Tips for Better iPhone Photography

I suppose it should come as no surprise that shooting photos for National Geographic requires carrying around an assortment of heavy DSLR cameras. Hired to produce some of the best photos in the world, Geographic photographers remain competitive, in part, by using the best equipment available. In my case, I waited for the third and fourth generations of the iPhone to be released before I even started to think about using them as a photographic tool. The tips listed below will improve your photography regardless of which camera phone operating system you’re using: Android, iPhone OS, or Windows 7. There are common advantages and pitfalls that affect all of these new devices, image quality being the first. With each new launch, their dynamic range, form factor, and ability to shoot in low light improve. At the same time, their zoom capabilities remain limited. I always felt that if I took the creative effort to produce a beautiful photo, the quality should be good enough to sell to the top photo agencies, like Geographic’s Image Collection. Today, we’re getting much closer to having camera phones that allow us to achieve this technical benchmark. But when do you decide to shoot with an iPhone camera instead of with a bulky and expensive DSLR? And what to do with the seemingly endless supply of photography apps that help to process and manipulate your iPhone photos? They all look like fun, and some can create interesting effects, but first let’s step back and review some essential photo ideas and techniques that will improve your overall iPhone photography. Always Have Your iPhone With You There’s an adage, “The best camera to have is the one that’s with you all the time.” This is what matters, and because the camera phone serves multiple purposes, it’s always there with you to capture the photo-worthy moments in your life—especially the unexpected ones. Every time you leave home, it’s easy to remember your phone. This isn’t always the case with a regular camera. Even though the quality of the lens glass on camera phones is still somewhat limited, having a camera with you at all times enables you to take and then share your photos on social media sites and with close friends and family. The images you capture with your camera phone can be very intimate and moving. This in itself is something marvelous. Because my iPhone is always by my side, it was easy for me to take this close-up of Sisse Brimberg, my wife, washing her hair in our hotel room in Brussels, Belgium. It amazes me how close you can get with this camera. --Cotton Coulson Get more photo tips »

Use Two Hands for Stability Whether I’m shooting in portrait or landscape mode, I like to hold the iPhone with my left hand and release the shutter with my right thumb. I recently learned that the camera shutter isn’t released until you take your thumb off the shutter button on the touch screen. Try gently releasing the button and see for yourself if that doesn’t work for you. For me, it’s made all the difference, especially when shooting indoors in low and mixed lighting conditions. Always looking for interesting patterns and light, I noticed this hand sticking up in a store window while we were teaching a National Geographic photo workshop in Arles, France. It's a good example of how well the camera performs in low and mixed light. --Cotton Coulson

Avoid Using the Digital Zoom Box I really don’t like to use the digital zoom feature, which activates when you tap the screen to focus, bringing a blue square onto the display that also adjusts the exposure and white balance. Sometimes I’ll use it for capturing text or a reference shot, but for fine photography on the iPhone I tend to shoot with the lens at its widest angle of view. This helps me think more about composition and keeps the camera steady. The greater the zoom, the more likely that camera shake will cause your photos to lack sharpness. Also, avoid using the camera to shoot high-speed action, sports, and wildlife. Let’s face it, camera phones were never designed to compete with higher-end DSLR cameras. Use it for what it's good for—capturing the details of your life. And don’t be afraid to get in close. Close-ups of everyday objects, like this leaf of Swiss chard shot in a French marketplace in Arles, always intrigue me. The sunshine bouncing from below highlights the veins in the leaf. --Cotton Coulson Get more photo tips »

Keep Compositions Simple When shooting with your iPhone, always look for easily readable patterns. Everything in the image should contribute to the mood and emotion you want to convey. Pattern repetition creates a rhythm that the eyes like to follow. Remember that photos sent to other phones will be viewed small—another reason to keep the image simple and clean. I took this photo, with its simple pattern of cups and saucers, in a small restaurant in the Aland Islands, between Sweden and Finland. --Cotton Coulson

Remember That Light Is Key, Part I Even when shooting with your iPhone, the quality of light can determine the success of a photo. When shooting portraits, avoid sunny and direct light on faces, which can create harsh shadows (and a lot of squinting). Shooting in bad storms can always give interesting results, but my favourite light is bright overcast, open shadow, or even a bit of fog. For technical reasons, the small sensor in the iPhone will handle this light best. While waiting her turn to perform for tourists in La Paz, Mexico, this beautiful young dancer allowed me to take her portrait. Finding the right place to shoot, out of the direct sunlight, really helps her face look as beautiful as it is. --Cotton Coulson

Remember That Light Is Key, Part II In contrast, this picture was taken early in the morning, during a snowstorm. We’re lucky to have the ability to visit my family’s house on Cape Cod, and I like to go during the off-season. I usually wake up early for the light, and on this morning I saw the snow falling and the warm kitchen light glowing from inside. --Cotton Coulson

Look Out for Good Reflections Reflections are one of my favorite visual themes. You see them everywhere you go, in water puddles, windows, mirrors, and shiny objects. In this photo taken in Arles, France, the rainwater sitting on top of the blue-painted table creates a different type of perspective and landscape. Of course, one is always mesmerised by the light in southern France, especially in Arles, where we teach our National Geographic photo workshops. The reflection on this picnic table outside our balcony door helped to accentuate the blue and yellow hues associated with Provence. --Cotton Coulson

Look for People or Objects to Create Sense of Scale It’s always good to try to include a person or object in your scene to give a sense of scale. For this photo, my wife and professional photo partner, Sisse Brimberg, stood between the desert rocks in Baja California to show how large they are. I’m always looking out for silhouette forms to create dynamic images. --Cotton Coulson

Keep Your iPhone Dry I’ve already lost one iPhone to a downpour, so I would advise always keeping it protected from water and dust. Last summer in Visby, Sweden, I saw this rainstorm arriving on the horizon. I made sure to take my photos before the drops began to fall. Today I carry my iPhone in a waterproof SealLine case, but any reliable, waterproof carrying case will suffice. --Cotton Coulson

Look for New and Exciting Angles When I teach photo workshops, I always stress the importance of shooting from unique angles and perspectives. This is no less important when you’re shooting with an iPhone. Get high, get low, and always try to find a fresh angle. While visiting the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, I saw a very dynamic motif created by shoppers going up and down the store’s translucent staircase. When you see a situation like this, try also shooting a short film with your iPhone and editing it with iMovie. --Cotton Coulson

When Shooting Portraits, Look for Soft Light We all want to shoot portraits of those we care about, and the iPhone is a great tool for this. Because of its size, it’s not as intimidating as a large camera or lens, which often causes subjects to freeze. Keep in mind that, for portraits, light from a window will provide a soft and pleasing look. Rembrandt lighting—using the light streaming in from a window as the main source—creates a natural look and a more comfortable subject. Also, don’t settle for one shot. Instead, get close with the camera, talk with your subject as you compose, and get the expression just right. This is a portrait I took recently of a good friend in a small cafe in Copenhagen. The soft window light is coming in from the right. --Cotton Coulson

Look for Abstract Shots and Humour Some of my favourite photographs are of the quirky street art encountered when exploring new locations. Look for offbeat perspectives that can include humour, shadows, and reflections. It’s so much fun to have a camera in your pocket, especially when strolling down a street in a new travel location. You just never know what’s going to pop up in front of you. This photo was taken in Arles, France, during an art festival, when many sections of the old town were decorated with artists' work. --Cotton Coulson