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5 ways to take better photos with your cell phone

by | Apr 24, 2019 | LinkedIn photo, Personal branding, Social Media

5 ways to take better photos with your cell phone

iPhone Photography – Let’s Get More Advanced.  In a previous blog article, we talked about the basics of shooting a great photo with your iPhone. Today, let’s experiment with some more fun modes the iPhone offers.

  1. Time It Right. Have you ever tried the self-timer on your iPhone? You might think it’s only for those group selfies (well, yes sometimes) but it actually has many useful functions. For one, it can help you capture any shot when you’re by yourself. Set your iPhone up for your desired shot, pick the number of seconds you need, and go for it! Play around with some action shots! Using the timer function also gives the camera the ability to take the photo without being touched – therefor avoiding any opportunity of blur or shakiness in the picture.

     

  2. (Portrait) Picture Perfect. Our iPhones come with a variety of different modes. One of our favorites is the portrait mode, obviously not perfect for true portrait photography but you can still get some nice photos. The mode automatically focus’ in on your main subject while simultaneously blurring out the background for you. You’ll notice the photo will look much more zoomed in than normal, forcing you to move back a little bit farther than you expected, but what you’re going to be able to capture. We find it’s the perfect function for candid photography as well!

  3. Burst! While we’re on the topic of the different modes, of course we have to talk about the iPhones burst feature. This mode continuously takes ten photos each second. Particularly helpful when taking photos with movement, this feature allows you to capture precise movement. We know from experience trying to capture exactly the right moment gets stressful, but not anymore! All you need to do in order to activate burst mode is to hold down the shutter button.

     

  4. Time-Lapse. One of our favorites is the time lapse, because it’s just purely an awesome feature. One of the modes at the bottom of the camera app, simply open it, set your camera where you want it and let it run. Time-lapse is a style where the pictures are taken at a much slower frequency. You are then given the option to “play it back” at a normal speed – making the video look as if time were moving quickly.

     

  5. Take it Live! Have you ever tried using the camera in live photo mode? It looks and feels as if you are simply capturing one moment, in reality the camera is recording not only the shot but the 1.5 seconds before the shot. It is capturing both the video and the audio.  This is perfect as you can chooes the frame you want for the perfect shot.

iPhotography: Let’s Get Candid

Have you ever tried taking a Portrait shot on your iPhone? Headshots and business shots are incredible tools.  But sometimes for a simple facebook post or family shot it would be nice to be able to take the best photo possible with cell phone..

Find Aesthetic. In today’s world, almost everywhere you go will provide an artsy background for the perfect candid portrait shot. Whether it’s a restaurant, a cute street, or even that cozy nook of your favorite coffee shop, our guess – it’ll make a great backdrop. The point of your candid is to capture a true moment in your life. Unlike a professional headshot, don’t spend time scouting the perfect background – make wherever you are work!

 Change the Perspective. When I say this, I don’t mean overwhelm your subject with a million shots. Getting a good candid is all about showing the best of your subject.  Of course matching the quality of a professional photoshoot is not the goal or even possible with a cell phone.  That perfect look and expression comes from having a professional expression coach during a professional headshot photoshoot.   But you usually don’t have a professional photographer with you 24/7 or when you take the kids to Kennywood.   Candid’s are a great place to show different perspectives. Rather than having your subject straight in front of the camera as you might usually do, experiment with different angles. The photo you capture should show perspective – either theirs on the world, or how the world views them. 

 Get Comfortable. Being the subject in a photo can be hard! Particularly if you’re not used to it. Candid’s are a great way to help a subject get not only comfortably but confident. Oftentimes photographers will start a shoot – particularly a more serious business shoot – with some candids to help loosen up a bit. Your job behind the Iphone is to not miss any of those beautiful impromptu moments.

 Make It a Portrait. We found that using the portrait mode on your iPhone gets a great candid. It has a beautiful dramatic feature where it blurs out the background. This mode will also force you to back up a little bit, because of how intensely it focuses up close. Backing up for the photo will not only make you think a little extra about your composition, but it will also put some distance between you and your subject. This may just help your family member or friends feel more natural and comfortable.

