Taking Better Pictures From a Cell Phone

Since the combination of cell phones and digital cameras, those who own mobile phones have gone crazy capturing the world around them through their phones. No matter where you go or what you are doing, if something is going on, all you have to do is whip out your cell phone, take a picture, and you can share it with your family, friends and the world around you with just a click, send and text message away.

While most photographers do not take camera phone pictures seriously, there is a viable market out there for capturing moments that are not normally being followed. Everything from graduations, running into a celebrity or even a car accident can be captured just as quick as you can flip open your phone and snap a picture. There are ways you can improve the quality of these pictures, even if your camera phone is one of the lower end models.

General photography tips as well as cell phone specific ones can help you take better pictures. Each camera phone has its own pros and cons, reading the manual that came with your phone is the first step to learning how to use it properly. Once you know all that it can do and what it can not do, you can judge which situations will make for the best pictures and how to accommodate for situations that will not. Some camera phones include a flash, timers and other features to tweak photos. The Motorola Razr v3m, for example, will allow you to change your brightness levels depending on the light.

One of the primary rules of photography is to crop your subject closely. With a camera phone, often going undetected, you can get closer to subjects than with most digital cameras. These make for the best type of pictures, they are personal, and they have the most details. Make sure to hold your phone steady. If you are on the go, you can use two hands like you would on a digital camera, but it often is harder to steady your phone than a camera. By taking your time, you will get yourself a crisper photo, something that generally gets thrown to the wayside when using a camera to take pictures.

You will want to hold your phone in place for a few seconds after taking the picture, because it takes the camera phone longer to process the picture than a standard digital camera; if you move, it will blur your photo, and you will have lost the moment. Most camera phone users make this mistake often, because they do not realize that the phone reacts much slower. Generally, it takes three to five seconds for the camera phone to actually "snap" the photo, and in those few seconds, if you move, it will ruin the picture. Holding the phone with two hands, or steadying the portion where the lens is will be your best combat against moving too much when taking a picture.

What other things affect taking a better picture?

Lighting is always an important factor. Most digital cameras allow you to auto-compensate for lighting, whereas only some camera phones allow you to do so and that is only if you remember to change the settings to do it. If your camera phone is on the lower end, you will want to make sure your subject is well-lit. You will want to pay attention to angles, depth and shadows that might mess with the contrast of your photo if you are outside, and if you are inside, you will want to make sure you have a good light source that does not compromise the integrity of your subject.

More advanced camera phones will come with what is known as a night mode feature. This allows you to take pictures in low light situations and outside during the night. If it comes with your camera, you can take some amazing shots where even some of the better digital cameras fail. Follow the instructions in your owner's manual if your camera phone does come with this feature. It will take some practice to get the hang of taking pictures in the dark, but it will be more than worth it when you see the outcome.

Some of the more camera phone specific tips include turning the shutter sound off. You do not want people knowing you are taking pictures in many cases, and the annoying shutter sounds will alert them to the fact. Some camera phones come with built-in digital zoom features, and you should avoid them at all costs. They generally result in poor picture quality, as your phone is not "really" zooming, and it can mean the difference between a good shot and a bad shot.

Taking good pictures on your camera phone is up to you. It may take a little more work, but depending on the situation, it just may be worth your while. You can capture priceless moments at home, work, at the bar or just cruising in your car. Every picture you take can be better the more you learn about how your particular camera phone works.