How Big Can You Print iPhone Photos?

The first question you probably ask when printing iPhone photos is: “How big can I print my pictures?”

This all depends on the quality that you want to achieve, e.g. excellent, good or fair quality. The table below shows the maximum sizes that you can print using these three different standards of quality.

As you can see, the higher quality the print, the smaller it needs to be. And the larger you print your photos, the poorer the image quality will become.

Why? Because a digital photo is made up of millions of tiny pixels (individual squares of color that make up the complete image).

As you increase the size of the print, you also increase the size of the pixels. When the pixels become too big, your picture will appear pixelated. Instead of a smooth and sharp image, it will look fuzzy because the blocky pixels are too large.

So the smaller you print your photo, the sharper, smoother and better quality it will look. The larger you print your photo, the more compromises you have to make in terms of image quality.

More Pixels Means Bigger Prints

The amount of pixels in your photo determines how big you can print at high quality. The more pixels your image contains, the bigger you’ll be able to print without it becoming pixelated and fuzzy.

In the table above there are two columns of print sizes, depending on the iPhone model that you’re using. This is because the pixel count of the newer iPhones is different from the older models.

The iPhone 4s, 5, 5s, 6 and 6 Plus all have an 8 megapixel camera, which means that your photo contains 8 million pixels.

The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, and the iPhone X, XR, XS Max camera, and iPhone XS camera all have a 12 megapixel camera, which means your photo contains 12 million pixels.

An increase from 8 megapixels to 12 megapixels is huge – the image is 50% larger! So if you have a 6s, 6s Plus, 7 or 7 Plus you’ll be able to print iPhone photos much larger before you start to see the image quality degrade.

I print my photos on canvases, postcards, notecards, etc. and display or sell them in art shows, galleries, museums, fairs and boutiques.

Having a 12 megapixel iPhone camera allows me to print large, high quality prints that are perfect for displaying and selling.

What Quality Print Do You Need?

The type of print you’re creating will usually determine the quality that you’ll want to print at. There are two things to consider: How important is image quality? And at what distance will this photo be viewed from?

For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, quality is extremely important. Your clients will expect extremely high quality prints and these prints will usually be viewed at a close distance in a wedding album. Therefore, it’s advisable not to print them too big.

If you’re printing some family snapshots to hang on your wall or stick on your fridge, you might be prepared to accept a slightly lower level of quality so that you can get bigger prints. Also, these pictures will usually be viewed from a distance of a few feet, so you probably won’t notice any small quality issues.

If you want to print a really large photo (such as a canvas to hang on your wall like the one shown above) you’ll have to print at an even lower quality. However, this kind of picture is usually viewed from a distance, and the further away you’re standing from the picture, the less you’ll notice any issues with quality.

So while you always want the best quality print possible, a larger, lower quality print can actually look fine as long as you’re not viewing it close up.

Understanding PPI (Pixels Per Inch)

When you print a photo, it will be printed at a certain PPI (pixels per inch), e.g. 300 PPI, 200 PPI, 150 PPI, etc. You’ll often see these figures when printing your own photos or when sending your photos off to be printed. But what exactly does this mean for you?

The more pixels you pack into an inch of your print (a high PPI), the smaller the pixels will need to be to fit into that space. This results in a smaller overall print size, but it will be high quality because the pixels are small.

If you print with a very low PPI, the pixels need to be much larger to fill each inch of the photo. This results in a larger overall print size which will be poorer quality (remember, large pixels make the picture look fuzzy).

So the higher the PPI, the smaller the print will be, and the better quality it will appear. The lower the PPI, the larger the print will be, and the poorer quality it will appear.

Here’s a more detailed look at the information for maximum print sizes at different quality settings, including the PPI (pixels per inch) values that produce different quality prints.

So if you have a 12 megapixel iPhone and you want an excellent quality professional-looking print at 300 PPI, the biggest you can print your photo is 14.29 inches by 9.49 inches. But if you’re willing to print at 150 PPI, you’ll be able to have a much larger photo.

If you’re interested in how to calculate these sizes, you simply divide the image size by the PPI. So if your image is 4288 pixels wide, divide that by the PPI of 300, and you get 14.29 inches which is the width of your printed photo.

Now that you know how big you can print your pictures at different qualities, let’s explore some of the options you have for turning your iPhone photos into beautiful prints.

How To Print iPhone Photos At Home

If you mostly want to print your photos at fairly small sizes on photographic paper, investing in a decent home printer could be a good option.

Remember that in addition to paying for the printer itself, you’ll also need to purchase ink. Printing iPhone photos at home can end up costing more money per print than using a printing service, but it gives you more flexibility and the option to print whenever you want.

With so many printers on the market, it can be difficult to choose which one to buy. Getting a recommendation from a friend or professional photographer can be a good starting point, and always check reviews online before you buy.

For quality home printing, an inkjet printer is the way to go. Prices will range from about $80-$300. Most printers take a maximum paper size of A4, so if you want to print larger than this you’d need to spend more to get an A3 printer.

If you want to print directly from your iPhone (without having to go through your computer), you’ll need a wireless printer that has Apple AirPrint capability (a technology that allows your iPhone to communicate with the printer).

To print to an AirPrint printer, you simply open the image in the Photos app on your phone, tap the Share icon (square with arrow) at the bottom left of the screen, then tap the Print option.

If you like to print iPhone photos at home, consider the type of paper that you’re going to print on as it can make a huge difference. Printing on ordinary copy paper won’t result in good quality prints! High quality photo paper will produce much nicer looking photos.

There are different types of photo paper that have different finishes, and they come in different thicknesses too. If you want a high-sheen finish, choose a glossy paper. If you don’t want any sheen, go for a matte paper.

Bear in mind that glossy prints are more likely to show up any quality issues. Glossy paper is designed to show crystal-clear, vibrant, high contrast photos. Matte paper is more porous and can be a bit more forgiving.

Use A Portable Hand-Held Printer

If you want an instant way to print your iPhone photos on the go, you might want to consider purchasing a portable hand-held printer such as the Instax printer from Fujifilm.

This compact device allows you to print your photos wirelessly from your iPhone in under a minute. Essentially, it transforms your iPhone into an old-school polaroid camera, allowing you to print your photos instantly to share with others or keep for yourself.

Of course, not everyone wants to print their photos on the go like this, but if it’s something that appeals to you, the Instax printer is a pretty neat gadget.

However, it’s not cheap! You’re looking at anything over $150 for the printer, and the film has to be purchased separately. It’s a bit of a luxury gadget!

Order iPhone Prints Online

If you don’t want to print your photos at home, or you want to print your images in a non-standard format such as a photo book, calendar, canvas print, etc. you can use a printing service to do the job for you.

You could use a pick-up printing service at a nearby store, but you’ll probably find it more convenient to use a mail order service.

Whatever service you use, it’s always good to go with a personal recommendation or ask for a sample print so that you can be sure they offer a high quality product.

I’ve heard numerous professional photographers say that some shops and online printing services offer sub-standard prints. In particular, they’ve experienced problems with crops being changed and colors being dull or inaccurate.

There are many great choices for online printing services. The most convenient option is to use an iPhone photo printing app.

This allows you to easily upload your images from your iPhone’s photo library and order whatever type of prints you want.

Here are a few online print services that you could check out:

Social Print Studio is a lovely, home-grown company from California that’s really expanded in the past few years. They offer a wide range of print types, including square prints, magnets, photostrips, photo books, posters and framed prints.

Another great app is PostalPix which allows you to order photo prints from your iPhone’s photo library as well as your Instagram feed. They offer several print mediums including standard prints, aluminum prints, iPhone cases and mouse pads.

If you want to create beautiful photo books from your iPhone photos, Printastic is a great app that offers a high quality printing service.

You can learn how to create photo books in our Printastic tutorial… and if you use our special discount code IPHONEPS20 you’ll get 20% off your order!

Chatbooks is another photo book app that’s well known for its high level of customer service.

You can even subscribe to an ongoing book series where a new photo book is automatically created each time you add 60 photos to a particular photo source such as Instagram, Facebook, or the Favorites album in your iPhone’s photo library.

Companies like Snapfish and Shutterfly are popular print services that offer many different options for printing your photos. They both offer an app for your iPhone, but for complex creations you might find it easier to use their website on your computer rather than your iPhone.

When I use these companies, I tend to upload my photos to my laptop and then order from there. Once a year I order calendars for my entire family, which they all really love to receive. I’ve used these sites for personal print jobs, party invites and holiday cards.

I should mention that I did have to send my holiday cards back to Snapfish last year as the prints I received didn’t match up to their prior jobs. I since discovered that they outsource their holiday card orders. They gave me a full refund, and I have some beautiful birthday card invites from them.

One more thing to mention is that it’s always worth looking out for coupons on the internet that will give you a discount code for some of these print services. You can often find some great deals if you look around!

Use A Professional Print House

Professional photographers don’t use websites and apps like those mentioned above. They use professional print companies, such as White House Custom Color (WHCC), who can guarantee superior print quality.

Professional print companies work in the same manner as sites such as Snapfish and Shutterfly – you send them the images and they send you the prints. However, you usually have to apply to become a customer.

There are a few differences between professional print houses and businesses like Snapfish and Shutterfly. For example, many of their printing machines are different, but the main difference is that they work to ensure the colors in your images are accurate.

I spoke to WHCC, and they told me that when you first sign up you have to calibrate your color. You send them five images, they print the photos and return them to you so you can make sure your prints mirror what you see on your monitor.

Some professional photographers go as far as buying a calibration kit which helps ensure that the colors you see in the image on your monitor are exactly what you see when the image is printed.

Once your have your monitor calibrated, shops like WHCC leave the rest to you. When you send them an image, they don’t do anything to alter the color of your image.

These extra steps to ensure that the color of your photos is as accurate as possible is why many hobby photographers don’t use a professional print house. But if you’re planning to sell your photos as prints, this might be an option you want to consider.

