5 TIPS ON HOW TO TAKE AMAZING PHOTOS WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE

TIP 1: Hold your phone properly to avoid movement

The way you hold your phone plays an important role in how sharp your

photos turn out. In order to get in-focus photos, you need to ensure you're holding your phone as steady as possible. If you move or shake while taking a photo you're likely going to end up with blurry photos.  The image below shows you my recommended ways of holding your phone in your hands for the most stable results.

TIP 2: Keep things simple
Whether you're taking a photo of a person or product, you want to keep your background as simple as possible to focus on the subject.  Remove any clutter or distractions from your background as well as pay attention to what your subjects are wearing. Simple, neutral clothes looks great and doesn't distract from your subjects.

TIP 3: Lock your focus and exposure to get sharp photos
The AE/AF Lock feature is so important for achieving amazing photos with the correct focus and exposure (lighting). Simply tap the screen to choose the part of the image you want to focus on and expose. Then tap and hold on your focal point until you see an AE/AF Lock banner appear at the top of the screen. Your focus and exposure is now locked and your ready to take photos in that setting without your iPhone reverting back to auto.

TIP 4: Take photos from your subject's level

Most people take photos from chest height. This is usually the most convenient way of taking a picture because it’s the most convenient for us. But there are usually more creative options for taking great photos including getting down to your subject's level.  This simple tip will instantly improve the photos of your children.  This may mean bending down, or even laying on the floor.

TIP 5: Editing with Apps
Editing a photo gives it that extra wow factor. The challenge of course, is that unless you’re a photographer, then you’re unlikely to know your way around Photoshop or Lightroom. But there are lots of apps out there that are pretty easy to get used to. My favorite two are Snapseed and VSCO - with simple techniques, you can go from the before and after.

For more tips tailored towards child and family portraits click here
https://anchorstudio.ca/2020/04/16/10-iphone-photography-tips-to-take-amazing-photoss/

GUEST BLOGGER:

Silvia is the owner and main artist at Anchor Studio
Photography located in Toronto specializing in family portraits.
She is a wife and mother to three little munchkins, who are the
passion behind her photography. When she is not capturing unforgettable moments of kids and families you can find her on a beach or traveling and exploring new places. She also runs online
photography courses to teach moms how to use their iPhone to take
amazing photos of their families.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAMERA FOR YOUR FAMILY PHOTOS

How to Choose the Right Camera for Your Family Photography

If you are looking to purchase a new camera, there are a number of factors to consider. With so many options available to you, it can be hard to decide what camera to choose. If you’re interested in family photography and want to up your game to produce professional-looking images, it’s time to think seriously about the equipment you’re going to want to use to make it happen. From cell phones to professional DSLR cameras, the variety of cameras options available to you can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

Your Smartphone as a Camera

Your smart phone is going to take decent pictures of you and your family, especially if the subjects in your photos are going to pose for you without moving around too much. Most people find that smartphone photography produces good enough quality for sharing family snapshots on social media, but the technology isn’t enough to take their photography to the next level. There are a number of tools and accessories, such as mini tripods and clip-on lenses, that can help you take better pictures with your smartphone, but it will take a bit of research to uncover ways to maximize image quality. If you’re serious about family photography but want to stick with your smartphone as a camera, take some time to research ways to take the best images possible.

Point and Shoot Cameras for Ease

Point and shoot cameras, named so because you simply focus on your subject and take the picture, are lightweight, small, and fit easily into a pocket or bag. The images you get from point and shoot cameras will generally be a little higher in quality than a smartphone, but slow shutter speeds restrict their versatility. For example, if your subject is moving, the slower shutter speed of your point and shoot might create a blurry image that will be hard to fix if you choose to edit the photo later on.

Up Your Game With Hybrid Mirrorless Cameras

If you want to begin creating images that have a professional look, it's time to upgrade from a smartphone or point and shoot camera. Hybrid mirrorless cameras are still lightweight and generally more affordable compared to DSLR cameras, and allow you to use interchangeable lenses to take a crack at macro or long distance photography. Mirrorless cameras are great for producing clear images if there’s lots of movement, they’re easy to carry and have large sensors that will help you create dynamic images that are easy to edit later on.

DSLR Cameras Make Amateurs Look Like Professionals

The range of DSLR cameras is huge. All major camera manufacturers make a DSLR camera that suits any budget or skillset. These cameras have incredible fast shutter speeds to produce the highest-quality images. While each DSLR will take images much faster than any of the other above cameras, the differences between low-end and high-end cameras is most noticeable in DSLR cameras. If you’re shooting images in low light situations, for example, you will likely need a higher-end DSLR than if you are simply shooting images outside in great light.

In addition to choosing the right camera, there are also considerations you can make related to lenses and flash equipment that you can easily work into your budget. These are also great things to buy second-hand. In many cases, high-end lenses are being sold by experienced photographers at a much more affordable price that you might find at a photography retailer while delivering the same quality as a brand new unit.

While you may get a great shot once in awhile with a smartphone, DSLR cameras are going to give you consistent, high-quality images of your family. Taking your family photography to the next level doesn’t have to break the bank. But you will want to be conscious of the fact that, with cameras, you get what you pay for. In most cases, spending a little more on a higher-quality camera will go along way in taking pictures of your family to the next level.