photos within a few seconds. Then, you can choose the best one!

We’ve talked about the importance of steady photos and tripods, but sometimes blurry is beautiful. You can create beautiful blurry photos by focusing on a close-up object and then removing it to snap a photo of the unfocused background.

“If you’ve never ventured beyond your phone’s default camera app, then you might be surprised at just how many third-party alternatives are out there. They give you access to extra settings, different features, and bundles of filters to get your mobile photos looking their best,” explains PopSci.

Have you ever seen those photos that are all black and white except for one object? That’s called color blocking, and you can accomplish this with your own photos using photo editing apps. It helps make certain subjects in your photo really stand out.

Selfies are incredibly tempting to take with your phone, but consider other options if others are around. Doing so will make the photo look more natural and more timeless. You can also use a tiny tripod and timer function to take your photo if you’re alone

While you may have a favorite type of shot, such as close-ups or abstract shots, don’t stick to just one style of shot. This helps you take better and more creative photos because you aren’t limiting yourself to one style.

Once you take some photos, choose only the best ones to work with. Then you can retouch and edit the best ones to make your photos come alive even more.

“It’s true that the most built-in camera apps have improved over time, and they’re great for your average user, but us photographers who require a little more control over the settings should turn to others,” according to Tony Antoniou. “There are numerous third-party apps that you can download to give you all the control you would want. I personally use Camera+.

If you really want to impress your friends and family with your photos, consider post-processing them. Lightroom is a good option for post-processing, but free apps are also available, including Snapseed from Google.

Take pictures with the goal of telling a story. This way you can share a collage or photo album with your friends and family that is cohesive and impactful. Storytelling in photos can be extremely powerful.

The “auto” mode on your camera is safe and comforting when you take photos. But it can also be very limiting because your camera won’t always take the best shot in auto mode.

“The camera runs an algorithm that outputs a general result — it has no artistic judgement. The more control you take of the process, the more you will be able to express your artistic judgement, and the more likely you are to get outstanding pictures,” says Leslie St. John.

Shoot your photos using either a RAW or DNG photo format if you can. This allows your photos to feature highlights and shadow in better detail compared to other photo formats.

“Beauty is found in the subtlety of life just as much as it can be found in the supreme extravagance. I believe always being prepared is the best way to capture any moment,” says Kyle Steed.

Shoot every subtle moment just as it is, and don’t force the shot to become something unnatural.

Both manmade and natural textures can really bring a photo to life, just as shadows and light do. When you see these textures around you, it may be time to take a few shots or use them as a background for your photos.

“A backlit tree line can produce interesting photos with falling shadows that create good lines and draws the viewer in. Looking for water or even puddles can produce great reflections and tell a wonderful story or even leave the viewers imagination running,” according to Tim on Artifact Uprising.

While a lot of photographers will give plenty of advice about good lighting, darkness also has its place in the world of photos. In fact, the contrast of dark against light can result in some amazing photos.

When taking nature of landscape photos, sometimes using the panorama feature on your phone works wonders. This especially works well when taking photos of mountain, the ocean, or for any wide shot.

We mentioned the High Dynamic Range (HDR) function on your camera earlier. This feature can help you take much better sunset photos.

“… It takes several shots with different exposures at once, combining them all together for an extended dynamic range. This results in the desired effect of accurate lighting, color and more details. The sunset will look as it’s supposed to, rather than simultaneously under and overexposed,” according to Hans-Georg Kluge.

This tip may seem like a no-brainer, but it can be hard at times. But in low-light situations, it’s especially important that you don’t move your phone when you take pictures because the camera will require longer shutter speeds.

“An increasing number of camera phones come with adjustable white balance, which allows you to modify color balance in your images based on shooting conditions. Experiment with this feature to get a good feel for the impact that it has on your shots,” according to Darren Rowse.

If your phone allows you to adjust the resolution for your pictures, set it on the highest setting. This will take up more file-size room on your camera, but it will result in much clearer pictures.

If you really want to capture a perfect image, practice. Try different camera features and modes to see how they turn out. Once you find the perfect settings, angles, and lighting, snap some shots.

If you are looking for a new phone to take pictures with, keep these things in mind. Find a phone that has a bright aperture, a decent number of megapixels, a large screen, RAW file options, and a high-end lens and zoom. You’ll also want the HDR feature, ISO control, and camera control options.

You must have patience if you want to capture really good photos with your phone. Sometimes, it requires just a few extra minutes to find the right perspective, great lighting, or the perfect angle. It’ll be worth the effort.