Publication date: 03.06.2015

How to make shots interesting, beautiful and understandable to the viewer?

It often happens that you show a friend a frame, and he asks: “What did you shoot here?”. And immediately it becomes somehow sad: either an inattentive comrade did not understand your creative plan; either you didn’t clearly show in the photo what you were so interested in when shooting. How to make a photo more understandable for the viewer? How to convey mood, emotions on it? We will talk about this in the article.

So, let's briefly formulate the first tip:

1. Before shooting, always clearly ask yourself what exactly you are shooting.

The picture will be clear to the viewer when there is a specific object on it, the “hero” of the photo.

How to find the right subject to shoot? Sometimes the subject is obvious, as in the case of shooting a portrait or a specific subject (for example, a book). But sometimes the “protagonist” is not easy to find. For example, when shooting a landscape. Landscape shots often come out empty for novice photographers. By pointing the lens into space, the photographer forgets that some interesting object, the “hero” of the frame, must be present in his picture. As a result, nothing attracts the attention of the viewer. Choose a subject that will make your audience look at the picture. It can be a stand-alone tree, a beautiful house, a bush with flowers, a path ... Anything that may be of interest.

By the way, something "incorporeal" can become the object of shooting. For example, natural phenomena: sunset, snowfall, thunderstorm.

Of course, there can be several main objects in the frame. To avoid confusion in the photo, they must be connected by a plot.

2. Ask yourself what is happening in the photo.

The picture can turn out boring if nothing is happening in the frame. A simple example: in one picture a man is standing with his arms outstretched at his sides, no emotion on his face. On the other - the same man smiles and waves his arms. What frame will be more interesting? The one where a person somehow manifests himself, right?

An excellent subject for a photo can be not only an action, but also a state. Flowers can bloom, the sun can set, and water can flow. Observe the object. Time passes very quickly, and any state of objects is fleeting. Try to show it in a photo.

The complete absence of a plot, idea, or at least some kind of stylistic decision is a common mistake of many staged portraits. To make the frame more interesting, try to evoke emotions in the model. At least - tell her what you want to get in the photo: sadness, joy, passion. And you can make good contact with her, then the emotions from your communication will appear on their own.

Some original idea of ​​the photographer himself (for example, searching for an unusual point of view on a particular subject) can also become a plot for a photo. The plot may consist in the transfer of a certain aesthetics, style in the picture. You can also use an unusual combination of objects in the frame as a plot: large / small, soft / hard, and the like. It all depends on your imagination!

Remember that the task of the photographer is not only to find the plot, but also to convey it expressively in the frame.

It would seem that there is nothing simpler: we are looking for an interesting object and plot, and then we shoot. However, even here we may encounter difficulties. For example, when photographing a person, we will inevitably include other elements in the frame. And our object can drown in unnecessary details. So the next tip is also very simple:

3. Remove everything unnecessary from the frame!

If something is not involved in the plot - feel free to remove this element from the frame! However, it is important to remember that the background, the empty space around the object, can become part of the plot. And some additional details can complement the composition (for example, branches framing the landscape). You need to understand that they are also involved in the plot, and they should be left.

The more compositional elements are involved in your shot, the easier it is for the viewer (and yourself) to get confused in them.

Do not forget that you can independently choose the most favorable point for shooting. Use this when looking for the best angle!

4. Highlight the main thing in the picture!

Sometimes the main object in the photo is “lost”, merging with the background. How to be in this case?

Let's figure out how to select an object in a photo.

Size and shape. Obviously, the subject should be shown in the photo large enough - so that the viewer pays attention to it. Also, the object in the picture will stand out if it has some kind of exceptional, eye-catching shape.

Color and brightness. If your item stands out in color or brightness, it will be hard to miss in the photo. Do not forget that the brightness of an object directly depends on the degree of its illumination. It is enough to send more light to the object than to the background, and it will become brighter.

Sharpness. The subject can be sharpened by blurring the background. This technique is often used in portrait photography. However, in other areas of photography, it is also quite appropriate. How to blur the background in a photo? Blurred background - a consequence of the shallow depth of field. We have a separate lesson on this topic. To achieve a shallow depth of field, it is worth photographing from a more or less close distance, at an open aperture and at maximum zoom.

