Answer
How do I take better photos with my phone?
Lock exposure on the subject, use the 2x or 3x lens for portraits (avoids wide-angle distortion), turn off the flash and use a window instead, and compose with the rule of thirds grid enabled.
The quick wins
- Tap to focus and lock exposure — drag the brightness slider down for moody shots, up for bright
- Use the right lens — wide-angle distorts faces; 2x or 3x for any portrait
- Light from the side or behind, not above — overhead light creates harsh shadows
- Turn on the grid — straight horizons and rule-of-thirds composition
- Avoid digital zoom — walk closer instead
- Shoot in burst for moving subjects — pick the sharpest later
- Edit in the native Photos app — bump shadows, drop highlights, increase brilliance
What pros do differently
- Shoot RAW (DNG on iPhone, Pro mode on Android)
- Edit in Lightroom Mobile
- Use a small tripod and the 2-second timer for sharpness
- Wait for golden hour (sunrise/sunset) for outdoor shots
The most underrated trick
Clean the lens. A smudge from your face oils softens everything. Wipe with a microfiber cloth before any important shot.
More answers
- What is the best portrait lens focal length on a crop sensor?
- 85mm vs 50mm for portraits: which should you buy first?
- What is lens compression, and do long lenses really flatten faces?
- Is an f/1.2 lens worth it over f/1.8 for portraits?
- Why does bokeh look different between lenses at the same aperture?
- Pancake vs Fresnel lenses in VR headsets: what is the real difference?
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