We take a lot of photos these days. With the advent of cell phone cameras, anyone can be a photographer. The early cell phone cameras produced grainy and unclear images. But these days? Some smartphones result in photos that look as though they could’ve been taken with a professional camera.
So, it’s no wonder we take so many photos. With smartphones, we have a camera on us at all times. At no other time in history could people document every moment. Sometimes, individuals go to the extreme (we’re referring to you, people taking pictures of their lunch) but it’s understandable.
If you’re someone who doesn’t like having their photo taken, you probably don’t appreciate how much they’ve inundated society. But don’t worry: we have 75 tips to help you take better pictures on your cell phone. That includes helpful information when you’re in the photo, as well as when you’re behind the camera.
And yes, we’ll talk about selfies, too. Maybe you scoff at them. After all, they’re hard to take. There’s a knack to taking photos of yourself, something not everybody has.
Here’s how to capture amazing photos of people using your cell phone.
1. Take advantage of natural light
Every photographer knows that light is the single most important part of capturing excellent pictures, especially for illuminating faces. If you’re inside, use light coming from a nearby window.
2. Illuminate your face
As mentioned, make sure faces have enough light on them. To keep the light even, use a piece of white paper to reflect it on the face. Holding it under the chin is highly effective.
3. Coordinate colors with your subjects and the background
Pay attention to the color scheme on your photo. Finding similar shades in your subject and the background can help unify the photo, making it visually more appealing.
4. Get closer to your subject
Closer is better when it comes to taking pictures of people. Standing too far away makes it difficult to capture facial expressions and features.
5. Add a prop
Sometimes, a prop will make a photo pop. Bonus points if it’s particularly interesting or colorful to draw the eye.
6. Know when and when not to use flash
This is especially true if you’re taking photos on a cell phone rather than a camera. You’ll need to learn when using the camera’s flash is a good option versus when you should use an illuminating app.
7. Play with the scale of photos
Sometimes, photos are more visually striking when you add some scale. That means you want to add sizing contrasts — like a person standing beside a tall tree or building.
8. Use movement in your photo
Nothing’s worse than a photo of people posing uncomfortably and unnaturally. To correct this, use the burst mode to catch a series of shots while your subject’s in motion.
9. Maintain an element of mystery
There are times when photos are more appealing by not revealing the whole story. This might consist of concealing part of the subject’s face, photographing them from behind, or something else.
10. Face the light
You want to avoid dramatic shadows that cut across your subject’s face. That means they should either face the light directly or face away from it.
11. Catch the “magic hour”
Photographers and videographers love shooting at sunrise or sunset. Why? Because the light’s low and perfect for capturing natural, evenly-lit shots.
12. Avoid shadows
Shadows across a subject’s face often conceal their features or even worse, they create the illusion of bags and blemishes. This is why you want to illuminate the face evenly.
13. Juxtapose subjects and backgrounds
Sometimes, the contrast of your subject to the background can make a picture pop. Experiment with different backgrounds to see which one stands out the best.
14. Take pictures at an angle
People often look their best from an angle rather than straight on. Try taking a photo slightly to the side or above of the subject.
15. …but don’t angle the camera TOO much
Especially when taking selfies, people tend to angle the camera too much. This creates images that look unnatural and it doesn’t frame the subject very well.
16. Tell a story
Don’t just take a picture of your subject standing and staring off into space. Tell a story with your photo. That might be through motion, location, or props.
17. Play with angles
Try different angles to find out what looks best. Rather than stopping to review every picture, simply point the camera and shoot. That’ll help you find the best vantage point.
18. Practice and then practice some more
Hearing that you need to practice to take great photos is annoying. But like any other skill, it’s necessary. Take photos whenever you can until you’ve perfected your skill.
19. Take a LOT of photos
This isn’t the same thing as practicing. When we say take a lot of photos, we mean in a single session. You can take hundreds of shots before finding the one that really “clicks.”
20. Let emotion play a factor
Don’t just have your subjects stare at the camera or give a fake smile. Ask them to show genuine emotion, whether that’s sadness, happiness, anger, calmness, or something else.
21. Have a plan before you start
Even if you’re just snapping a selfie, it’s good to have a plan before you start. That includes finding the proper lighting, choosing an appropriate background, and setting up a good angle.
22. Play with filters
Before snapping photos, it’s a good idea to set up your camera first. As part of that, play with available filters. By finding a natural filter and then adjusting the photos afterward can help them stand out.
23. Position the camera correctly
In general, you want the camera at eye level or slightly above eye level. This is especially true when taking selfies — no one looks their best from beneath their chin.