Find A Print Company You Can Trust

When I had one of my iPhone photos in the Mobile Photography Exhibit at the Columbus Museum of Art, I wanted to find someone knowledgable and trustworthy to print all of my artwork.

I needed someone who could provide good advice and work with me to create the best possible prints. And that’s when I found Adam at a company called Artwork Avenue.

He asked me why I wasn’t selling more of my artwork, and I told him it was because my photos were shot using an iPhone, and according to professional standards I couldn’t print them very big.

He told me to erase those self-imposed boundaries from my mind. My photos could be printed… And they could be printed big! On canvas. On Wood. Even as a coffee table!

Since then, I’ve used Adam for much of my print work. I like Avenue Artwork because they actually look at each and every file that comes in. One time their designers darkened a few details in a photo of mine before they blew up the picture to a 40 x 40 inch canvas.

When I spoke to Adam recently, he told me, “At Avenue Artwork, we love working with iPhone images because it’s so cool to see the creativity that everyday people use their cameras for.”

If you’re looking to get your iPhone photos printed for display or selling purposes, I’d highly recommend that you find a print company that offers a service like Artwork Avenue.

Find someone who’s just as passionate about getting the best quality prints from your iPhone photos as possible. That way, you can concentrate on taking amazing iPhone photos, and you can leave the printing decisions to the experts!

The post How To Print iPhone Photos (And How Big You Can Print Them) appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. How can I zoom in without my photo becoming blurred?

I often get asked about using the zoom feature in the iPhone camera app. Many people get frustrated that every time they zoom in by pinching outwards on the screen, it destroys the picture quality and makes it very blurry.

Zooming in is actually one of the most common mistakes that beginner iPhone photographers make. Personally, I never use the zoom on my iPhone!

The iPhone’s zoom feature doesn’t work in the same way as the zoom on a DSLR camera. Rather than zooming optically with the camera’s lens, it uses “digital zoom.”

Digital zoom basically means that the camera uses built-in software to crop away the edges of the original image to get a closer view on a certain portion of the photo.

Without getting too technical, this affects the pixels in the image which makes them appear “blocky.” The resulting image is likely to appear blurred and dramatically reduced in quality.

If you must zoom in, it’s best to do it after you’ve taken the photo by using an editing app to crop away the edges of the image. This gives you more control and a better end result.

However, keep in mind that cropping removes pixels and reduces the size of the final image. So be careful not to crop too much, otherwise you’ll end up with a very small image that won’t look good when viewed or printed at a large size.

But do you know my favorite way to zoom with the iPhone? My legs! If possible, always zoom with your feet by taking a few steps closer to your subject until you get the crop you want.

Sometimes this isn’t possible, such as when you’re at a sporting event or out in nature. So if you find yourself often wanting to zoom in but you can’t physically get any closer, you might want to consider purchasing an add-on telephoto lens for your iPhone.

Popular telephoto lenses include those from Moment and olloclip. Keep in mind that some poorer quality lenses can result in a heavy amount of blurring around the edges of the photo, so definitely check out some reviews before making a purchase.

2. How can I access the camera app more quickly so that I never miss a shot?

Do you often miss the perfect shot because it takes too long to unlocked your phone and open the camera app? If you want to avoid any delay in capturing a fleeting subject, there’s a nifty little solution that answers this problem!

Using a simple press and swipe, you can open the camera app from the lock screen without having to enter your passcode or find the camera app on your home screen.

To do this, first let your iPhone go into sleep mode (you can press the power button once to put your phone into sleep mode).

Once the screen is dark, press the Home button (round button at the bottom of the phone) to wake up your iPhone. Now simply swipe left across the screen and the camera app will open ready for shooting.

Within a couple of seconds you can have the camera app open from the lock screen. Being a mom of two little boys, I use this quite frequently so that I never miss a great shot.

After a while, this method of opening the camera app will become second nature. So remember: home button > swipe left > shoot!

3. When should I use the iPhone camera’s flash?

Are you confused about when you should use the camera’s flash to illuminate your subject? My answer is… Never use the flash!

I don’t think I’ve ever switched the flash on since I purchased my iPhone. It’s highly likely to ruin your photos as the light is so harsh and direct.

When professional photographers shoot portraits, they work with special lighting to “fill in” the shadows on their subject’s faces.

They don’t point the light directly at their subjects. Instead they use studio lights or an off-camera flash unit positioned at an angle to bounce the light onto the subject. This creates a more flattering light without harsh shadows or glare.

If you point your iPhone at your subject and shoot with the flash on, that bright light is going to go directly towards them.

This will usually result in your subject appearing over-exposed, and it might cause the background to appear very dark.

A much better way of taking photos is to work with natural light. If you’re shooting outdoors during the day, there will be an abundance of natural light.

If you’re taking pictures of someone indoors, but you’re frustrated because the photo is too dark, simply move your subject to a spot near a window where there’s a little more natural light.

You can even make use of shadows from window blinds to create interesting portraits using natural light.

So my advice would always be to set the flash setting in the camera app (the lighting bolt icon) to Off, and use natural light to illuminate your subject.

Of course, if you’re shooting at night, you’ll need an artificial light source such as a lamp to provide the light in the scene.

If the flash really is your only light source, then I would suggest covering it with a piece of tissue paper to diffuse and soften the light.

4. What does the HDR setting in the camera app do?

Have you noticed the HDR iPhone setting at the top of the camera app screen? Do you know when to use it and when to turn it off? What is HDR?

Many people are unsure what situations it should be used in, and some people have never even heard of HDR. So let’s take a look at what it is and how to use it.

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It can help you to achieve a more balanced exposure in tricky lighting situations, such as high contrast scenes where there are both bright and dark areas.

When you have the HDR feature switched on, the camera app takes several photos at different exposures (e.g. one dark, one bright, and one somewhere in the middle), and then combines them into a single well-exposed image.

The idea is that you’ll be able to see detail in both the highlights and the shadows, without getting any under or over-exposed areas in the image.

I wouldn’t bother with the Auto HDR setting as this lets the camera choose when to use HDR. It’s always better to control the setting yourself, and only use it when you need to.

HDR tends to work well with landscapes photos (where you have a brighter sky and darker foreground) and other photos that have a large amount of contrast between the dark and bright areas. So in these situations it’s often useful to turn on the HDR.

I don’t like the look of HDR in portrait photos as you tend to lose the natural contrast of their facial features. So I would always switch HDR off in these situations.

It also doesn’t work well in photos where there’s movement. This is because the camera has to take several photos to combine together, and during this time the subject has probably moved within the scene.

When the photos are combined to create the HDR image, this movement will appear as a blur or “ghosting” effect. So again, switch HDR off if you’re photographing moving subjects.

5. How do I make sure my subject is always in sharp focus?

The iPhone has a great autofocus feature that automatically sets the focus point for you. But the problem is that the camera is controlling which part of the scene is in focus (usually the center of the frame), rather than letting you decide.

To make sure the correct part of the scene is in focus, you should always set the focus point manually. This is actually very simple.

All you need to do is tap the screen where you want the focus to be set. A yellow square will appear at that point, and when you press the shutter to take the photo, the focus will be set on that part of the scene.

This is especially important when shooting close-up subjects because the closer the subject is to the camera, the shallower the depth of field will be.

A shallow depth of field means that only a small portion of the image will be in focus, while the rest of the scene will appear blurred.

If there’s any movement in the background of your scene, you’ll probably need to use the focus lock feature to ensure that the camera’s autofocus feature doesn’t re-adjust the focus point onto the moving subject.

To lock focus, simply tap and hold for a few seconds on the point where you want to set focus. When the focus is locked you’ll see a yellow box with AE/AF at the top of the screen.

Now the focus will be locked on that point, even if something moves in the scene. To unlock the focus point, simply tap once on the screen.

6. How do I adjust the brightness of my iPhone photos?

In photography, the brightness of an image is called “exposure” and it’s really important to get this correct to ensure that your image doesn’t appear too bright (over-exposed) or too dark (under-exposed).

Many people are disappointed with their iPhone photos because the exposure doesn’t look right. But it’s actually super easy to adjust the image brightness – both at the time of shooting and afterwards in post-processing.

It’s obviously best to get the exposure correct at the time of shooting, and then if you need to, you can tweak the brightness afterwards using an editing app.

When you’re taking a photo with the native camera app, start by tapping the screen to set focus, then simply swipe up or down on the screen to access the exposure slider (sun icon). Slide up to make the image brighter, and down to make the image darker.

Most of the time you should aim to keep detail in both the shadows (dark areas) and the highlights (bright areas), so try to get a balanced exposure throughout the image.

Once you’ve taken your photo, you can often enhance the exposure using an editing app. Snapseed is a great app with lots of options for altering brightness, contrast, shadows, highlights, etc.

Once you’ve opened your photo in Snapseed, tap the pencil icon at the bottom right, then tap Tune Image. Swipe up or down on the screen to access the list of editing tools and select the one you want, e.g. Brightness.

Now swipe left to decrease the setting, or right to increase it. When you’re happy with the exposure of your photo, tap the checkmark at the bottom right.

If you want to make selective exposure adjustments to just certain parts of the photo, you can use either the Brush tool or the Selective tool in Snapseed.

To learn more about adjusting exposure in Snapseed, check out our in-depth Snapseed app tutorial.

7. How do I create a silhouette photo?

Silhouettes are guaranteed to add the wow factor to your photos. But how do you actually create a silhouette where your subject appears as a dark outline within the scene?

To start with, you need your subject to be back-lit with a light source such as the sun or a bright sky behind them. In other words, you need to shoot into the light.

The golden hour of sunset or sunrise is the perfect time to create silhouettes. With the sun low in the sky, you can easily position the light behind your subject.

At this time of day the light is also less harsh, and the beautiful colors of the sky will create a stunning background for your silhouette.

Once you’ve composed your shot, tap to set focus, then you’ll need to manually adjust the exposure to create the silhouette.

Swipe down on the screen to decrease the exposure until the subject appears very dark or completely black with little or no detail visible.