It is important to keep in mind that these techniques can be applied not only separately, but all together.

5. The background is an important part of the picture!

The environment in which we shoot the hero, the background of the picture is an integral part of it. In order for the photo to be expressive and meaningful, special attention should be paid to working with the background.

The background should match the story. Not only that, it can perfectly complement it. At the same time, the background should not draw all attention to itself. Sometimes it's worth blurring it out by shooting wide open. This is usually done when shooting a portrait, so as not to distract attention from the hero of the frame. And in the landscape, they try to make the background sharp in order to include the whole plot in the depth of field.

When shooting in an apartment, extra things will constantly get into the frame. They will draw attention. It is not very convenient to shoot in the apartment, and there is not much light there. Try to look for other places for a photo shoot - interesting and with good lighting.

6. Use simple layout rules.

Simple frame composition rules are created as a "cheat sheet" for a novice photographer who has not yet developed his own feeling and vision of the frame. Using them, you can easily compose the frame so that it looks harmonious.

The rule of thirds. Contrary to popular belief, positioning your subject exactly in the center of the frame is not always a good idea. Try using the rule of thirds. This rule is based on the law of the golden section. Position your subject closer to one of the corners of the frame. Or you can simply place the subject (in the case of a portrait, the character's face(s)) in the top third of the shot.

Conveniently, the rule of thirds grid can be displayed on the camera screen or in the viewfinder.

The rule of thirds allows for great liberties in its use. It is not necessary to check with jewelry precision whether the subject intersects with the intersections of the lines of the rule of thirds. The main point of this rule is to force the novice photographer to remove the subject from the center of the frame and think about the layout.

Don't overwhelm the horizon. A person always focuses on the horizon line, as on a strictly horizontal object. This rule also applies to photography. If everything in the picture is tilted to one side, it will be difficult for the viewer to perceive the photo: it will give the impression that everything is falling somewhere. Pay particular attention to the horizon when shooting landscapes and architecture. To keep the horizon in your photos horizontal, it is enough to remember about it and keep the camera level. Please note that even if there is no horizon line in the picture (for example, we are photographing in a city), the viewer’s eye will look for obviously horizontal and vertical objects (houses, lampposts, apartment walls) in order to orientate in the photo.

To check when shooting if your horizon is not littered, modern cameras have a digital level that you can always display on the screen. And in older models of Nikon DSLRs (for example, Nikon D7200, Nikon D750, Nikon D810) - even on the viewfinder.

Once a year there is a vacation and we go to rest in distant, and not very distant, countries. After a trip, you always want to bring beautiful photographs that you are not ashamed to show to your friends and leave as a keepsake. Unfortunately, even the most expensive cameras cannot provide interesting pictures. But in skillful hands, even cheap "soap dishes" are capable of making, if not masterpieces, then quite worthy photographs.

We will reveal 7 secrets of professional photographers, how to get beautiful pictures, regardless of the brand of your camera and photography experience.

1. How to photograph nature, urban landscape

Remember: the most "flat" and boring pictures are obtained at noon. The most fertile time for good photos is in the morning. Therefore, do not be too lazy to get up early and you will not only get great photos, but also a lot of positive emotions.

If you are planning to visit some very, then the best option would be to do it on your own, and not in a crowd of tourists - unfortunately, all typical excursions are held at the most inopportune time for photography, and hence the mass of boring and too typical photos.

What to do when a typical excursion is inevitable, but you still want to get good pictures? Difficult but possible:
- move away from the place where everyone takes pictures, find a more interesting angle that conveys the atmosphere of the place being photographed;
- to make the photo "play", take diverse pictures - for example, put a flower or a branch in the foreground;
- the photo will "come to life" if you capture a person, animal or bird in the frame.

How to photograph nature the right way. Photos with people in the frame always look "alive". Indonesia, Lombok.

2. Photographing landmarks

The same rules apply here as in the previous paragraph, plus
some helpful tips:
- When photographing buildings, make sure that there is air above the building, do not be afraid to capture the sky.

