When Instagram first began, there was not much to brag about smartphones’ picture quality. Most Instagram photos were taken using an in-app camera, so if you see them again now, you will see that they are pixelated.
As years passed by, the Instagram feed was a mix of smartphone and DSLR photos. But now, long gone are the days that you carry around bulky DSLRs to take aesthetically pleasing photos, as smartphones have improved to give you the perfect shot whenever you want to. All you need to do is to take out your phone, snap, and there you go – an incredible shot for your Instagram feed.
Furthermore, many people would want a nice-looking feed on their Instagram but are often worried that they won’t be able to capture a nice picture. But what they don’t know is that all it takes is some basic knowledge to get a nice shot.
Hence, if you are still unsure of your photography skill, we’ve got you covered with this handy guide for your upcoming A+ content.
Is It Natural Light?
In case you have not heard of it, lighting is the foundation of a good photo. Although it’s true that you can simply edit the brightness using any editing app, nothing beats the beauty of natural lighting. With that in mind, it’s important to understand the light before taking any picture.
If you use too much light, the subject will look washed out. But with too little light, the audience won’t be able to identify your picture’s subject. So, make sure you take note of where the light comes from and whether you need to use the flash to take pictures.
For smartphone users, it is easy to navigate through the lighting. All you need is to have a little bit of patience. Just spend a few minutes and tap around different objects to see how the light changes. If you want to lower or increase the brightness, use the slider to adjust it accordingly.
Pick The Right Time
We mentioned natural lighting previously. But if you find it hard to find a good one, another method to try is to pick a good time before taking any picture. So, how do you decide if it’s the right time? It all depends on what you are looking for in the shot.
There’s a reason why many people are often hype about the golden hour, especially photographers. Golden time, as its name suggests, is the time of the day when the sun is low on the horizon, making every shot you capture stunning and golden.
However, it’s not everyone’s goal to have a brightly captured picture. So, if you aim to make the shot softer and with a lighter theme, go for midday, where clouds are your best partner. But note that after shooting, there is a possibility that you might have to edit the picture’s lighting a bit.
Add More Layers
Many people like the idea of a minimalist photo that does not have too many subjects and objects. But why not switch up the photos by adding more layers to them? To improve the picture, try mixing various textures with a background. The picture will still have one subject as the focus, but the different layers will attract more audiences. Not only that, but it will also look more appealing.
Furthermore, some smartphones nowadays feature a portrait mode. This way, you can still focus on one point even when you have a complicated background or multiple subjects in the picture. Just simply open the mode, tap on the subject, and you’re good to go.
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Try Continuous Burst
It can be hard to take nice pictures if you are at an event with so many people. This is because it’s not proper to ask people to stay put and not interframe to get that perfect shot. To solve this issue, try to utilize burst mode on your Samsung phone.
Yes, there are going to be so many pictures, but you will appreciate having many choices to choose from. Plus, you’d be surprised at how many stunning pictures you may capture, especially the candid ones.
Moreover, the best way to try this mode is by setting up the light you want. Then, capture as many pictures as you wish in a short time. This way, you don’t have to worry about not getting the best shot, as you can review all the pictures and choose one that stands out.
Use the rule of thirds
So, first thing first, what is the rule of third? In photography, it is a composition guideline where you place the subject to the far left or right of the picture, leaving the remaining two-thirds empty. Although there are other kinds of compositions, the rule of thirds will offer you a highly composed picture.
Moreover, you don’t have to worry if the abandonment stock images are unbalanced. You can still achieve a pleasing image with balanced asymmetry, which means that although the subject is off-center, it is still balanced by another object in the picture.
Try different angles
Another trick to taking a good picture is to choose the right angle. There is a feature on smartphones’ cameras called gridlines to line up your shot in the center or to the right, so you don’t have to worry about a bad angle.
However, although it’s nice to have a perfectly angled photo, capturing it from various angles that you find pretty is okay.
This is because sometimes, a fully centered picture may seem uninteresting. So, if you really want to try, make sure that it is completely unparalleled to the gridlines. Otherwise, it may be bothersome to some people.
Bottomline
Taking a good picture doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to own an expensive and huge DSLR camera. Therefore, with the guide we’ve listed for you, we hope you can finally get the beautiful shot you dreamed of- with only a smartphone!
Additionals:
Ankita Tripathy
Sofia
