7 Phone photography tips you must know when shooting indoors

 As a photographer, you play everyday with light to create stunning images. And even if you are newbie to the world of shutterbugs, you don’t have to do much to capture some great images. Your mobile phone cameras are always there for you! They often give you as much quality as a real digital camera. Mobile photography has real advantages.

The coronavirus is still keeping people at home, and that means there are fewer chances to shoot outside. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative at home. Here are 7 tips which anyone can practice and create interesting images with minimal tools using your phone only.

 Please remember it’s not exactly the phone or the quality or resolution that really matters, what matters is how you use those equipments!

1. Holding the phone right

The most basic and important rule you must know to capture a good quality image is how to hold your phone right. Even though phone cameras have image stabilization, it’s generally not enough if your grip is shaky. People usually hold their phone with one hand, trying to take a picture with the other. This results in capturing a shaken image. You should hold the phone in both hands and hold arms with your elbows pointing towards your feet. Use your thumb or index finger to take the picture and that will help you shoot a sharp image.

Source: Focused collection 

2. Think of a good composition

Just like other photography, proper composition is fundamental when taking pictures with your phone. Composing an image means arranging elements within it in a way that suits the core idea or goal of your work best. Arranging elements can be done by actually moving the objects or subject. It is the most critical piece of gear you have indoors. Placing the subject in the left center of your photo is the perfect spot. Don’t forget that neither the horizon nor your subject should be centered. Put the horizon in the photo’s lower or occasionally upper third, and put the subject towards an edge. Use frames when you want to draw attention to a specific area of your image. It adds interest, balance and depth to your photos to make look more alive. And it is much easier to find or create frames inside your home.

Try to keep the frame look clean and simple & use reflections and shadows to add depth

Source: etsy.com

3. Balance your image using gridlines

One of the easiest ways to create balance in your image is the use of gridlines. Turning on the gridlines may help you a lot; it superimposes a series of lines on the screen of your Smartphone that are based on the “rule of thirds”. According to this theory, if you place points of interest in these intersections or along the lines, your photo will be more balanced, level and helps draw the viewer’s eye into the image and places more emphasis on the subject. It is very easy to switch it on as you just have to go to the “settings” and switch the “grid lines” option to “on”. 

Here's how you use grids 

4. Find or create a good lighting setup

Photography is all about capturing the light. Shooting indoors typically means there’s less light than outdoors. Take advantage of the sources of the natural light you can find, even after dark. Try to click pictures in manual mode while shooting indoors, so that you can balance the exposure. Keep the brightness a little higher to avoid graininess. Using your camera’s flash can improve a photo – but not always. If you wish to click sharp images with harsh shadows then your phone flash is the best option you could have indoors. The flash brings out details in the body of the subject. Flash has its place, but try to stick to environmental light when possible. And always make sure that you tap on the subject on your phone’s screen so the camera sets the proper exposure and focus. Small lighting changes can make a big difference in your final image. If you don’t have enough light sources, you can go to the settings and increase the ISO manually till you get the perfect shot.

Maintain distance between the light source(when pointed) and the subject

Always place the light out of the frame (sharp image with harsh shadow) 

5. Look for the perfect timing to shoot

While shooting in day time you need to know which way the sunlight is going to hit your home during different times of the day; this is crucial to shooting indoor photography. For example, a living room might get harsh light in the morning but is bathed in beautiful indirect light all afternoon. One of the simplest things you can do to increase the light is to head towards the nearest window. Positioning your subject by a window can give more than enough light for images, especially if photographing products or people.

Shot during the Golden hour

Evening shot

6. Set the focus

It is always better to set your camera’s focus manually. In order to take the picture indoors, manual focus is much more effective than autofocus in low-light and low-contrast conditions. Today’s smartphone cameras automatically find the subject and focus it, but not very picture you click has an obvious subject. While autofocus may be convenient in some situations, switching to manual focus can play a vital role in creating quality images. All you need is just to tap on the screen to adjust where you want your camera lens to focus. 

Eliminate elements diverting the attention 

Please never forget to tap on the screen! 

7. Always check the background

The background of your photo can either tell a story or simply fade away. If you want to put more emphasis on your subject, consider a simple background like a solid wall or curtains. There will be countless time where you want to isolate and emphasize a subject while eliminating distractions in the background. Many important characteristics of your subject are lost if the background is too noisy. Keep a balance between foreground, midground and background in order to emphasize the subject. You can even experiment using different backdrops in your image.

A balance between foreground, midground & background 

At last all I recommend you is to know your phone camera. Every smartphone camera is different, so learn your gear’s strength and weaknesses. Nothing is impossible anymore in mobile photography. So don’t be afraid to experiment and squeeze the maximum out of your phone. Always feel free to experiment and explore. Experimentation is the best way to get your most creative shot.