© Robert Kneschke | Dreamstime.com
August 19th is World Photography Day! It’s also National Potato Day and International Orangutan Day, but let’s focus on photos. (See what I did there?)
Below are some of my favorite tips and tricks for better smartphone pictures, as well as a privacy tip at the end that always gets at least a big “thank you.”
8 professional secrets for better pictures
- Less is more: Far too often, people try to cram way too much into one image. Crop your shots to fill the frame and try to keep the background free of distractions.
- Stop using your camera’s zoom: Your feet will work better and you will notice more details. Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal.
- Flash is not your friend: Natural light is that. Your phone’s flash makes people look particularly harsh and natural scenes look washed out. Early morning and late afternoon are the most advantageous times, by the way.
- Clean your lens: That’s a quick win. Dust, fingerprints and smudges will make your pictures blurry. Yes, I usually use my shirt and hope for the best…
- Tap to focus: Tap the subject on the screen to focus on it. Most phones will automatically adjust the exposure when you do this, giving you a clearer image.
- Better action shots: Hold down the shutter button to capture a ton of images faster than you could with one click at a time. Save your favorites and delete the rest.
- Time for a dad joke: Saying “cheese” makes the smile look fake. “Yoga,” “whiskey,” and “money” make for a more relaxed smile. I make a silly joke and then start snapping. What kind of photos do lobsters most often take? Sleeve-nasty.
- Use a tripod: The professionals do this for a good reason. This inexpensive version is a tripod and selfie stick in one. This top version is sufficient for videos in the best quality.
And most importantly, stop sharing too much
When you take a picture, your phone stores details about your device, camera settings and Location. If you text pictures you took at home, anyone who knows how to access that information will know where you live. Yuck.
The steps may vary slightly depending on your phone and operating system version. Start here:
- On iPhone: Open the image and tap the Share button (Square with an arrow pointing upwards). Select Options > turn off Location > tap Completed.
- On Android: Open your gallery and select the photo. Go to Details (it can be a three-point menu) > Remove location data.
You can also permanently disable this type of data tracking. You can find steps to do this here on my website.
Let’s end on a positive note
Some of the best pictures on my phone are of my dog, Abby, kids and flowers. My favorite trick is to vary the angles. I know My best selfie angle, but the little ones still look cute. Lie on the ground, stand on a ladder (be careful) or walk to the side.
Keep your technical knowledge up to date
My popular podcast is called Kim Komando Today. It’s about 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions from all over the country, just like you!
Listen to “Kim Komando Today” on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.
Sound like a tech pro, even if you’re not! Award-winning and popular host Kim Komando is your secret weapon. Listen on over 420 radio stations or get the podcast. And join over 400,000 people who receive her free, five-minute daily email newsletter.
When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Keywords: Android, Camera, Family, Home, iPhone, Phone, Privacy, Security, Settings, Videos