 

jen worley photographer

Jen Barker Worley Photography
555 Grant Street, Suite 337 Offices at the William Penn Pittsburgh, PA 15219

https://jenworley.com
412-370-4520

jenworleyphotography

539 3,239

Jen Barker Worley Photography specializes in headshot and personal branding photography in the Pittsburgh area. Downtown Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Headshots

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Some people like the whole “before and after” thing. (And of course I would never do this with a client photo.). But I don’t mind sharing mine, cause “this is me.” I own my age (45).My vision for whoever I use as retoucher is to keep things real but “enhanced.” Every image of every person we see in Vogue, GQ, has had extensive skin retouching done. Beautiful pores. Even texture. We see it so much that we think that all these people have flawless skin… they don’t. That’s where the amazing retoucher’s come in. They get paid good money to do this well and fast.Personally, I like my photo to be a little more gritty realism. But when your Retoucher is your husband, you kinda lose that battle.After he does his skin magic, there’s something I need to do to every single photo of mine. A flaw that is getting more pronounced with age. My left eye (on the right of the photo) has a heavy lid. Which then makes that eye look dead, because the catchlight doesn’t show. I have a super simple fix to bump that eyelid back up a bit and fix that catchlight.And I figured, let’s enhance the Mickey face on the Watch. Because why not. #pittsburghheadshots #retouching @dan_jenworleyphotography

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Sep 22

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Instagram post 17904851072176826 Some people like the whole “before and after” thing. (And of course I would never do this with a client photo.). But I don’t mind sharing mine, cause “this is me.” I own my age (45).My vision for whoever I use as retoucher is to keep things real but “enhanced.” Every image of every person we see in Vogue, GQ, has had extensive skin retouching done. Beautiful pores. Even texture. We see it so much that we think that all these people have flawless skin… they don’t. That’s where the amazing retoucher’s come in. They get paid good money to do this well and fast.Personally, I like my photo to be a little more gritty realism. But when your Retoucher is your husband, you kinda lose that battle.After he does his skin magic, there’s something I need to do to every single photo of mine. A flaw that is getting more pronounced with age. My left eye (on the right of the photo) has a heavy lid. Which then makes that eye look dead, because the catchlight doesn’t show. I have a super simple fix to bump that eyelid back up a bit and fix that catchlight.And I figured, let’s enhance the Mickey face on the Watch. Because why not. #pittsburghheadshots #retouching @dan_jenworleyphotography

Some people like the whole “before and after” thing. (And of course I would never do this with a client photo.). But I don’t mind sharing mine, cause “this is me.” I own my age (45). My vision for whoever I use as retoucher is to keep things real but “enhanced.” Every image of every person we see in Vogue, GQ, has had extensive skin retouching done. Beautiful pores. Even texture. We see it so much that we think that all these people have flawless skin… they don’t. That’s where the amazing retoucher’s come in. They get paid good money to do this well and fast. Personally, I like my photo to be a little more gritty realism. But when your Retoucher is your husband, you kinda lose that battle. After he does his skin magic, there’s something I need to do to every single photo of mine. A flaw that is getting more pronounced with age. My left eye (on the right of the photo) has a heavy lid. Which then makes that eye look dead, because the catchlight doesn’t show. I have a super simple fix to bump that eyelid back up a bit and fix that catchlight. And I figured, let’s enhance the Mickey face on the Watch. Because why not. #pittsburghheadshots #retouching @dan_jenworleyphotography ...

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jenworleyphotography

Working on making gifs for my IG feed, instead of multiple stills. You know, because IG says they are all about videos now.Looking for easy ways to make gifs, convert for IG, and then schedule. Should I make these as reels? Can I post these as reels if I’m importing from GIPHY? Anyone have any input, I’m all ears. There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors.#reels @giphy

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Aug 16

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Instagram post 17979563497402204 Working on making gifs for my IG feed, instead of multiple stills. You know, because IG says they are all about videos now.Looking for easy ways to make gifs, convert for IG, and then schedule. Should I make these as reels? Can I post these as reels if I’m importing from GIPHY? Anyone have any input, I’m all ears. There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors.#reels @giphy

Working on making gifs for my IG feed, instead of multiple stills. You know, because IG says they are all about videos now. Looking for easy ways to make gifs, convert for IG, and then schedule. Should I make these as reels? Can I post these as reels if I’m importing from GIPHY? Anyone have any input, I’m all ears. There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. #reels @giphy ...

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jenworleyphotography

Marisa Corona, Pittsburgh Business Times' 30 Under 30 honoree, is a social media and digital marketer who has managed and built award-winning digital marketing content strategies for over 30 brands and organizations — from local businesses to nonprofits to health care to B2B and the world’s largest consumer packaged goods brands.