How to photograph landmarks the right way. Leave space around the building to convey the surroundings. Spain, Olot

Take close-up pictures of interesting details to convey texture.
- Use photos to convey the size of the attraction and features by placing a person for scale.
- Interesting photos are obtained if you catch people and their emotions caused by sightseeing.
- When photographing people against the background of sights, the pictures should be made more fun. Photos like "stand in a pile and portray joy" are extremely boring. Photo examples, .

3. How to take pictures at night and in the evening

Are you tired of looking at night photos with whitened faces and a black background, explaining to your friends: "It's me against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, but the tower didn't work out for some reason"? Then forget about the built-in flash, use a tripod and self-timer. Keep in mind: when shooting at night, the "night" mode will not help, only manual! Find out more on the Internet, what is shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Find in the instructions how to change these settings on your camera, and then experiment more boldly: set the shutter speed and aperture, turn on the self-timer, fix the camera on a stable surface, press the button, remove your hand and ... do not breathe.

How to photograph landmarks in the evening. Thailand, Turtle Island.

If you don't have a tripod handy, use any flat surface. Example:
- If you want to get beautiful evening streets with illumination, start taking pictures not when it gets completely dark, but at dusk.
- When photographing a city at night, cover the aperture so that the frame is clear.
- Do not install the camera under a lamp.
- When photographing a lantern, move a few meters away from it. If you cover the aperture, then the light from the flashlight will be in the form of rays, with an open aperture, you will get a blurry spot.
- In order to have less noise in the photo, try not to exceed the ISO value of 400 ISO, and if possible set it to 200 or 100.
- Do not set the shutter speed to more than 1 minute to avoid unnecessary noise.

How to photograph landmarks at night. Singapore: people in the photo emphasize the height of skyscrapers. The slow shutter speed made it possible to photograph people, buildings and even the cloud behind the skyscraper.

7 tricks on how to photograph people, children, animals, food

Taking beautiful photos with a regular camera

4. Photograph food beautifully

When traveling, do not forget to take pictures of interesting exotic dishes. The most "delicious" pictures are obtained in daylight. When photographing indoors with a camera with a built-in flash, you risk getting absolutely "unappetizing" photos. Food is best photographed in macro mode.

How to photograph food the right way. The cake with fresh cranberries and raspberries was bought from a street food shop. The photo was taken "on the knee", so close-up, no background. Spain, Banyoles.

Pay attention to what surrounds: if the serving is beautiful - take it into the frame, but if there are drops of sauce on the plate, or the table setting is unsuccessful, take close-up pictures of only food, even without a plate.

Take multiple pictures from different angles. The best angle is usually from the side. The worst one is on top.

5. How to photograph people the right way

When photographing a person against the background of sights, do not try to cover a lot - let the person, and not the sight, remain the main thing.
Catch the moment when people are genuinely laughing, fooling around, surprised, or busy with something.

Hong Kong.

Avoid boring "me and the tower" photos. Travel photos should convey your excitement about the trip, not boredom. When bored, it is better to forget about the camera. Why bad moments? It happens that you really want to portray joy, but it doesn’t work, in this case ask people to jump - they always look fun and are remembered for a long time.

If you will later show the photos to your friends, come up with a plot. Imagine that you are a reporter and you need to make a photo essay for a fashion magazine. Can your photos tell a story without words? Not just "I was in the temple, I'm on a yacht, and this is an incomprehensible dude", but something like "We climbed the stairs of 500 steps to the temple, a sleeping ginger cat lay at the gate, the sun glared beautifully on the golden roof of the temple , girls in shiny dresses were dancing, and this is our guide showing that we must take off our shoes when entering the temple ... "Try to convey the emotions from what you see: joy, charm, fatigue, delight, surprise, etc. Do you catch the difference? See how photo essays are made in magazines and make up your own fascinating story.
Take pictures not only of each other, but also of the people around you, local features:

How to photograph people the right way. Hong Kong: Morning Exercise

Photographing people the right way
- To make a fat person in the frame look slimmer, find a point where a shadow falls on the face, and the second half of the face is lit. Try to take a picture a little from above, from the side of the shadow, so that the person looks into the lens, raising his head a little - you will get expressive eyes and the second chin will “leave”.
We also recommend some tips to look slimmer.
- Women with large hips are best photographed from above, thin women - from below.
- A thin person with a large nose will become less "nosed" if the camera is slightly lower than the level of the face.
- To make your legs appear longer, tilt your body slightly when taking a photo.