Once you’ve taken the shot, you might need to tweak the exposure in post-processing. For example, if the silhouette doesn’t appear dark enough, try darkening the shadows or increasing the contrast in Snapseed.

8. How can I take better action photos with my iPhone?

Do you struggle to take good photos of moving subjects, such as in street photography or when photographing children?

In these situations, you won’t have a lot of time to think while the action is happening, so you need to be prepared and ready to go with your camera.

The first trick is to try and set up your shot before the subject enters the scene. So make sure you have a good background that will isolate your subject – maybe a colorful wall, a green playing field, or just a beautiful sky.

Once you have the shot lined up, be ready to catch the action by shooting in burst mode. This allows you to take a rapid succession of shots and catch multiple poses, giving you the best chance of catching the perfect moment.

To shoot in burst mode, simply hold down the shutter button and listen to it fire off shot after shot. Release the shutter button to stop shooting.

Try to anticipate the movement of the subject. Start shooting just before they enter the frame, or before they begin the action you want to capture.

Once you’ve taken your action shots, open your Photos app where you can select the burst images you want to keep, and then delete the rest.

9. How can I take a photo with myself in the scene?

People make great subjects in your iPhone photos, but what if you’re out shooting on your own and there’s nobody else around?

In such cases, a great solution is to use yourself as the subject. So how do you go about this?

All you need is an iPhone tripod, together with an iPhone tripod mount (or even a make-shift tripod using items from your surroundings) and the self-timer in the camera app.

I own a small Joby GorillaPod tripod, but I also use rocks, my purse, toys and whatever else is nearby to work as a tripod. Sometimes I take the clip off of the Joby and use it to attach my iPhone to a regular camera tripod too.

Set your iPhone on the tripod and compose your shot. Lock the focus by tapping and holding the screen at the point where you intend to stand in the scene.

To set the timer in the native camera app, tap on the Timer button (stopwatch icon) at the top of the screen, then choose either the 3 second or 10 second delay.

When you’re ready, tap the shutter button then get into position in the scene. The camera will fire off a burst of shots after the delay that you set.

If you want more control over the amount of delay, you’ll need to use a dedicated timer app to take your shot. I use the Fast Camera app to create a 10-15 second delay.

I also program it to take a photo every two seconds or so for a certain period of time (maybe a minute). This allows you to capture a full minute’s worth of movement in a series of photos, allowing you to try out different poses within the scene.

You may feel funny taking shots of yourself like this, but I love it because sometimes it’s the only way I can see my ideas come to fruition!

10. How do I make sure my iPhone photos are backed up safely?

Of course, once you’ve shot and edited some beautiful photos, it’s important that you make sure they’re backed up.

If anything should happen to your iPhone, you want to be sure that your photos are still safe. So how should you back up your precious pictures?

There are many different ways, and different people have their preferred methods. But there are two main backup options: internet-based cloud storage and computer hard drive.

To be on the safe side, it’s a good idea to back up to both the cloud and to a physical hard drive.

In my iPhone’s Settings app, I always leave the Photos and Backup options switched on in the iCloud settings. This ensures that my photos are automatically backed up each night when my phone is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.

iCloud is Apple’s cloud-storage service so it’s the obvious one to use. But there are other cloud storage services too if you’d rather look into alternative options.

Most of them offer a limited amount of free storage, then you have to pay a small fee for extra storage space as your photo library grows.

I also recommend using the iCloud Photos feature, which effortlessly backs up your iPhone photos and syncs them across all your devices while the iPhone is plugged in and charging.

In additional to backing up to iCloud, every few weeks I connect my phone to my computer and transfer my images to my PC or external hard drive.

You could use your computer’s built-in hard drive, but if you take as many photos as I do you’ll soon fill that up!

I buy a new external hard drive each year, and organize my photos into folders for each month. Then within each month’s folder I add more folders categorized by outing or event, e.g. “State Fair,” “Fourth Birthday,” etc.

The more organized you are from the start, the easier it will be to back up your new photos and locate your old ones!

I hope these tips have answered some of your questions about iPhone photography, and helped you to overcome the stumbling blocks you were facing.

If there’s anything else you want to know about shooting with the iPhone, feel free to ask a question in the comments section below and we’ll do our best to answer it for you.

The post The 10 Most Common iPhone Photography Questions Answered appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Don’t Wait For A Sunny Day

In the winter it can be hard to motivate yourself to go out on a dismal day to take photos. However, this type of weather can create beautiful ethereal scenes when there’s snow on the ground.

With an all white landscape and an all white background, the only items left to concentrate on are the subjects of the photo. This makes for incredible winter photos.

So don’t wait for blue skies to take snow photos. Venture out in thick fog or a snow storm, and use your imagination to create interesting stories that make the most of the dramatic or mysterious scene.

2. Shoot A Location You Might Usually Overlook

Snow completely changes the landscape, covering up dark and messy foregrounds with a fresh white blanket. Make the most of this opportunity to capture scenes that might not normally be very photogenic.

Is there a shed or a tree that you’ve always adored but never shot due to its surroundings? Perhaps the owner left a lot of garbage in the yard alongside the shed, or there’s a heap of mud or yard waste near the tree.

I’ve passed this shed countless times and never felt motivated to photograph it until this particular day when the fresh snow covered all of the garbage surrounding it!

Maybe your landscape or forest photos never really looked great because of a dark and featureless foreground.

A fresh coat of snow will present you with some great new location opportunities and some much needed contrast in your winter landscape photos.

3. Adjust The Exposure

The problem with snowy scenes is that the large areas of white can trick the iPhone’s camera into under-exposing the photo.

Basically, the camera looks at the scene, sees all the white, and thinks it’s too bright. So it reduces the exposure which effectively makes the snow look grey.

To ensure the snow appears fresh and bright, you often need to adjust the exposure levels before you take the shot. To do this, start by tapping to set focus on your subject, then simply swipe up on the screen to increase the brightness.

Be careful not to make the image too bright though, otherwise you’ll lose all of the detail and texture in the snow.

4. Use Snow As A Huge White Studio

Snow provides you with a wonderful clean background to use in your photography. It’s basically like having a huge white studio at your disposal.

All you have to do is shoot from a vantage point that allows you to use the snowy ground as your backdrop.

I often stand on my deck and shoot straight down onto my subjects below. Alternatively, I use my Joby GorillaPod tripod and a timer app such as Fast Camera so that I can use myself as the subject.

Using my iPhone tripod, I position my iPhone high up on the deck or a ladder so that the camera is pointing downward. Then I play with all sorts of poses and props while laying in the snow!

5. Use Props To Add A Splash Of Color

One of my favorite techniques for shooting in snow is to use a prop to add a splash of vibrant color to the scene.

A pop of red or other vibrant color against a white background adds a strong focal point that will instantly catch the viewer’s eye.

Look for colorful items that will make your viewer smile. A colorful umbrella, sticker, toy, chair, kitchen object or even an item of clothing will make a great addition to your snow photos.

Think carefully about the composition, especially if there are no other objects in the photo. It often creates a more natural and balanced photo if you position the prop off-center within the frame.

6. Photograph People Playing In Snow

One of the best things about wintery weather is that it brings people out to play in the snow. There are so many fun things to do in the snow, and this kind of activity is great for iPhone photography.

Capture people throwing snow in the air, having snowball fights, sledding or skiing down a hill. Photograph them making snowmen or lying in the snow as they make snow angels.

For action shots, use burst mode to catch just the right moment. Simply hold down the shutter button to capture a series of photos as the subject moves through the scene, then select the best shot from the sequence.

7. Capture Emotions

Emotions often run high in snowy conditions – be it a happy child, an elated pet dog, or a disgruntled snow-shoveler.

Capturing these emotions in your photos will help you tell more interesting and compelling stories that will connect the viewer to your subjects.

Get close to your subject so that you can capture their facial expressions. Using burst mode will help ensure you catch the perfect expression at just the right moment.

Make sure your subject is well lit so that their facial features can be easily seen. Positioning yourself with the light source behind you will ensure your subject is properly illuminated.

8. Shoot Minimal Landscapes

Snow provides the perfect opportunity for creating stunning minimalist landscape photos.

Using just a sliver of white at the bottom of your frame, together with a large amount of sky, allows you to create a clean and beautiful photo of a winter landscape.

Try to find a lone figure or tree to act as the focal point, and experiment with the position of the subject to create an interesting and balanced composition.

9. Shoot Close-Up Photos

Another great technique is to get down low and focus your camera on some lovely frost or ice.

This allows you to capture wonderful detail, and holding your iPhone close to the subject will create a shallow depth of field where the background appears beautifully blurred.

A helpful tip for this kind of photography is to flip your iPhone upside down when you shoot so that the camera lens is even closer to the ground. This makes for an incredible viewpoint.

10. Edit To Enhance A Snowy Scene

When you take snow shots, there are often a lot of areas that you might want to clean up in post-processing, such as snowy footprints, dirt, bits of grass, a stray corner of a leaf, etc.

You might also find that the snow appears too dark. So the first thing I always do when editing a photo is to “up” the highlights and exposure to brighten the snow.

Increasing these two settings will make a huge difference. They usually clean up most of the scene without having to do anything else. Upping the contrast can help too.

If you still need to get rid of distractions in the snow, you can easily remove any unwanted objects using the TouchRetouch app.

Finally, if you’d like to add some falling snowflakes to your shot, the Mextures app has a “blizzard” filter that can simulate falling snow.

I hope these tips encourage you to try out some new ideas for your winter iPhone photography in the snow. Happy shooting!

The post 10 Tips For Shooting Wonderful Winter Snow Photos On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Find A Simple Landscape

A simple landscape is the best option for getting started with minimalist photography. When you’re out and about, scan your surroundings for scenery that has just a few elements.

A simple field and blue sky is perfect. A small hill or rocky outcrop could also work well. Or try shooting around large expanses of water such as the ocean or a lake.

Try to avoid busy landscapes where there are lots of visual elements within the scene. If you must shoot in a busy landscape, there are certain techniques that you can use to eliminate distractions, and we’ll look at some of these tricks in this tutorial.