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Jul 2

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Instagram post 18125680600212752 Marisa Corona, Pittsburgh Business Times' 30 Under 30 honoree, is a social media and digital marketer who has managed and built award-winning digital marketing content strategies for over 30 brands and organizations — from local businesses to nonprofits to health care to B2B and the world’s largest consumer packaged goods brands.

Marisa Corona, Pittsburgh Business Times' 30 Under 30 honoree, is a social media and digital marketer who has managed and built award-winning digital marketing content strategies for over 30 brands and organizations — from local businesses to nonprofits to health care to B2B and the world’s largest consumer packaged goods brands. ...

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jenworleyphotography

Had the privilege of taking Mr. Carnegie’s photo this week. But he was a bit difficult.Old heavy ornate frame. He was under glass. In the corner of two small hallways. And I couldn’t control the lighting in the office- some stay on permanently.I thought I came prepared. Brought a large felt backdrop to block the light and the reflections it cast. But it wasn’t solid enough. Couldn’t completely block the light from the doorway on the same plain as the artwork, which then illuminated my tripod and me, as you can see in the glass.So I started playing around with cardboard that was laying around, which served the dual purpose of further blocking the diffused light behind the camera, and stopping the camera, tripod, and me reflecting off the glass.But it wasn’t big enough. And it took forever, as my shutter speed was at 25 seconds. So Abby, who was the project leader doubling as my assistant (thank you Abby!) found a roll of Kraft paper, which we unfurled, both holding an end to cover a larger area… it was barely long enough to cover the width, so perfect!My psd file comprised of five images all layers then masked out to get me what I needed, and then I had to clone out my lens which was still to the left of Andy’s chin.Took about an hour on location, and then maybe 20-30 minutes in post. But still less work (and risk!) than taking it off the wall, and taking it out of glass.#carnegie #carnegieheros #pittsburgh #carnegieherofund

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Jun 10

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Instagram post 17998829323337729 Had the privilege of taking Mr. Carnegie’s photo this week. But he was a bit difficult.Old heavy ornate frame. He was under glass. In the corner of two small hallways. And I couldn’t control the lighting in the office- some stay on permanently.I thought I came prepared. Brought a large felt backdrop to block the light and the reflections it cast. But it wasn’t solid enough. Couldn’t completely block the light from the doorway on the same plain as the artwork, which then illuminated my tripod and me, as you can see in the glass.So I started playing around with cardboard that was laying around, which served the dual purpose of further blocking the diffused light behind the camera, and stopping the camera, tripod, and me reflecting off the glass.But it wasn’t big enough. And it took forever, as my shutter speed was at 25 seconds. So Abby, who was the project leader doubling as my assistant (thank you Abby!) found a roll of Kraft paper, which we unfurled, both holding an end to cover a larger area… it was barely long enough to cover the width, so perfect!My psd file comprised of five images all layers then masked out to get me what I needed, and then I had to clone out my lens which was still to the left of Andy’s chin.Took about an hour on location, and then maybe 20-30 minutes in post. But still less work (and risk!) than taking it off the wall, and taking it out of glass.#carnegie #carnegieheros #pittsburgh #carnegieherofund

Had the privilege of taking Mr. Carnegie’s photo this week. But he was a bit difficult. Old heavy ornate frame. He was under glass. In the corner of two small hallways. And I couldn’t control the lighting in the office- some stay on permanently. I thought I came prepared. Brought a large felt backdrop to block the light and the reflections it cast. But it wasn’t solid enough. Couldn’t completely block the light from the doorway on the same plain as the artwork, which then illuminated my tripod and me, as you can see in the glass. So I started playing around with cardboard that was laying around, which served the dual purpose of further blocking the diffused light behind the camera, and stopping the camera, tripod, and me reflecting off the glass. But it wasn’t big enough. And it took forever, as my shutter speed was at 25 seconds. So Abby, who was the project leader doubling as my assistant (thank you Abby!) found a roll of Kraft paper, which we unfurled, both holding an end to cover a larger area… it was barely long enough to cover the width, so perfect! My psd file comprised of five images all layers then masked out to get me what I needed, and then I had to clone out my lens which was still to the left of Andy’s chin. Took about an hour on location, and then maybe 20-30 minutes in post. But still less work (and risk!) than taking it off the wall, and taking it out of glass. #carnegie #carnegieheros #pittsburgh #carnegieherofund ...

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