20 tips for taking better photos with your phone

Even if you're not a photography expert, understanding how to manipulate your phone's settings can make a huge difference in your photos. For example, if you're in bright light, you can reduce the exposure setting to get a crisper image that's less washed out. 

Your smartphone likely has an auto-focus setting, but it's not always able to determine the correct subject. To focus the camera on your subject, simply tap it on the screen, and give the camera a few seconds to adjust to the new settings. You can also try moving the focus around to capture a more creative or abstract image. 

Any photography expert will tell you that if you want to take better photos, you have to zoom with your feet. Automatic zoom features are great, but they will degrade the quality of your image. Sometimes, even taking a few steps toward the subject of your photo can make a huge difference. 

Artificial light, like the lamps in your home, can be too harsh or add unwanted color tones to your photos. The more natural light (read: sunlight) available, the better your photos will be. If you're shooting in lower light settings, you may want to bump up the exposure to make sure you're getting a good photo. 

In photography, the "rule of thirds" means that, when it comes to composition, you should think about your photo as if it were divided into thirds. Placing the subject of your photo (or the focal point) in the left-most third or the right-most third will help create a balanced shot that looks more professional than the typical phone photo.

Unless you absolutely need it, most photos taken with your phone shouldn't require flash. Flash adds harsh light, and can seem unflattering, especially when it comes to portraits. Even if you think it's too dark, you may be surprised at the quality of photos you get in low light without flash. 

Shaky hands can make it difficult to capture a clear image, but you don't need a tripod to make sure that you get a great photo on the go. Simply lean your phone up against something like a book or bag, and use the timer setting to capture the photo. It may take a few tries to get the right angle, but your image will be totally clear. 

Most camera phones, including iPhones, offer the option to turn on gridlines in their built-in cameras. They may seem annoying at first, but gridlines can help you make sure that you're framing your shot straight and keeping the composition balanced. 

If you take a lot of photos with your phone, especially landscapes or portraits, a small tripod can be incredibly handy. You can set up a Bluetooth remote to connect to your phone, and set up the tripod in a place where you can capture the best photo while not actually having to be behind the lens. Plus, many smartphone tripods, like the Lume Cube, are very affordable. 

The photo filters built into Instagram and Snapchat can be fun, but the best photos are totally au naturale. It can be tempting to want to make the water in your landscape look a little bluer or the trees more green, but there are better ways to do that than using an Instagram filter. 

Mobile phone editing software has come a long way, and there's so much more out there now than just Instagram's built-in editing features. Consider downloading an app like Snapseed, which offers plenty of editing options for free, or go more professional with the mobile version of Lightroom, which is pricier but boasts a ton of features. 

Many smartphones offer the capability to take long-exposure photos, in which the camera's sensors are exposed to more light. That can be especially handy in low-light situations, like at concerts or when you're looking to photograph the stars. You'll want a tripod, though, because holding a phone still for longer than a few seconds is all but impossible. 

Because your phone camera's lens is right there on the back, it's probably dirty. Keep a soft cloth, like the kind you use to clean eyeglasses, in your bag to wipe off any smudges or fingerprints before you begin to take photos. 

If you're trying to get great last-day-of-school photos or a great shot of your pet, portrait mode can help take your photos from plain to professional. This setting automatically blurs the background, creating an effect called "bokeh," which makes the subject of your photo look more prominent. 

Most smartphones allow users to adjust the format in which their photos are captured. If your phone offers 1080p or HDR resolution, that will create the sharpest, best-quality images in most cases. Just note that these photos will also take up more space on your phone's hard drive. 

Whether you're photographing your kid's baseball game or wild animals in a national park, capturing movement can be tricky. Burst mode, which enables the phone to take multiple photos with one click, will allow you to grab more images of the action, making your chances better that one of the shots actually turns out well. 

Where you hold your camera has a major impact on the quality of your selfie. Try to hold it about at eye level — not too low, and not too high — for the most authentic-looking selfie. Natural light is also important. The fluorescent lights in your office are probably too harsh, and may end up making you look washed out. 

If you want to capture something specific, like a tree, don't be afraid to find the angle that makes your subject look best. Capture it straight on, then try more creative angles, like directly overhead, or focusing closely on one specifically unique feature. 

Your smartphone's camera lens is situated at the top of the phone, which means that turning it upside down to take your photo can really change up the composition of the image. Try it when you're looking for a more dramatic angle, or are struggling to get all of something close-up into the frame. 

Learning to take great photos with your phone takes practice, and the best way to practice is simply by taking lots of photos. Spend time poring over your camera roll and figure out what makes the shots you really love stand out — then take more photos.