2. Include A Focal Point

Although minimal landscape photos don’t have a lot of parts to their composition, they should still have an object of focus – otherwise known as a focal point.

Whether it’s a person, a standout bit of nature, or a man-made object or structure, the eye should immediately be drawn to a specific part of the photo.

So once you’ve found a suitable landscape to take your picture, look around for an interesting object that you can use as your focal point. You can then start to build your composition around this main subject.

A person will make a great focal point in minimalist landscape photos, so it’s a good idea to take along a friend or your kids, and ask them to pose in the scene. Alternatively, take an iPhone tripod so that you can appear in the photo yourself.

After your photo shoot, take a look at your images and pay attention to where your eyes are drawn to.

Does it feel as if your eyes are searching the scene, or do they immediately settle on a particular area of interest? If your eyes spend too much time searching, perhaps your focal point isn’t strong enough.

It’s always a good idea to return to the same scene and shoot another set of photos. Each time, you’ll become more aware of objects that you could use as your focal point.

3. Find A Lone Tree

A lone tree will always make a great focal point in a minimal landscape. Their lovely shapes will add wonderful detail and interest to an otherwise empty landscape.

They can also seem to take on an almost human-like quality, evoking emotions in the viewer and helping them to connect with your image.

When you’re out in nature, keep your eyes peeled for single trees in open space. If you’re shooting in a busy landscape, try getting closer to the tree to eliminate the surrounding distractions.

Experiment with your shooting angle and composition until you achieve a clean minimal image with a strong focal point. Shooting from a low angle will allow you to get more plain sky behind the tree.

I personally like the look of a photo with a large quantity of sky and a little bit of land at the bottom of the frame.

While a lone tree makes a great image on its own, adding a person or a fun prop into the scene will create an extra element of interest. It can also help to add a sense of scale and tell a more compelling story.

And once you find a photogenic solo tree, it can be fun to visit it throughout the seasons to document its change.

4. Include A Lot Of Sky

Minimalist photos tend to include a lot of negative space. Empty space in a photo helps to create a clean and crisp feel. It also draws attention to the main subject because nothing else is competing for attention.

Shooting from a low angle allows you to get more sky in your photo. Alternatively, have your subject stand high on a hill while you shoot from below.

When you point your iPhone at the sky, you’ll need to consider the lighting and the direction of the sun.

If you shoot with the sun behind you, your subject will be well lit and you’ll be able to make out the colors and details in the scene.

If you shoot directly into the sun, your subject will be backlit which will make them appear as a dark silhouette.

While the color and detail of your subject won’t be visible, a silhouette can add a fantastic sense of drama to your photos.

It can be fun to put your subject on top of a hill and then try shooting from both sides of the hill to see the difference.

5. Look Down

Shooting from a high angle allows you to use just the ground as your backdrop. This technique is great when you’re shooting in a busy landscape as it will eliminate the distracting background.

Using the ground as your backdrop can also add wonderful texture and color to your images. Try using pebbles on a beach, bright green grass or a field of golden crops. Or you could shoot down onto beautiful blue water.

Make sure you include a focal point, such as a person, an interesting object, a duck swimming on the water, etc. It can also be fun to play with shadows, reflections and light in this situation.

Make sure you experiment with your shooting angle as a slightly different viewpoint can completely change the look and feel of your photo.

6. Shoot in Snow

Using snow as a background is one of my favorite techniques. It creates a lovely blank slate! In fact, people often mistake my iPhone snow photos for in-studio professional shots.

I like to shoot on cloudy days where the landscape and background become one. I also like to shoot straight down onto the snow.

I often just stand on our elevated deck in the back yard, and photograph my subject from above.

After tapping to set focus on your main subject, adjust the exposure level (image brightness) if necessary by swiping up or down on the screen.

A lot of bright snow can trick your camera into under-exposing the shot, so you often need to increase the brightness in these conditions.

Don’t forget that you can tweak the exposure further in post-processing. Just use your favorite editing app to adjust the brightness levels and contrast. You’ll be surprised at how much an exposure increase can clean up the snow.

7. Shoot In Fog

Fog is also great weather for shooting minimalist landscape photos as it completely transforms the scenery. It will hide dark and distracting backgrounds, creating a white or light backdrop for your subject.

It provides a sort of clean slate against which you can photograph your chosen subject. It can also create a wonderfully calm, serene or mysterious atmosphere in your images.

When shooting in fog, you can create a strong sense of depth by including trees at different distances. The further away they are, the more they’ll fade into the fog.

Just as when shooting in snow, be sure to increase your exposure if necessary. You can do this at the time of shooting, and also afterwards in post-processing.

8. Add A Pop Of Color

Once you’ve found a background that’s uniform in color, like snow, water or a field of grass, try adding a pop of color to your image.

The easiest way to do this is by using colorful props or clothing. A brightly colored umbrella is always a great option. You could even use a small painted chair like I did in the photo above. Be as creative as you like!

If you’re using a person as your focal point, ask them to wear a bright colored coat, dress or hat. Or wear red boots yourself and include your feet in the photo like I did here.

Maybe there’s something colorful in the landscape that you could use, such a painted house or shed, or a bright colored boat.

Adding a pop of color into your landscape photos will make your subject an easy target for your viewer’s eyes. Personally, I think red and yellow work great. Both are cheerful and provide terrific contrast.

9. Think About Composition

Even though you don’t have many elements in a minimalist landscape photo, the way you arrange these elements within the frame is very important.

Composition will affect how easily the viewer’s eyes are drawn toward your focal point, and whether the image feels balanced.

Leading lines, such as roads and pathways, are powerful composition tools. They can be used to lead the eye into the scene, add depth, and create fantastic symmetry.

Look out for elements in the scene that could be used to create a “frame” around your subject, such as tunnels or tree branches. They provide an easy way to isolate your subject and draw the eye toward your focal point.

It’s also important to think about where you place your main subject within the frame. Would it look better in the center, to one side using the rule of thirds, or at the very edge of the frame?

If you’re not sure which composition would work best, take several shots with the subject in different positions within the frame. You can then review the images and choose the one that works best.

Thinking through your composition before you shoot the photo will reduce the amount of time you need to spend editing and cropping the photo.

10. Enhance Your Composition Using Apps

After you’ve taken your photos, image editing apps can help you clean up your minimalist images or add an extra element to balance the composition.

If there are any distracting elements like signs, power lines or litter, you can easily remove these unwanted objects using the TouchRetouch app. Try to clean up anything that will draw the eye away from your subject.

If your photo has a distracting foreground, a really effective solution is to use the Reflect app to eliminate the foreground and replace it with a beautiful reflection instead.

As well as removing unwanted elements from your image, you can also add objects into the scene. If your photo looks unbalanced, maybe adding another element into the photo would help to improve the composition.

In the photo above, I used the Alien Sky app to add a small group of birds at the top right of the photo. This adds a little bit of visual interest to the sky, and creates a diagonal balance with the boat at the bottom left.

Conclusion

As you’ve seen from the photos in this tutorial, it’s perfectly possible to create beautiful minimalist iPhone photos in all kinds of landscapes. A simple field, hill, beach or lake is often all you need.

However, using a few clever techniques it’s also possible to simplify a busy landscape. For example, you could shoot from a low angle to include mostly sky, wait for a foggy day, or use editing apps to remove distractions.

Wherever you decide to shoot, always compose your shot with lots of empty space and include a main subject to act as a focal point.

Minimalist landscape photos are a lot easier to create than you might imagine. So why not grab your iPhone and head outdoors to see what stunning images you can capture?

The post 10 Tips For Shooting Stunning Minimalist Landscapes On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Collaborate With Businesses

Businesses are always looking for new ways to grab the public’s attention, and you can help them achieve this through your photography.

Photos of their merchandise can be used for their social media channels. Photos of scenes that portray current trends can be useful for their displays, for example, a patriotic theme for the 4th of July, summery scenes, winter scenes, cityscapes, etc.

And of course they appreciate any photos of their goods that you share with others on your own social media.

So how do you get a business to start using your photography? Well, unless you’re already an established photographer, they’re unlikely to come to you. So you’ll need approach businesses and retailers with your ideas.

Here’s an example of an opportunity that arose for me recently… I’d been occasionally chatting with a local boutique on Instagram – just commenting on one-another’s photos.

One day I drove by their store and decided to pop in. It was so fun to meet the owners in person and we all hit it off right away.

We chatted about their upcoming projects, and one fun project they had in mind involved displaying some pink plastic lawn flamingos in their window.

As they described their window creation, I started to get excited at the thought of taking photos of these pink flamingos. I asked if I could borrow them for a few days before they used them.

This wasn’t a paid commission – it was simply born out of my love for finding unique and fun subjects to photograph.

The store owners also became excited about the idea and asked if they could use a few prints of my shots as a part of their window display. My photos in a window display?! Sure!!

A few days later I went out and photographed the flamingos in different locations. It was wonderful because there were no requirements – only to have fun!

When I returned the flamingos and showed the boutique my photos, they loved them so much they offered to sell a limited edition collection of greeting cards.

Suddenly I had a retail presence… and an income! And the best part was that we spoke about doing collaborations like this for their future window displays as well.

Obviously, not all creative collaborations will end in a retail deal, but just putting yourself out there and offering fun ideas for local retail businesses is a great way to start.

Of course, if you start working as a paid photographer, it’s important to have a photography contact in place. 

In fact, even if you’re not getting paid for the project, it’s still a good idea to have some form of contract to ensure your rights are properly protected.

2. Promote Property For Realtors

Realtors love to come up with unique ways to market their property listings. If you’re fortunate enough to find a realtor who’s open to ideas, there’s a lot of room for mutually beneficial projects.

One fun project would be to ask if you can take some creative photos of one of their visually appealing properties. Modern decor, lovely landscapes and uncluttered living spaces all provide wonderful backdrops for photos.

Bring a friend in a dress or some cute props, and photograph the property in a creative way that hasn’t been done before.

