*I call this masterpiece: Bama in a Brewery. This photo was taken (on my iPhone) at our favorite Middletown brewery, Stubborn Beauty. I then used Instagram to apply some funky effects.*

Keeping projects within budget is a common priority for most small business owners. That said, sometimes hiring a professional photographer isn’t conducive. However, if you own an iPhone, you can take some pretty fantastic shots all on your own. Here are some tips on how to do it.

Focus.

Focusing is an important thing to do in many different scenarios … but especially photography! If you have a blurry photo, you essentially have nothing to work with. When taking pictures on your phone, focusing can prove to be a challenge. To improve the clarity of your shots, you need to be as steady as possible (so for starters, go easy on the coffee). Be sure to look at your phone screen before snapping. Then tap the subject of your image on-screen to bring it into focus. (Pro tip: If you’re using an iPhone, you can use the volume controls to snap a picture. This can be a very useful technique when you’re trying to keep a steady hand.)

Be sure there’s good lighting.

Equally as important as focus is lighting! Trying to take a photo in poor lighting will not do your subject matter any justice. If you’re taking pictures outside, schedule your shoot when the weather is optimal. The sun will create a variety of shadows so consider a time when daylight will be optimal. If you’re taking pictures inside, be sure the space is well lit. To avoid dark shadows from blacking out your subject, make sure the light source is shining toward your subject and not coming in from behind. (Pro tip: Sometimes shadows can become a visually interesting part of the scene so don’t be scared to get creative with them!)

Keep it simple.

We get it. Sometimes there is just so much awesomeness that you want to encompass it all in one photo. However, too many visual elements in a single photo can actually take away from the beauty of the shot. Keep the scene simple. Stage the area by removing any unnecessary clutter. Focus on a particular element and make it the star of the photo.

Shoot from an interesting angle.

You can dramatically change the entire vibe of a photo just by shooting at an interesting angle. Hold your phone at different angles and from varying heights to see how the scene and subject matter transform with each perspective. You will be utterly amazed.

Follow the rule of thirds.

Time for a very quick lesson in Photography:101 … the Rule of Thirds! Here’s how it works. Imagine breaking an image up into nine equal parts (horizontally and vertically, using four grid lines). The principle behind the Rule of Thirds states that if you position your important elements on any one of these grid lines, your photo will become more balanced and compositionally more interesting. To utilize this principle when taking pictures on your iPhone, be sure to enable the grid on your phone’s camera (Settings >> Photos & Camera >> Grid).

Use photo editing apps.

Last but not least, there are a number of amazing editing apps available to help take your photos to the next level! Basic techniques that used to take hours to accomplish in PhotoShop can now be applied to your photos with the click of a button. Instagram, VSCO, and Whitagram are a few that we’d recommend experimenting with.

Don’t ever settle for posting subpar blurry shots on your website or social media. With a little practice, you CAN become a good photographer.

-J

How To Take High Quality Photos On Your iPhone