6. How to photograph children correctly

Choose a bright environment for the child - among the bright warm colors, the child always looks better.

Children should be photographed only in a natural setting. Don't ask the kids to pose. Would you like to get memorable photos? Let your child jump freely, and seize the moment yourself.

How to photograph children the right way. A mother is waiting for a good moment, photographing her daughter. Spain, Barcelona.

If you can’t catch the moment, then invite the child, for example, to smell a flower, stroke a horse, disperse pigeons, climb the steps of the castle and imagine being a knight ... - let the child express his feelings.
By the way, children's jumpers are always good when traveling.

To better convey the inner world of a small person, take pictures at the level of the child's eyes. Sometimes you get interesting photos taken from below: the child looks bigger and more mature than it really is. This technique is good when shooting children against the backdrop of the city or old buildings.

7. How to photograph animals and birds correctly

Birds and animals are best shot from below - this way they will turn out to be more impressive and funny. For example, like this one.
When photographing animals, it is important to catch an interesting moment:

How to photograph animals the right way. Walking with dogs in shopping centers is not allowed, so sometimes they are hidden in strollers. Thailand, Bangkok.

A bird or animal will be more expressive if you blur the background. To capture an animal or bird in motion, use the tracking technique: focus on the subject and move the lens smoothly to track the movement. Press the button at the right time. The result is a photo with a sharp subject and a blurred background that emphasizes movement. This trick can also be used when photographing running people, moving cars, a plane taking off, and other objects in motion.

Perhaps, with the help of our advice, your photos will not turn into masterpieces of photographic art, but they will certainly become more "alive" and interesting.
We wish you unique and beautiful photos!

All photos for this article were taken by ordinary tourists using ordinary "soap dishes".

Cole Rise is a popular photographer, traveler, and creator of the Rise preset for Instagram. His photographs are distinguished by the fact that even after processing they look natural. Cole shared his secrets on how to shoot on a mobile phone and edit photos so that they are close in quality to pictures from SLR cameras.

1. Add light to the shadows and darken the highlights

Most photo editing tools have options for adjusting highlights and shadows. And this should be used.

To improve the nature photograph, Cole balanced the exposure by adding light to the shadows and slightly darkening the highlights. He also applied the Winsy filter from the Litely application collection to the photo to bring warm tones to the image.

2. Add a vignette effect and drop shadow to make your photo brighter

The vignetting effect adds a dark border around the perimeter of the photo and lightens the middle of the photo. This is one of Cole's favorite tricks. The original photo would have been too dark, so Cole increased the saturation and added some sharpening to separate the balloon from the landscape. This made it possible to keep the photo natural.

3. Edit the image and then reset all settings back to 50%

It is very important.

The trick is to make your photo look natural. Edit the image as you normally would and then reset all settings back to 50%.

Last year, Instagram users finally got the ability to control the power of filters. To use these settings, simply select a filter and then click on it again.

And one more tip: don't use the LUX tool on Instagram. Its job is to correct the lack of contrast that makes a photo look unnatural.

4. Photograph people wherever possible

Landscapes look best when there are people in them. The person in the photo is able to convey feelings. The best example of how people add personality to a picture is the work of Murad Osmann, who photographs himself holding his girlfriend's hand in different parts of the world (Follow me photo series).

These are the ruins of the ancient city of Jerash. If we remove a person from this photo, then we will not feel the scale and grandeur of this structure.

6. Try taking pictures while leaning out of a car window

You will never know in advance what you will succeed. In the case of the iPhone, simply hold the shutter button and hold to take photos in burst mode. On a smartphone running Android, you can enable burst shooting by selecting the appropriate mode (Burst Mode) in the camera settings. On Samsung smartphones, it may be called Burst Shot. For this photo, Cole used a Slow Shutter Cam to add a blur effect.