The realtors have probably already paid for a service to take the typical listing photos of the architecture and space… but they most likely don’t have any fun, unique and creative shots in their files.

Realtors can use your photos to promote the property in their social media outlets. They benefit by sharing photos that are unique and could even go “viral.”

In return, you get a beautiful backdrop to shoot, a job to add to your resume, and your name and skills shouted out to the world.

Other realtors and potential home sellers will be exposed to your name and photos, which may result in further photographic opportunities.

3. Take Photos For Bloggers

Bloggers are paid to write about products, people, places, etc. They’re experts in their areas, however, they may not enjoy (or be any good at) taking photos for their articles.

Many bloggers welcome photography help with open arms. For example, fashion bloggers have great outfits to wear and promote, but need to be photographed in the clothing.

Offering to do a photo shoot with a local fashion blogger might well result in great day out, in a wonderful location, with some great models and clothing to photograph.

Try using Google to find guides to local blogs, then check out their websites and Instagram feeds. Make a note of the ones that don’t have great photos as these are your best options for offering your photography services.

Perhaps start to follow a few of your favorites blogs and build a relationship by leaving positive commenting on their work. Eventually you can offer to do a collaboration.

Once bloggers post your photos on their sites and give you exposure, there’s a good chance that you’ll be asked to shoot for other bloggers as well. After you increase your demand, you may be able to turn it into something profitable.

Remember that you might already have a lot of photos in your collection that you could offer to bloggers of different topics. So you don’t necessarily need to go out to shoot new photos every time.

4. Contribute To Local Websites

Local online guides are always looking to add content to their websites. If you live in a city, you could ask to do a “top ten” guide for them, using your own photos in the article.

For example, you could create a top ten photo essay of your favorite restaurants, parks or romantic date spots. Take some interesting pictures at each location and include them in your article.

If you live outside of a city, offer to do a photo essay on a weekend get-away, the farm life, or anything that makes your homeland unique.

Getting your name in a site like this is a great addition to your resume. And it can also lead to a regular paid gig!

5. Photograph An Event

Do you have a favorite event that you go to every year? A carnival, a 5k run, an art show, etc? A month or so before the event, contact the organizers and ask them what their plans are for covering the event on social media.

If they don’t have any plans set out, offer to cover the event on their Instagram feed and their other social media channels. Suggest some unique ideas of what you’d like to shoot.

Perhaps you’d take portraits of the people behind the scenes, or document the set up and tear down of the event. Approach them with a plan. Often, your help is just what they need!

It’s a win-win situation. The company benefits from your coverage, and you benefit from the exposure to all of the patrons of the event.

Plus you might get free entry into the event, and make a lot of new friends when you become part of the official team of volunteers!

6. Make Prints Of Your Photos

Seeing your images being promoted online by businesses, bloggers and events can be really rewarding, and may even lead to opportunities for paid photography work.

However, there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing physical copies of your favorite photos in the form of beautiful prints. And these items are often easier to sell than online photos.

You could get your photos printed as greetings cards, framed prints, large canvases, or any number of other creative options offered by print companies.

You’ll need to put in a small investment of time and money up front, but taking part in a creative project like selling your own notecards or prints may just be the perfect first step into retail.

Whether you decide to sell your prints yourself, or through another retail outlet, this process will force you to go through all of the necessary steps it takes to be in business.

When you’re first starting out, it isn’t really about the quantity of goods, but instead the learning process involved. It’s also incredibly inspiring. The more you force yourself to go through these steps, the more ideas you’ll come up with!

Perhaps you’ll decide to start a line of prints for nurseries or children’s store. Or get involved with your local tourism department.

You never know where your hard work will lead you to next, but if you’re looking to grow, this is a great way to get started!

7. Exhibit Your Work

Once you’ve got physical prints of your photos, many more options will open up to you. For maximum exposure, you should try to get your work into as many public places as possible.

A good first step is to ask a local business, cafe or library if they’d like to exhibit some of your prints in exchange for a percentage commission on any sales.

This is a mutually beneficial situation. You get your work seen by lots of members of the public which will hopefully result in a few sales. And the exhibitors get to have some lovely photos brightening up their walls, and hopefully earn a bit of money in commission.

If you’re feeling a bit braver, how about approaching a local art gallery or exhibition space to see if you can arrange to have your own exhibition that runs for a few weeks.

If you’re going to put your photos into an exhibition like this, it’s usually best if your images have a theme such as landscapes, abstracts, black and white, street photography, lonely trees, etc. This makes for a more coherent and meaningful collection of work.

Another great option is to rent a booth at your local art fair. It may be too expensive and time consuming for you to do it on your own, but if you pair up with other local photographers it can easily lead to a successful venture.

Or you could even pair up with a different type of artist. Perhaps you and a painter or jewelry designer could share a booth. Or look into the possibility of selling your work on the walls of a booth that’s already established, such as a jewelry designer, soap manufacturer, etc.

8. Get Paid For Stock Images

My final piece of advice is to register with some stock photo sites. Stock agencies act as an intermediary between the photographer and businesses or individuals who want to purchase the images.

The stock library takes a commission, and you get the rest of the money. Prices for stock images vary hugely, depending on what the image will be used for.

But even if it’s just a few dollars to start with, it’s worth it as this can build up into a regular income over time.

There are several stock image libraries that accept mobile photography, including Stockimo, Snapwire, EyeEm and Getty Images.

Each of these agencies have an app that you can download onto your iPhone from the App Store. You then simply upload the images that you’d like to sell, and wait and see what happens!

Each app functions in a different way, but they all work to give your photos exposure and pair you with buyers who are looking for unique photos.

If you have the time, it’s worth uploading as many photos as possible to as many stock libraries as you can find. That way, you’re giving your photos maximum exposure and the best chance of getting the most sales.

Conclusion

Whether you just want to get some exposure for your iPhone photography, or go further and start earning money by selling your images to individuals and businesses, I hope these tips have given you lots of new ideas for how to go about this.

It can take a bit of time and effort to start with – establishing some good contacts and finding a print company that you trust.

But if you’re serious about your photography and want to start getting it seen by more than just your Instagram followers, it’s definitely worth putting in a bit of effort for the rewards that you’ll get!

The post 8 Ways To Get Great Publicity For Your iPhone Photos (And Hopefully Earn Some Money!) appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Create A Vision For Your Image

The very first step with a project like this is to come up with a vision for what you want to create. I often get inspiration for my creations from my kids as they have such a wonderful imagination.

If you struggle to think of ideas, kids books, films, TV adverts and even poetry should inspire you. Or look at the work of others who create these fantasy-style images, then try to create something similar but with your own unique twist.

My young son Arlo has a wonderful imagination. His birthday wish list included items such as a “tree that reaches the sky,” “a mountain of dirt,” “new elephant friends,” “kryptonite,” and many other items. This list alone is enough to get my mind going on a month’s worth of photos!

So I decided to create a set of images that I call “Arlo’s World” in his honor. The photo that we’re going to work on here is one from that series. For this creation I knew I wanted to have elephants in the photo.

When Arlo is playing with his toy elephants he often has someone ride them, so I decided to have a person in my photo too – perhaps riding an elephant. I would also need some nice scenery, and I thought a tree would be good to provide a sense of scale.

2. Photograph The Individual Elements

Once you know what you want to include in your final piece, you need to take or find the photos for each individual component. I began by photographing Arlo’s toy elephants.

I placed them on a table on the pier and shot them from a low angle so that I could get the perspective I wanted with just plain sky behind them. Shooting at sunset with the light behind them allowed me to capture the elephants as dark silhouettes.

When shooting subjects for a composite image, try to use the same kind of lighting for each of the pieces you shoot. So if your photo includes a sunset as the background, shoot the other elements during sunset if possible so that they all have similar lighting on them.

Consider the angle of the light in each of your shots. For example, if the light is hitting one subject on the left, make sure it hits all of your subjects from the left. If this isn’t possible when shooting, you can always “flip” an image in editing to achieve this.

In my case, I wanted all of my subjects to appear as dark silhouettes in the final piece, so the direction of the light wasn’t actually that important. But it’s important to think about this before you start shooting.

After I shot the elephants, I knew I wanted to add a boy riding one of them. I asked my older son to stand in front of a wall and pretend he was feeding a lion an apple. Then I asked him to pretend he was riding one. The shoot took about two minutes and then we were off on our next adventure!

Note that even though I want him to appear as a silhouette in the final image, he doesn’t have to be photographed as a silhouette as it’s easy to apply that effect in post-processing.

Finally I used a sunset photo and another photo of a lone tree that I already had in my phone. Whenever I see an interesting tree or a pretty sunset, I like to grab a few photos of them just for this purpose.

3. Combine The Elements In Superimpose

Once you have the individual images, you need to assemble them together to create your final composite photo. The best app to use for this is Superimpose.

Below you’ll see the step-by-step process that I used to create my composite image. These same techniques can be used to create many different kinds of composite photo – you just need to start with a background image and then add your other photo elements on top.

The first thing you need to do in the Superimpose app is to open a photo as the background image. Tap the Import icon at the top left of the screen, then tap Photos to access your Camera Roll.

Select the image you want to use, crop it if necessary, then tap Choose. I used the sunset photo as my background.

The next step is to open another photo as the foreground image – this will sit on top of the background image. Note that once the foreground image is imported, you can erase the parts that you don’t want so that the background image shows through.

To open a foreground image, tap the Import icon at the top left of the screen, then tap Photos in the Import Foreground section and choose the photo you want to use. For my foreground image, I imported a photo of a tree in a field.

You now need to erase part of the foreground image, leaving just the object that you want to add onto the background image. In my case I erased the sky behind the tree to leave just the field and the tree. The area that is left after erasing is called a “mask.”

To erase parts of the image, start by tapping Mask at the bottom of the screen. Superimpose has a range of tools for erasing parts of your image, including the brush, magic wand, smart brush and lasso – tap the Settings icon at the top right of the Mask screen to access these tools.

