How to Say “Cheese” Without Spending Too Much of It

You don’t need an expensive camera to capture beautiful memories. These tips will help you take great photos right from your smartphone.

Story by John Martin

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” But is it worth a thousand dollars?

A quick Google search for photography equipment might give you the impression that you need to spend a lot of money to take great family photos. But before you break the bank on what may become the newest dust collector for the corner of your closet, why not first learn how to take the best possible pictures with the camera you currently have — including the one in your smartphone!

These simple photography tips and tricks can help make your photos as beautiful as the memories you’re capturing:

Light is Everything

Take a moment to observe how the light interacts with different objects in your environment. Pay attention to the shadows. Is the light creating harsh, straight shadows, or are they softer? At midday, direct sunlight will create harsh, dark shadows that can cover up half of a person’s face.

During golden hour — the hour right after sunrise and the hour right before sunset — the atmosphere breaks up that light, which diffuses it to project a soft glow. Golden hour is a great time to take pictures!

Remember the Rule

You can compose your shot in many ways, but the most tried-and-true approach is using the rule of thirds. This method lines up the subject with the bottom and top thirds of the photo.

Most smartphones will display a 3x3 grid when cropping a previously taken photo, making it easier to adjust it to your liking. If you’re going for a shot with the rule of thirds, it’s a good idea to visualize the grid as you take the photo so you don’t have to crop as much of your image to fine-tune it.

Know Those Camera Settings

Smartphone cameras will automatically adjust your camera settings, but it’s good to know what tools you have at your disposal. Tapping anywhere on your screen will prioritize that subject and adjust the exposure and focus accordingly. If you think the photo is too bright or dark, you can adjust it manually by tapping the screen and moving the brightness symbol up and down before taking the shot.

Remember, even the best cameras don’t measure up to the human eye. It may not be possible to capture your favorite memories perfectly, but following these tips can help get you closer!

Personal Finance