7. To get an interesting shot, place your smartphone on the roof of the car

If there are clouds in the sky, then their reflection on the roof of the car will add some zest to the photo.

8. Lower your gadget to the surface of the water for a cool reflective effect

9. Hold your smartphone upright when shooting for Instagram

To make it easier for yourself, hold the camera vertically: it's easier to fit everything you need for the frame into a square area. Better yet, set your camera to shoot only square images right away.

10. When shooting landscapes, press the volume button to release the shutter

Did you know that you can simply open your iPhone's camera and press the volume button to take a photo? The same is true for Android phones. On Samsung Galaxy S4, assign the shutter function to the volume button in settings instead of the default zoom function. This reshuffle of the buttons will make it easier to take the phone to avoid the effect of "shaking hands" that can ruin the photo.

11. Get closer to the ground if you want to bring your subject to the fore.

Smartphone cameras have poor depth of field, so you can resort to tricks. For example, lower the camera closer to the ground.

12. Do not attract attention and do not carry a backpack with you.

A tourist, hung with gadgets, is a great bait for thieves. When traveling, Cole never wears flashy clothes, keeps his camera and phone close to him, and always leaves his backpack at home. Before filming a merchant or just a person on the street, be sure to ask his permission. You will be surprised how responsive people are.

13. Bad weather = great photo

Don't run away when it starts to rain or hail. These are excellent conditions for taking a good photo. Overcast and cloudy days are an opportunity to capture interesting patterns in the sky. Do not sit at home even when the weather seems non-flying.

14. Be ready to shoot even in the most unexpected moments.

It is not always possible to thoroughly prepare for shooting, and unexpected moments happen. Like, for example, this shot with a low-flying plane. Therefore, if you do not want to miss great shots, learn the hot keys of your phone. For example, Samsung smartphones have a Camera Quick Access option in the settings. And the new Galaxy S6 has built-in hotkeys, you just need to double-tap the Home button.

15. To get the best shots, go further than others.

The only way to discover beautiful places is to force yourself to explore. Do you want to get non-standard shots? Move away from crowded tourist areas.

In general, as Cole says, live a bright life, then great photos will appear themselves.

In the life of every person there are many events that you want to keep in memory for a long time. That is why we love photographing them so much. However, it often happens that our photos come out unsuccessful, and they are even embarrassing to print. In order for the photos to turn out beautiful, you need to master several important rules, the main of which are the golden ratio and composition.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of a camera (phone), but you should understand that this is just a tool in your hands. Think about why, being in the same place, people get different pictures? Photos can be so different that people from the outside might think that different places were photographed. It is clear that the matter is not only in the camera (phone), but also in the personal skills of the photographer. After all, if you know what a street shot and composition are, and also know a couple more rules, then you can take very beautiful photos that you will not be ashamed to show to others by posting them on social networks or hanging them on the wall.

Composition

If you are thinking about how to take a good photo, then the first thing you should master is the rules of composition. Composition is the harmonious arrangement of objects in a photograph. Thanks to her, the photo looks more holistic, and also acquires meaning.

In order to see the composition, you need:

• choose a suitable point for the frame (walk around and see how the object will look from different angles, because even a small shift can change the photo for the better);
• choose the correct arrangement of objects in space.

It rarely happens that a photo has a good composition from the very beginning, most often the photographer needs to create it himself. Every time you take a picture, pay attention to the composition, and then, after a certain time, you will be able to feel it automatically on a subconscious level.

This is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. To increase the level of perception of the composition, you need to master several fundamental rules:

1. Separation of the subject from the elements of the background.
2. Framing and perspective.
3. The balance of the composition of the frame.
4. Guide lines in the frame.
5. The rule of the "golden section".
6. Ease of composition.

Of course, these rules will not help you take a beautiful picture without a creative approach, so take them as guidelines. Below you will see a more detailed description of each of them.

Separating the subject from background elements

A photograph is a two-dimensional space, so in our perception, the foreground and background are combined together. Try to separate the background from the subject itself so that they overlap less. Pay attention to the fact that the object does not blend in color with the background. Choose a more neutral background. In order not to get ridiculous shots like those where a palm tree grows out of a person’s head, always pay attention to those objects that are behind, and just change the angle.