I used the “brush” tool to slowly erase everything in the photo except the tree and field. When erasing parts of an image, zoom in by pinching two fingers apart to make sure you’re being as accurate as possible.

If you erase too much, use the Eraser tool to brush back over the part of the photo you want to bring back. Bear in mind that this process can be fairly time-consuming if your subject is a complex shape, but it’s worth taking the time to erase carefully so that the end result looks seamless.

To move, resize or rotate your foreground image, tap Transform at the bottom of the screen. Drag the image to move it, and use the handles around the edges to resize or rotate. Tap the Home icon when you’ve finished positioning your foreground image.

Once your foreground image is in the right place, you might want to make changes to the exposure and color of the foreground or background photo. In my case I wanted to reduce the exposure of the tree and field (foreground image).

To make these alterations, tap Filter at the bottom right, select whether you want to alter the foreground or background image at the top of the screen, then tap the Settings icon at the top right.

A set of icons and sliders will appear at the bottom of the screen. These allow you to make adjustments such as exposure, brightness, contrast, color saturation, etc. I used the Exposure slider to make my foreground image darker, so that the tree and field appeared as a dark silhouette.

The next step is to bring another object into the composite image – in this case, the elephant. However, before you can bring in another foreground image, the two existing image layers (background and foreground) must be merged into a single layer.

To merge the layers, tap Transform at the bottom of the screen, then tap the Merge icon (arrow pointing down to two layers) at the top left of the screen.

Note that once you’ve merged the layers you can’t make individual adjustments to the two separate images – the foreground image has now become part of the background image.

Once I’d merged the layers, I could now add the elephant in the same way that I added the field/tree image. To add another foreground image, go to the Home tab, then tap the Import icon at the top left and choose the image you want to use.

After importing your image, you’ll need to erase the parts that you don’t want. Tap Mask, then tap the Settings icon at the top right and select the masking brush you want to use.

I used the “brush” tool to slowly erase everything in the photo except the elephant. Remember to zoom in to check that your erasing is accurate.

After erasing, tap Transform at the bottom of the screen, then resize and move the object to the position you want.

Finally, merge the foreground and background images by tapping the Merge icon at the top left of the screen on the Transform tab.

The final element to bring into my image is the boy. This is done in exactly the same way as the previous elements. Tap the Import icon on the Home tab, then choose the image to import.

After using the Mask tool to erase the area surrounding the boy, I used the Transform tool to resize him and position him on the elephant.

I also used the Exposure tool under the Filter tab to reduce the brightness of the boy so that he appeared as a dark silhouette.

Now that I was finally done “building” all of the elements of my photo, I could merge the layers and save the image. To merge the layers, tap Transform, then tap the Merge icon at the top left.

To save the photo, tap Home, then tap the second icon from the left, and select Photos as the Export Destination.

If you’ve enjoyed this editing process, click here for an in-depth tutorial on how to use the Superimpose app to blend multiple iPhone photos.

4. Edit Image In Snapseed

Once you’ve created your composite image in Superimpose, you might want to make further edits and adjustments to the entire image. For exposure and color adjustments I use the Snapseed app, but you could use another editing app if you prefer.

I decided that the field in my photo was a bit too light. So after opening the image in Snapseed, I tapped the icon in the bottom right corner to open up the editing tools menu.

I chose the Selective tool, which is great for applying exposure and color adjustments to just certain parts of an image.

Tap the area you want to adjust (in my case I tapped on an area of the field), then slide your finger up or down on the screen to select the adjustment you want to make – B for Brightness, C for Contrast and S for Saturation.

I chose to adjust the brightness. You can pinch inwards or outwards to change the size of the area that will be adjusted, then swipe left or right to increase or decrease the brightness.

I wanted to apply the same levels of brightness to the other areas of the field, so I copied and pasted the adjustment that I’d just made.

To do this, simply tap the letter B on your image, then select Copy. Now tap the area of the image that you want the same adjustment applied to, and select Paste. Repeat this until you’ve made all of the adjustments that you want.

Tap the checkmark at the bottom right to confirm your changes. Of course, you could make any adjustments to your photo that you wish in an editing app like Snapseed. Don’t forget to save your edits by tapping Save at the top right.

Click here for a complete guide to Snapseed photo editing.

5. Remove Unwanted Objects In TouchRetouch

If you want to remove any small objects in your image, TouchRetouch is a great app for this. I had a small dot of light in the sky that I wanted to get rid of.

After opening my photo in TouchRetouch, I tapped on the Lasso icon at the bottom left of the screen and used my finger to draw a circle around the dot of light that was in the sky.

Once I took my finger away, that area appeared highlighted in red. To remove the selected area and replace it with pixels from its surroundings, just press the Play button in the bottom menu.

After removing unwanted objects in TouchRetouch, save the edited image using the Save icon in the bottom right corner.

And here’s how the image is looking now. I was happy with how it looked at this point, but I wanted to add a few final touches to give it an extra bit of magic!

6. Add Final Touches In Alien Sky

Alien Sky is a great app for adding extra elements to your images, such as light flares, planets, stars and even flying birds.

I like adding lens flares to my sunset photos because it adds a warmth and dimension that’s hard to create in the composite type shots. I think it helps to draws the viewer in.

After I opened my photo in Alien Sky, I tapped the Effects option in the bottom menu and selected Lensflares. I chose to apply the Distant Sun flare effect.

I used my fingers to touch the screen and move the flare to my desired location. You can also change the size of the flare by pinching your fingers together to shrink it or spreading your fingers apart to make it grow.

You can make further adjustments by tapping Edit at the bottom of the screen. I played with the Brightness and Scale sliders until I was happy with the effect.

Then I slid the Artifacts slider down until it was completely off. By sliding this bar down, it takes away the extra flares that surround the perimeter of the main flare. It’s just personal preference – you can choose to keep them, but I usually don’t.

And finally I added some birds into the image. To do this I tapped Layers at the bottom of the screen, then created a new layer by tapping the New Layer button (+ icon) to the right of the lens flare layer icon.

Then I opened up the Stars menu in Effects and scrolled all the way to the right until I reached the Birds section. I selected the birds I liked best, and viola! They were added into my photo where I could position them as I liked.

I then saved the image using the icon at the top right of the screen. Below is the image after editing it in Alien Sky.

7. Apply Final Edits

My final step to finish this photo was to apply a couple more simple edits. Since I was posting the photo on Instagram, I used this app to apply the edits, but you could use another editing app if you prefer.

After opening the image in Instagram, I opened the editing tools by clicking on the “wrench” icon just beneath the photo.

If the sun is in the middle of my photo, I like to add a bit of a vignette to subtly darken the edges of the image. So I opened the Vignette option and slid the bar until I was happy with the effect.

The last edit I made was to open the Warmth option and increase the warmth of the colors a bit. And finally it was done!

Thanks for coming along with me on my editing journey! As you can see, it’s not a quick process – there are a lot of steps and you need to have a bit of patience.

But if you like being creative and building something based solely on your imagination, you’ll love this kind of process – and it’s also great fun!

I consider myself a bit of an artist, and when I’m working on a photo like this, I see it no differently than a painter sitting in front of their canvas and working on creating a picture. It brings great pleasure and is a release for me.

I’m inspired by the fact that I can create anything I envision – just using my iPhone. I hope you have as much fun as I do in creating these wonderful fantasy-style images!

The post How To Create A Fantasy Edit Silhouette Photo On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Take Time To Recharge

For most people, a vacation is about relaxation, unplanned moments, and freeing yourself from the typical stresses of daily life. But us hobby photographers tend to forget to take a break from our hobby, spending the whole time busy taking photos!

While we all enjoy our hobby and want to capture the wonderful moments of our vacation in our photos, it can be a good idea to take a day, or even several days, off from photography.

Remember that you don’t need to capture every event and detail of your vacation. For some people (like me) this can be difficult! Since the first camera was placed into my hands as a little girl, I’ve wanted to capture every moment.

But it goes without saying that this separates you from what’s actually occurring around you. When you spend months working hard to save up money and vacation days, the last thing you need is to not actually relax and partake in your big trip!

Designating a portion of your vacation to rest from both your job and your hobby can be very rewarding. It may be hard to do, but you’ll likely return from your break with a renewed energy, new ideas and perhaps an even keener eye.

I find that my creativity is always at a higher level after taking a little break from my camera. It reminds me why I became passionate about photography to begin with. So be sure to relax, remember to set your camera aside and truly be a part of your vacation.

2. Schedule Some Shooting Time

Vacations are usually about spending quality time with your loved ones, and enjoying the spontaneity and freedom of not having your days planned out.

However, scheduling or designating certain points of your trip for photography can be a great idea – especially when you’re with others who don’t share your passion.

Perhaps choose a few evenings where you can sneak away to a desirable location during the sought-after golden hour of sunset. Or pick a day or two where you get up early to catch a sunrise.

Take a photo walk on your own so that your companions don’t have to wait for you every time you see something you’d like to photograph. But then be sure to set your camera aside and enjoy the people that you are traveling with.

Having time designated to shooting is a win-win for everyone in your party. You get a slice of your trip when everyone encourages you to shoot, and your companions get a break from seeing a camera in front of your face 24 hours a day!

3. Research Photo Opportunities

While we all crave the freedom of being able to do whatever we want whenever we want while on vacation, it’s worth planning a few photoshoots of must-see locations.

Before you travel, check out photography websites and social media spots such as Instagram and Flickr to gather ideas about locations and attractions that you’d like to capture at your destination.

Jot down two to four locations that you’d really like to shoot. Take a few notes on why you like those areas, how to get there, the best viewpoints, what kind of light you’d like to capture them in, etc.

Writing this information as a note in your iPhone is a very simple way to guarantee that you’ll have that information with you wherever you go!

That way, when your phone’s alarm goes off on your trip just before sunrise, you’ll know exactly where you want to go and what you want to shoot.

Doing a little research and planning beforehand will ensure you don’t miss out on those wonderful photo opportunities that you might not otherwise have captured.

