Top 10 Tips for Taking The Best Pictures with Your Camera Phone

Adapted by:  • Edited by: Rhonda Callow
Updated Mar 22, 2011
• Related Guides: N95 | Nokia

Get the most out of your camera phone. Here are ten ways to make sure your pictures turn out excellent when you're on the go and taking photos with your camera phone.

1. Treat it Like a Camera

Your phone is a camera and you should treat it like one. Learn the ins and outs of how to maximize the camera’s performance. Just like any other device, you want to know what it can and can’t do. Look at the instruction book to see what features your camera phone has. Most camera phones are designed to be easy to use and their functionality is straightforward. However, there may be something you did not know about the camera, whether it has the ability to set white balance or shutter speed, a timer, or another function would be good to know about.

2. Hold the Camera Phone Still

Nokia Camera Phone on Tripod
click to enlarge
For the best chance at getting a clear picture and avoiding a blurry photo, hold the camera still until you see the image appear on your screen. Review the photo by zooming in to ensure that blurring is at a minimum. Depending on the lighting situation where you are shooting, hand-holding the camera may not be adequate. In this case, you can find something stable to set the camera on, and then set the shutter release timer, if you have one. Another option is to get an adapter that allows you to mount a camera phone on a tripod. These work well and give you valuable, needed support.

3. Light Your Subject

Even if your phone has a flash, it is likely not powerful enough to overcome a dark environment. Most camera phones are not sensitive enough to shoot in low-light situations. Lighting your subject is an essential way to ensure your picture comes out well. You do not need a high-end set of studio lights for this. Just turn on some lamps or overhead lights, whatever you normally use to light the room. You may need to move the lights closer to your subject to get a good photo. Experiment with different lighting positions and see what kind of results you get.

4. Don’t Use Digital Zoom

Avoid using too much zoom. Most camera phones use digital zoom, which simply enlarges a portion of the photo, thereby reducing the quality of the photo. A select few camera phones have optical zooms, which entail the glass elements in the lens moving back and forth. One way to tell which type of zoom you have is to listen to your camera very closely as you zoom. If you hear a tiny motor working, you have an optical zoom. More than likely your zoom is digital, though. You can also tell by looking in the paperwork and manual that came with your phone.

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