Framing and perspective

Cropping involves choosing the boundaries of the frame. For this purpose, you can use both objects located in the background, and those that are located in the frame itself. Cropping is very important, because it helps to give the image depth and additional focus on details. Thanks to this, the picture is more voluminous and lively. Let's say a photo of a boy running is cropped with a clearing line and side trees, so it looks more lively and voluminous. If this photo were cropped in such a way that only the boy and the line of the meadow remained on it, then it would turn out to be less interesting and "flat".

Frame composition balance

This is necessary for the picture to be harmonious. You can balance the composition with the help of another object (in the event that the additional object will not distract from the main one), the color components of the picture, shadows or the play of light. For this rule, you need to use your creative thinking.

Guide lines in the frame

Lines. They are always in the picture. Sometimes the lines are pronounced, an example is the road, tending into the distance, or the horizon. More often, lines are created by the objects themselves, located in a certain way in space, through which you can draw a conditionally straight (smooth) line or get an interesting geometric figure.

It can be used both to compose the plot of a photograph, to emphasize it, and to give harmony. A good example of a line that emphasizes and seems to point towards an object is a road leading to a building. Another example of a line that gives harmony to a photo is a directional sunbeam. Interesting photos are obtained when a line (more often a geometric figure) is used as a plot. For example, several people are put up as a figure. Flash mobs are often made in which a large number of people create a certain image.

The rule of the "golden section"

For the correct location of the object in the frame, the "golden section" rule is used. Its essence is to mentally impose a grid on the frame. The stack consists of three horizontal and vertical lines evenly spaced in space. Once you have drawn the frame visually, position the target object(s) along one of the grid lines or at grid nodes (where the lines intersect).

Example. Imagine a sailboat at sunset. If you place it right in the center, then the photo will be boring. If you apply the golden section rule, then the photo will immediately become more interesting, a view of the sunset beautifully reflected in the water will open.

Most often, a sunset located in the center will look ugly, as the photo will be visually divided into two parts, and the emphasis of the photo will also be incomprehensible.

If you are taking a picture of a static object, then take the frame not in the frontal, but at an angle, and also leave space in the direction where the object is directed. It is important that space is felt in front of the object. If you are photographing a person, then ask him to turn halfway towards you. If you are taking a photo of a building, then frame it so that the facade is not parallel to the plane of the photo, but is at some angle.

Simplicity of composition

Simplicity is important for photographing a particular subject. It lies in the fact that the subject occupies a dominant position. That is, when looking at a photograph, a person pays attention precisely to the object. For ease of composition, you need to be guided by three rules:

1. Choose one object, as otherwise the viewer's attention will be scattered, which may break the composition.
2. The subject must fill a large area of ​​the frame.
3. Choose the most simple background that does not contain distracting bright elements, thereby focusing attention on the object.

Example1. You want to capture the sunset. Then why would you include part of the bush in the picture?

Example 2. You want to rent a beautiful building. Then why would you turn on the part of the car that is in the parking lot?

Take a picture in such a way that the viewer can understand the purpose and meaning that was invested in it. Secondary parts should be brought into the frame in such a way as to complement it, and not distract from the main idea.

However, don't make the mistake of thinking that the frame's simplicity lies in the fact that it contains a single object! The essence of the simplicity of the composition is to highlight it. Thus, the viewer will pay attention first of all to the object itself, and only then to others that complement it.

Two tricks can be used to highlight:

1. Play with scale. Make the main object larger in relation to the secondary ones.
2. Shoot a specific subject.

Another secret is the location of the subject in the frame. Surely everyone has a photograph where he (she) stands against the background of the monument, and the position of the person is strictly in the middle of the frame. Such photographs are not interesting in the first place because it is not clear which of the objects is the main one. To figure out which photos are best to take, you should not place the object in the middle of the frame, this makes the photo boring. Try to move the subject away from the center to make the photo more lively and natural.

How to take a good photo so that the subject is located at the right point in it? Here we need a look into the future. For example, if you are shooting a moving subject, then try to free up space in front of it (in the direction of its movement).