4. Bring A New Toy

A fun way to spice up your vacation photography is to bring a new prop or iPhone camera accessory that you’ve never tried before – perhaps because you haven’t had the time to try it out at home.

A brand new prop like an umbrella, a scarf, a book, a mirror or a lantern would work great. Props are perfect for adding a fun or creative streak to your vacation photos.

How about trying a new piece of equipment like a macro or wide angle lens? Or use an iPhone tripod together with an iPhone tripod mount. You can then use a slow shutter app to capture long exposure images at night and in low light, or to create a slow shutter effect on fast moving water like a waterfall.

If you’re traveling somewhere warm where you may be swimming, a waterproof case would be an ideal new toy. Just be sure to test it without the phone inside first so that you know it’s definitely waterproof!

5. Pack A Photo-Friendly Wardrobe

Don’t forget to pack a few outfits that will fit in perfectly with the scenery at your location. The typical person may not pack a red dress to go on a hike to see the sunrise, but that’s what’s going to make your photos stand out!

If you take the time to plan ahead before you leave, you’ll have a great selection of clothing that will make your subjects really stand out in your vacation photos.

For example, bright colored jackets are perfect for snowy scenes as you can see in the photo above. A bright plaid shirt looks great in a forest scene, and earth tones can look stunning when placed against pastel colors like a field.

Large hats, vintage luggage and lovely backpacks can all play great roles in your photos. Just a few photo-friendly items added to your suitcase can really change the way your vacation photos turn out.

6. Set Yourself A Challenge

Finally, a fun thing to try when you’re on vacation is to set some new parameters or challenges for your photography. Choosing a particular genre to shoot is a great way of broadening your skills and improving your creativity.

Your vacation is the perfect time to try out new photography techniques as you’re surrounded by new subjects and environments, and you have plenty of time to experiment.

Maybe you could try just shooting in black and white. Or how about just sticking to street photography, portraits, water, trees or minimalism? You could try photographing a different genre each day, or even every hour that you’re shooting.

Giving yourself a challenge like this can be great fun, and your vacation is the perfect time to try it out. It will likely force you to take photos that are unique and different from what every other tourist is taking at the same destination.

These may end up being your favorite photos since they will certainly stand out. Just remember to keep it simple. Vacations are all about being stress-free! Bon voyage!

The post 6 Tips For Amazing Vacation iPhone Photography appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

The Importance Of Emotion In Photography

The most impactful images are those that evoke emotion in the viewer. If the person looking at your photo develops an emotional connection with the subject, your image is a success.

While a landscape photo may be beautiful, capturing an emotional moment within that landscape will make it stunning and much more memorable for the viewer.

There are many different emotions that you can capture in your photos, but fun, humor and enjoyment are my favorite. Not only does it make the viewer smile, but you get to have a lot of fun in the process!

So let’s take a look at nine techniques that are guaranteed to add a sense of fun and excitement to your iPhone photography.

1. Capture A Humorous Scene

The most obvious way to create a sense of fun in your photos is to actually experience humor while taking the photo.

If something makes you laugh out loud, it will probably do the same for others. So if you see something funny, photograph it with your iPhone.

Try to capture it in a tasteful and artistic way, and make sure your lighting and composition is spot on before you shoot.

Don’t forget to increase your odds of catching funny moments by keeping your iPhone with you at all times. Keep your eyes peeled for funny interactions, humorous street signs and variations of daily life, and shoot them before the moment is gone.

2. Make Sure You’re In A Good Mood

Shooting while you’re in a good mood will shine through in your photos. If you’re dripping with sweat, your arms laden with grocery bags, crying children at your side, and mentally exhausted, then the mood conveyed in your photos probably won’t seem fun either.

However, if you’re laughing hysterically while chasing the world’s cutest superhero through the grocery store, your photos will ooze with positivity.

If you want to shoot something “fun” or “funny” but can’t get out of the ho-hum mood you’re in, try taking a walk or jog for twenty minutes.

Getting that heart pumping and having some time to treat your body well will usually jar you into a lighter mood!

3. Make Your Subject Laugh In Portraits

When photographing people, it’s important to capture genuine emotion rather than a forced smile. When photographing children, saying something funny or acting silly while you’re behind the camera usually works.

Or simply catch photos of your kids as they play. Children almost always have faces filled with joy and bodies expressing the same emotion when they’re playing.

For adults it can be a bit more challenging. One of my favorite tricks is to get the person into position and tell them to smile, then I take a few shots as they expect me to. Then I say, “Okay, all set” and that’s when I really start to fire off the shots.

More often than not, the subject will smile in relief that they’re done with their session and you’ll catch a genuine relaxed look of joy. To me, capturing those candid moments is more important than the staged ones.

4. Shoot With Plenty Of Light

Light and airy photos tend to convey happiness more than dark photos. So if you want to create a sense of fun in your iPhone photos, avoid shooting in low light or indoors on a dull day.

If you’re wishing to create a sense of fun in your photo, perhaps move your subject into a space where there are a lot of windows, or ideally go outdoors where you can have a beautiful blue sky as the backdrop.

Before you take the shot, tap to set focus where you want it. If the photo looks too dark after setting focus, increase the exposure by swiping up on the screen. The aim is to make the picture nice and bright, but without over-exposing the highlights.

And don’t forget to add light to your photos in post-processing. I usually turn up the exposure a lot in my editing process. Try making your photo as light as it can go without losing any of your color saturation or contrast.

5. Use Vibrant Colors

The addition of color almost always adds a positive aspect to a photo. People often say, “the more colorful the photo, the more cheerful it is.”

If you’re in an area that happens to be lacking in color, such as a snowy or urban scene, you could add a cheerful pop of color with a prop.

Be creative – anything will do. A hat, umbrella, shirt, flag, toy, plant, vintage accessory, food item, etc. can all add great pops of color to your photo.

You can also use the colors available in nature. Blue sky, vibrant green grass, turquoise waters, red berries, etc. can all portray happiness in a photo.

6. Capture Motion

Catching your subject in the perfect stride or with their body in a position that conveys a certain emotion is often critical to setting the mood of the photo.

The easiest way to capture just the right moment when your subject is moving is to use the burst mode feature in your iPhone’s camera app. Nearly every time I shoot motion I use burst mode to capture a sequence of images in quick succession.

After shooting in burst mode you can select the perfect image from the sequence. I chose the photo above simply because I liked the slack in the balloon string.

Be very critical of which image you select from the burst sequence. Small details like that can have a really big impact on the mood of your photo.

Catching a person who’s active can really lead to a sense of fun in your photos. Rarely do I take a photo of a person just standing there.

Instead, I ask them to do all sorts of different actions like jumping in the air, running around, kicking a ball or flying a kite. You can’t help but smile when you see a person in action.

7. Use Props & Outfits

Don’t be afraid to do something ridiculous and completely different than what you normally do! Using props can help with this.

Lug a piece of your living room furniture to the local park. Have a friend wear a costume. Buy balloons for no reason.

Once you’ve chosen an unusual element, try to photograph it in a way that tells a story. Be imaginative and have fun in the process!

Use your prop in an unconventional way. Throw the umbrella into the air, put an apple pie on hot asphalt, swim in your clothes, or bring a huge stuffed animal into the forest.

Photography is considered an art. Art is all about being creative and challenging yourself, so go ahead and do something different. After all, you’re an artist!

8. Be Creative With Traditional Elements

Play with traditional photography techniques like scale, shadows, light, and composition. Make something appear unusually large by using forced perspective, or make the subject look tiny by positioning them next to a large object.

Take a photo using mostly the shadow or reflection of your subject. This will add a fun sense of mystery to your photo, making the viewer more intrigued.

Another technique is to include only part of the subject in your scene, such as their hand, arm, foot, leg, etc. Again, this creates a more intriguing image for the viewer.

Compose your shot in unusual ways and shoot from different angles. You could also try flipping your photo upside down in post-processing to create an alternative version of reality.

9. Have Fun With Photo Editing

Sometimes you’re in a great mood, ready to run out and catch a fun image, but the rest of the world doesn’t seem willing to participate.

If you can’t find anything cheerful to photograph, perhaps stepping out of your comfort zone and adding some humorous or fun elements through editing would be a neat thing to try.

Editing apps like Superimpose X, Reflect Mirror Camera and TouchRetouch can help you transform a photo into a humorous vignette.

Create fun fantasy images by combining elements from different photos, adding a reflection or adding fun elements such as balloons, alien sky effects and other special effects.

Once you know how to use a few simple editing apps, the possibilities are limitless to what you can create!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these ideas on how to add some humorous and exciting elements to your photos. Now go out with your iPhone and have some fun!

The post 9 Ways To Create A Sense Of Fun In Your iPhone Photography appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

Introduction To Reflect App

Reflect Mirror Camera (commonly know as Reflect) is a relatively new app by BrainFeverMedia that’s opened the door to many new and creative editing possibilities. Other apps by this developer include the popular LensLight and Alien Sky.

Reflect Mirror Camera can be downloaded from the App Store for $2.99. If you’re searching for the app in the App Store, make sure you search for Reflect Mirror Camera, rather than just Reflect, otherwise you might not find the correct app. The icon for the app is black with 2 purple triangles that resembles an hourglass.

The purpose of this app is simple – it adds a reflection to the lower portion of your photo by mirroring the detail from the top portion of the frame. However, don’t be fooled into thinking this is a basic app!

There are so many creative possibilities to choose from, and it’s incredibly fun and inspiring to use. You can have your subjects reflect in anything from water or ice, to a tiled floor or metal surface. You can even add fog, lens flare, balloons, space objects and more.

In this tutorial we’ll show you a step by step editing process for creating a unique reflection photo using the Reflect app. Below is a photo that I shot of a friend standing in the snow in Chicago.

I loved the symmetry created by the two trees, and I liked the red jacket of my subject and the clean background created by the fog. However, the foreground is less than desirable and takes attention away from the rest of the beautiful scene.

I remember thinking that the photo would have looked much better if there had been water or ice in the foreground to capture the reflections of my subjects. Luckily, it’s possible to easily create reflections using the Reflect app! Below is the final, edited version of this photo that I created using Reflect.