24. Keep your chin down
It’s the rule of selfie-taking: keep your chin down. This shows off your best features while cutting back on the dreaded double chin effect.
25. Try different locations
Sometimes, it takes a couple of tries to figure out where the subjects look best. Try taking photos in a couple of different locations to see which one yields superior photos.
26. Limit the editing
We’ve all seen photos so heavily edited they look unnatural. Steer clear of that. Instead, limit the amount of editing you do. Keep edits light and natural.
27. Include an interesting background
Don’t underestimate how much the background can affect your photo. A good background can make all the difference between an average photo and one that stands out.
28. Consider a simple background
If you can’t find an eye-catching background, stick to something simple. The goal is to draw the eye to the main part of the photo: your subject.
29. Crop out anything in the background that doesn’t enhance the photo
Whether using a complex or simple background, it should enhance your photo. Get rid of anything that’s distracting or irrelevant.
30. Take a video instead of a photo
Sometimes, you can catch a better photo by shooting a video. That way, you capture multiple striking poses in a row. Then freeze your favorite frame.
31. Learn what angles look best for you
If you take a lot of photos, figure out the angles most flattering for you. Models often talk about finding their favorite “side.” The same applies for selfies.
32. Relax
It bears repeating that people look their best when they’re relaxed instead of stiff and self-conscious. Take some deep breaths, roll your shoulders, and most importantly, have fun.
33. Try different poses
Let your subject strike a series of different poses to find which one looks most comfortable and natural. Just snap photos as they go.
34. Don’t strike a corny pose
When people feel uncomfortable, they often strike the same few poses when having their photo taken. But making duck lips or throwing up a peace sign is boring and predictable.
35. Make sure your models use the shape of their bodies
What does this mean? It means making sure your subjects pose with motion in their bodies rather than stand with their hands by their sides. They could place a hand on a hip, lean slightly, or cross their ankles.
36. Change the contrast settings
Adjusting the contrast settings on a camera can make the images sharper and clearer. It’s often a great way to get a picture to pop.
37. Keep your eyes shut until right before the photo is taken
This applies when you’re the subject of a photo or when taking a selfie. Try keeping your eyes shut until right before pushing the capture button. This makes your expression appear “fresh” and more natural.
38. Don’t be self-conscious
When the subject of a photo is self-conscious, it shows. Try to act natural. It’ll make a difference in the quality of the image.
39. Be natural
Being natural means not going overboard with poses or smiles. Just use your natural smile and relax your body.
40. Try inhaling right before you snap the photo
If you’re taking a selfie but having a hard time relaxing, try taking a breath right before you take the photo. That’ll help you look natural and bright-eyed.
41. Capture candid moments
Everyone loves candid photos and for a good reason. Posed photos are nice but capturing people in genuine moments is often better.
42. Let subjects explore the space a bit
If you’re going to a new location to take photos, give your subject a few minutes to get comfortable in the space. When it’s time to start snapping photos, they’ll feel relaxed.
43. Be careful when editing skin tones
When you edit photos, only lightly edit skin tones. It’s easy to over-edit but by doing so, your subject will look unnatural.
44. Help people have fun
The best photos are when people are relaxed and enjoying themselves rather than feeling self-conscious. Help them have fun. Your photos will turn out so much better.
45. Keep things simple
A common mistake is trying to include too many things in a photo. Often, the most compelling photos are the simplest ones, those that emphasize a few distinct elements.
46. Use details to accentuate the subject
Choose props and elements to emphasize photos. That’ll help draw the eye to your subject. Sometimes, small details make a photo more striking.
47. Underexpose rather than overexpose
If you have to choose between an underexposed or overexposed photo, go with underexposed. You can always edit the exposure levels later.
48. Avoid taking pictures from below
This goes both for selfies and when taking photos of others. Not only can snapping photos from below contort the face but it can also emphasize a person’s less flattering facial features, such as the nostrils.
49. Keep things symmetrical
Our brains love symmetry. Pictures look more balanced by keeping things symmetrical. That doesn’t mean everything has to be exactly the same, just balanced.
50. Pay attention to the depth of field
Depth of field refers to the distance between the nearest and farthest points of a photo. Choose the parts you want to be in focus as opposed to those you want to deemphasize.
51. Try shooting with a wide background
Although filling the frame is a good rule of thumb, photos can also be compelling by using a wide background. This can draw more attention to your central subject.
52. Milk a good pose
If your subject has a pose that flatters them, let them make it a staple. You can take photos of the same pose from a dozen different angles to get many unique pictures.