Location selection

How to take a good photo? The above rules will help you. Often people worry about where the most beautiful shot will turn out. If you are just an amateur and are thinking about where to take good photos, then do not forget that we take pictures as a keepsake, capturing the pleasant moments of our lives. So don't worry about this issue. If you see a place you want to remember, then just take a photo!

The general rules listed above will help you figure out how to take good photos with your phone. This is relevant, since recently computers and cameras have been replaced by phones quite well.

In the question of how to improve the quality of a photo, various programs will help you. At the moment, there are a large number of programs and applications for processing and editing images. Rules for taking a good photo in Photoshop:

1. Darken the highlights and add light to the shadows.
2. Use vignettes and shadows.
3. Use the clarity and sharpness settings to understand.
4. Use filters.

So, we briefly decided how to make a good quality photo in Photoshop.

However, these are not all pressing issues. If you are thinking about how to take a good photo on your ava, then give preference to those pictures where your face is clearly visible, those where you are happy and beautiful.

In general, this is the most common question I get asked: “How to take a beautiful photo on your phone so that it looks like it was taken on camera?”. In this article I will say a few words about what makes a photo look “professional”, whether it is possible to take cool photos with a phone and whether it is worth it.

What makes photos look professional

I start every article on business photography with a recommendation to use the best camera you can afford. The better the original picture, the more options you have for processing and using the photo in the future. There are two most important factors that affect the quality of the photo you get:

optics (lens)

processor, camera "stuffing"

Yes, modern smartphone manufacturers talk a lot about the fact that their products are now entirely equipped with Carl Zeiss coated lenses and the coolest technologies are used. In general, this is true: now an average phone shoots better than some cameras 5-7 years ago. But the cameras are not far behind! Therefore, often, you can easily distinguish a photo taken with a phone from a frame taken by a professional camera. The problem is that, at the moment, it is physically impossible to embed a lens of such quality in a camera that would allow shooting on a phone and getting a professional picture quality.

But, as we said, the lens is only half the battle, it is responsible for what kind of picture your device “sees”. The second half of the success is how he will process this picture, turning it into a file. The more powerful the processor, the more believable the colors will be, the less noise, the higher the image quality. Let's be honest: this part is directly proportional to the "freshness" and price of the device, this applies to cameras and smartphones. Do not count on a miracle: you yourself understand that when shooting on the iPhone 4, you will not get pictures, as with the iPhone 7.

Is it worth buying the newest smartphone to take better photos?

If you were going to buy yourself the latest iPhone anyway, great! This is a really cool device with great camera capabilities. Personally my instagram consists almost entirely of photos from the phone. But if you look pragmatically, then for the amount you spend on this smartphone, you can buy a semi-professional camera with a good lens and take photos many times better than using a smartphone. Is it worth it to buy the latest phone just for the sake of taking pictures? - in my opinion, it is not worth it.

Of course, the phone is always at hand, you don’t need to deal with the settings in it, and you can process it right there: we agree that taking beautiful photos on the phone is easy and pleasant. If you just want to have a pretty Instagram, taking photos with your phone is enough. But if you need to photograph products for an online store or catalog, take professional photos for a blog, constantly shoot for social networks and in all these cases get good quality photos, shooting with a phone will not work. There is nothing sadder than photos on the phone in an online store (even if you just sell handmade items on the VKontakte page).

So is it possible to take beautiful photos on the phone?

But what if the phone is the only camera available to you, but you still need to take photos? It must be so. Here are some general rules for taking good photos with your phone:

Shoot only in daylight, the best place to shoot is near a window or on a balcony.

Use a reflector, with it you can highlight too dark shadows and make the photo brighter and lighter. The reflector does not have to be expensive and professional, a sheet of drawing paper or polystyrene is enough (I will talk about this in the next posts).

Keep a distance from the subject: as a rule, the lens of a smartphone is wide-angle. On the one hand, it allows you to capture more space in the frame, on the other hand, it greatly distorts objects in the foreground. It is better to take a picture from a greater distance, and then crop (crop) the photo.

Process photos before publishing: in modern devices there are enough opportunities to take a photo on your phone, if not perfect, then acceptable quality.