How to Take Better Photos With Your Phone

You do not need an expensive camera to take nice photos. The phone in your pocket can take pictures that look as good as what a professional camera took ten years ago — if you pay attention to a few simple things. The biggest differences between a snapshot and a picture your grandkids will want printed are light, steadiness, and taking a moment to frame the shot.

Light is the single most important thing. A face lit by a window in the morning looks soft and flattering. A face lit by a bright overhead light looks harsh. Try to put the sun or window behind you as the photographer — not behind the person you are photographing, which makes them a dark silhouette. Outdoors on a cloudy day is the best light of all because clouds spread the sun into a giant softbox.

Steadiness is the second biggest thing. When you press the shutter, the phone is still recording for a split second. If you move, everything blurs. Hold the phone with both hands, brace your elbows against your body, breathe out, then press. Better yet, rest the phone on a table, a railing, or use a small tripod.

Framing is about what is in the picture. Before pressing the button, look at all four edges of the screen. Is there a trash can in the corner? A telephone pole growing out of your grandson's head? Move a step left or right to clean it up. The "rule of thirds" also helps: imagine a tic-tac-toe grid on the screen and put the important thing where two lines cross, not dead center.

A few built-in features make a huge difference. Portrait Mode (on newer iPhones and Androids) blurs the background behind a person, making them look like a professional portrait. Night Mode brightens dark rooms automatically. Live Photos (iPhone) and Motion Photos (Android) record a second or two of video, which you can later choose a better still frame from.