53. Don’t go extreme on the angle
Extreme angles in pictures look strange. And they often have an unflattering effect on your subject. Keep the angles mild to draw attention to the subject’s best features.
54. Use portrait mode
Portrait mode, as the name implies, is considered the best position for pictures of people. This means holding the camera so it’s tall rather than wide.
55. Fill the frame
Get close to your subject so they fill the frame. You don’t need to get so close that you can see every pore on their nose — just make sure they’re the central focus.
56. Benefit from a cloudy day
Cloudy days can yield surprisingly good photos because they produce even, shadow-free light. The next time it’s overcast, see what kind of photos you can capture.
57. Get on the same height as your subject
For this, you’ll want to take photos roughly at your subject’s eye level. That means you might need to crouch down or stand on a stool.
58. Turn the flash on in the sun
It might seem counterintuitive, but one of the best times to turn your flash on is in the sun. This erases dramatic shadows and keeps your subject evenly lit.
59. Slow down
Don’t rush things. Take the time needed to plan and compose your shot before you start to shoot. A planned photo looks more polished and professional.
60. Don’t constantly check your photos
When you’re taking photos, don’t stall the process by checking each one. Just click away. Otherwise, you could well miss a great moment.
61. Frame your subject
Frame your subject — this means placing them in such a way that the eye naturally draws to them. This could be anything…snapping a photo of them in a doorway or on a road.
62. Try putting the light at an angle
Overall, you want your subject to be evenly lit. But you can still play with light angles to see if you can find a new way to “shape” the image.
63. Watch your shutter speed
On some phones, it’s possible to change the shutter speed. If your smartphone has that option, you’ll need to change it depending on whether you’re shooting a subject in motion or still.
64. Play with perspective
Some photographers always shoot from the same angle. Instead, try lying down or squatting to see if you can emphasize different aspects of your photo.
65. Try shooting in the shade
If the light isn’t working, try taking photos in the shade. You might discover tones that are more even and workable for a photo.
66. Learn the rule of thirds
The rule of thirds is a way to compose photos. It involves dividing images into three parts horizontally and vertically and having an element in each “grid.”
67. Limit your colors
Choose a “palette” for your photo and limit it. With this, you can emphasize just a couple of colors. That’ll help unite your photo while focusing on the most important parts.
68. Look at other photos
Don’t look at other photos passively. Study the ones you like to determine what makes them stand out, especially in terms of composition.
69. Reflect light
You want the light to be evenly distributed across your subject. So, you’ll need to use a reflector of some kind, which could be something as simple as a piece of white paper.
70. Become familiar with your camera
It seems self-explanatory, but becoming familiar with your camera is one of the best things you can do to improve photo quality. Learning the settings will teach you how to compose great images.
71. Use grid lines on a phone camera
Turn on the grid line option on your cell phone camera. That’ll help you compose your photo. It’s beneficial for following the rule of thirds.
72. Use leading lines
Leading lines are the parts of a photo that guide the eye to the subject. They also add depth and motion to a photo.
73. Add depth
Whether of a person or landscape, good photos have layers to them. That includes interesting elements in both the background and foreground.
74. Think outside of the box
Ultimately, the rules of photography will help guide you. But some of the best photos are taken by breaking those rules. Don’t get too constrained — instead, experiment to see what you can capture.
75. Give a genuine smile
Nothing looks worse than a fake smile — in contrast, nothing looks better than a real one. When posting for a photo, smile big with your mouth and eyes…and relax.
75 Easy ways to take better people photos on your phone’s camera
Cedric Jackson
03.17.20
We take a lot of photos these days. With the advent of cell phone cameras, anyone can be a photographer. The early cell phone cameras produced grainy and unclear images. But these days? Some smartphones result in photos that look as though they could’ve been taken with a professional camera.
So, it’s no wonder we take so many photos. With smartphones, we have a camera on us at all times. At no other time in history could people document every moment. Sometimes, individuals go to the extreme (we’re referring to you, people taking pictures of their lunch) but it’s understandable.
If you’re someone who doesn’t like having their photo taken, you probably don’t appreciate how much they’ve inundated society. But don’t worry: we have 75 tips to help you take better pictures on your cell phone. That includes helpful information when you’re in the photo, as well as when you’re behind the camera.
And yes, we’ll talk about selfies, too. Maybe you scoff at them. After all, they’re hard to take. There’s a knack to taking photos of yourself, something not everybody has.
Here’s how to capture amazing photos of people using your cell phone.