Okay, let’s be honest. Instagram has become saturated with bloggers who appear to have a personal photographer following them around. Now, while I would love to live that life, that’s just not realistic. And honestly, who’s going to carry around their nikon with them every step of the way? Not me. That’s why I’ve come to rely on my iPhone.
If you scroll through my Instagram, you will notice that majority of my pictures were taken with my iPhone. Not only is it easier because it’s always on me but you’d be surprised at just how many good pictures you can actually take. So I figured I’d put together a list of tips on how I take most of my Instagram photos using my iPhone 8+.
Use portrait mode
So portrait mode is something that’s completely new to me. Before I had the iPhone 8+, I didn’t have portrait mode. And it’s something I’m still getting used to. But if the lighting is right and you’ve got the right background, it’s going to look pretty damn close to a professional picture. Just look at this picture Adam snapped of me outside around sunset.
Focus on lighting
Have you ever tried to take a photo with artificial light and it looks a bit yellow and everything looks a bit dull? Yeah, it’s not cute. This is why, no matter which iPhone you have, you should try to use natural lighting. Any type of window throughout the house will be the perfect spot to set up shop.
Try not to zoom
One thing that really differentiates an iPhone photo to a professional camera is resolution. While phone cameras are only getting better, they will never quite be the same. Have you ever noticed that as you zoomed in on your phone, the image only became grainier? One thing to help with resolution is to avoid zooming. Rather than zoom, try to move closer to your subject.
Use the back camera
Typically the back camera is higher quality than the front. For example, with the iPhone 8+, there is a 12 megapixel wide angel rear camera and a 7 megapixel front camera. So unless you’re trying to get a cute selfie, the front camera isn’t needed too much. Here’s an example of a picture that I took in Joshua Tree with my rear camera.
Don’t use flash
I feel like this one is pretty common sense but hey, you never know. If you’re listening to any of my tips, you won’t need flash because you’re using natural lighting. The only time flash is needed is when you’re taking a group picture of girls night. And even then, I hate it.
Take as many pictures as you can
So this may not technically be a tip but I know that when I am out and traveling, I take pictures of anything and everything that catches my eye. Now, this doesn’t mean that I post half of them. Half of them don’t match the “theme” I’ve got going on my Instagram but I take them and edit them anyways because you’d be surprised at how things turn out once they are edited a bit (just like when you’re using a DSLR)
Edit them all the same
This tip is more for your Instagram but it’s important. Humans are very visual individuals and our eyes are naturally drawn to accounts that have an overall theme going on. I’ve had my Instagram for years now and I’m still trying to figure out my theme. For some, it’s easy. For most, it’s not. Having to take photos of things that are just white seems like it’d be pretty boring if you ask me. But one thing to help keep up a theme is editing all of your pictures using the same filters. For example, I edit all of mine with VSCO cam filter M5. You just have to think about what kind of look you are going for and play around with different filters.
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