I use the Reflect app fairly often with isolated subjects because I enjoy this kind of minimalist photography. However, there was another reason I decided to use Reflect with this photo.

In the initial stages of the edit, I realized that a square crop wouldn’t allow the trees to entirely fit into the frame. I knew the Reflect app would be the perfect solution to this problem as it would provide me with more space at the bottom of the photo to include within my crop.

How To Create Reflections With Reflect App

So how do you create reflections using the Reflect app? Below I’m going to show you a step by step workflow so that you can create amazing reflection images from any photo on your iPhone.

Start by opening the Reflect app, then access your photo library by tapping the New button (red circle) at the bottom of the screen:

Once you’ve selected the photo, it will appear in the Crop screen. Since I’m typically editing to share a photo on Instagram, I usually select Square on the bottom of the screen:

Once the Square crop option is selected, the app shows a preview of how it would appear as a square. If you tap Done in the upper right, the photo will be cropped as shown in the preview. However, (and here is one of my most favorite parts of the Reflect app!)…

If you use your two fingers to “pinch” your photo in, it will actually move your photo to the upper portion of the square crop, leaving blank, empty space below (this is where your reflection will go later):

Viola! Reflect app has provided me with the added space I needed to crop my photo without losing any of the trees! You can now pinch or spread your fingers to either shrink the photo into the square, or zoom into the photo until you have the exact crop you desire:

Once you’re happy with the crop, tap Done in the upper right corner of the screen. The app will now bring your photo through its reflection process, and your photo will appear with a 50/50 screen. The top half is your original photo, and the bottom half is the new reflection:

If you touch the screen with one finger, then move your finger up and down, you can move the reflection to the position you want. For this photo I chose to position the reflection at the base of the textured snow to give it a sort of “snow bank” appearance:

And now for the really fun part! The Presets option at the bottom of the screen has a huge range of elements to choose from. When you tap the Presets button you’ll see many of the available reflection categories, for example, water, oceans, ice and floor surfaces:

By scrolling down, you’ll see even more categories, such as sci-fi, beaches and tiled surfaces:

Below you can see examples of the some of the different kind of reflection surfaces that I tried out on my snow reflection photo:

A wet street

Cracked paint

A mirrored lake

Ice

For this photo I thought that the Ice category was the most appropriate option. Once you open a specific category, you’ll be able to swipe across the presets to view the many different variations of that category.

The Ice category provides all sorts of different icy textures. You can see some examples below:

Frozen sea

Fractured ice

Cracked ice

Smooth ice

And if that wasn’t enough, you can customize each preset to your exact liking. Just tap Edit at the bottom of the screen to access the editing options.

The first square icon on the left (with chevrons on it) allows you to adjust the texture of the reflection. Simply move the Displacement slider to increase or decrease the amount of visible texture:

The center square icon (with a circle in the center) allows you to adjust the amount of blur in the reflection. Move the Blur slider to control the strength and sharpness of the reflection:

The final square icon on the right controls how dark or light the reflection appears. Move the the Bottom Fade slider to adjust the brightness of the reflection in your image:

Once you’re done editing the reflection, simply tap the icon in the upper right corner of the screen to save your photo.

Please note that there are several more advanced editing options available in the Reflect app that we haven’t explored. The Fog and FX Mode options at the bottom of the screen allow you to add fog, light effects such as lens flares and stars, space objects like moons and galaxies, and even things like balloons and fireworks!

In addition to all of this, the app has a wide variety of filters and general editing tools available. The app is very user friendly, so you should have no problem exploring these extra features and applying them to your photos if you wish.

More Reflect App Photo Examples

To give you some more ideas of what you can create with Reflect, check out some of my other reflection photos below.

These simple reflection photos are some of my favorite types of image to create. I start by isolating the subject using the Superimpose app – this involves erasing the entire photo except for the person.

Click here to learn how to use Superimpose to cut out a subject from a photo and place them on a different background.

I then use Superimpose to add my subject onto a simple photo of a sky. Finally, I use the Reflect app to give the photo a horizon and a reflection. It’s such a simple and minimal composition, but so effective!

Sunset photos make amazing reflections, as you can see in the photos above and below. Both of these pictures started as sunsets without any subjects.

I used the Superimpose app to add the people onto the landscape, and then I used Reflect to add in a reflection. Notice how the reflection increases the amount of color in each photo.

I also enjoy using Reflect to add textured floors and surfaces to some of my photos. These floors look complicated, but they’re just simple options within the Reflect app.

The ice in the final example below photo was completely manufactured using Reflect. I started with a sunset shot that stopped at the horizon with the tall grass.

I then added the entire bottom layer of ice using the Reflect app. Finally, I used Superimpose to add a photo of my son skating on top of the ice.

As you can see, most of my photos have a very common theme of a single person in nature. But there’s a lot of other styles of reflection photography that you can create using Reflect.

Here are some more photos from Craig Hensel’s Instagram account (@thecraighensel) that might inspire you to create other types of reflection photos with the Reflect app.

A photo posted by Resides In Chicago (@thecraighensel) on Oct 28, 2014 at 3:50pm PDT

A photo posted by Resides In Chicago (@thecraighensel) on Nov 4, 2014 at 5:52am PST

A photo posted by Resides In Chicago (@thecraighensel) on Nov 4, 2014 at 3:02pm PST

The post Create Unique Reflection iPhone Photos With Reflect App appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Use Burst Mode

If you do children photography, you’ll know how quickly their expressions change and how fast their bodies move! You’ll also probably know how difficult it can be to capture the perfect moment when you attempt to take a photo. Before you know it, the moment is over or they’ve disappeared out of the frame.

In my opinion, the number one best invention that the latest iPhones have shared with us is the burst mode feature. This is a simple, yet vital tool if you’re taking photos of children or any other moving subject. It allows you to take a series of shots in quick succession and then choose the best shot from the sequence.

Before taking any photos, take a few extra moments to position yourself in anticipation of where the child will be when they move through your frame. Are they running across the yard, jumping into a pool, etc?

Then try to note the position of your light source (most likely the sun if you’re outside). If the subject is in between you and the light source, they will appear as a dark silhouette against the brighter background. If your back is to the light source, it will provide a nice light on your subject and you’ll capture them in full color.

Also try to position yourself so that you have a background that’s appealing to the eye. That way, when the little one comes running, you’ll have a great composition all set up.

Once they start to approach, simply hold down the shutter button on your iPhone’s native camera app to activate burst mode. It will continuously fire off shots until you stop pressing it.

By taking a large amount of photos, the odds are in your favor that you’ll capture the perfect smile and movement you desire.

2. Work With The Child’s Schedule

As a mom of two young boys I can tell you that working to the child’s schedule is a crucial aspect to taking successful photos of children.

If you’re planning on photographing children, and especially if they’re not yours, be sure to inquire about nap times, snack times and any other part of their daily routine that might affect their mood. You’re much more likely to capture big smiles when the little ones are well fed and well rested.

Trying to combine their schedules with the schedule of the sun (harsh light versus soft light) and the adults’ schedules can be difficult. Nevertheless, do the best you can to factor in all of these elements so that your photos are most likely to succeed.

If you’re just casually taking photos of your own children, it’s good to be aware of their limits as well. It can be hard when the lighting is right and the backdrop is stunning, but you have an unwilling model! Sometimes it’s best just to give the kids a break and try again the next day.

It also pays off to anticipate when you might be in situations where the photo opportunities don’t match up with the normal schedule of your children’s day.

If you’re spending a weekend at a cabin and you know that the sunset lake shots will be stunning, but it will be past the little ones’ bed times, try putting them down early the night before or encouraging a daytime nap so that they just might (if you’re lucky!) be willing models at that lovely golden hour.

3. Capture True Emotion

The best photos are usually the ones that aren’t staged. In my opinion, capturing true emotion overrules all other rules. Some of the most stunning photos in the world are revered because of the expressions they’ve captured.

So if you photograph a moment of pure joy, or any other emotion that’s truly stunning in its own right, don’t worry too much if the composition is a little off or the lighting isn’t perfect.

It’s much more important to capture those “real” moments where your children are just having fun, rather than always trying to get “the perfect shot.” If you’re relaxed, they’ll be relaxed, and you’ll be able to capture wonderful little moments of them just being themselves.

Staged photos can be great occasionally, but they’re not sustainable on a daily basis. Regularly pushing staged photos on a little one will surely cause them to dislike it after a while.

Instead, throw them in a photo-friendly outfit, take them somewhere pretty and let them have fun! That way you’ll capture genuine moments that will fill your photo album with true lifelong memories.

4. Make Them Laugh

Do you ever notice that as soon as you get the camera out, your kids get all serious on you?! Their smiles disappear and the more you ask them to look happy for the camera, the more they refuse to smile.

Well, I’ve come up with a solution that is sort of ridiculous, but I must share it because it’s easy and it works. I call it “The Silly Pop Up” and it started when I was taking photos of my boys and they looked drastically bored.

It was just a simple sit-and-smile photo and they were not in the mood. So I decided to act boring too and I quietly asked them to sit nicely on a bench. I took a few steps back and lined up my phone to take their photo. They rolled their eyes and yawned as I got into position.

It wasn’t looking like any smiles were anywhere in sight. So, once my iPhone was all lined up, I started shooting in burst mode and, while holding the camera as steady as possible, I popped my head up and yelled at the top of my lungs “BOO!!”

They went from bored to fully laughing and I caught it all. Nowadays they even smile in anticipation of my Silly Pop Up. It’s also fun to switch up what I yell!

As a side note, I’ve also started to do this occasionally with adult clients and friends, and it works great. It’s just ridiculous enough to cause anyone to smile!

5. Capture The Quieter Moments

Sometimes the best time to photograph children is during the quieter moments of their day. When your child is in a little world of their own, you can capture wonderful photos where they’re completely oblivious to everything that’s going on around them.

Children don’t always have to be jumping around and laughing in order to get a great photo of them. Try not to draw attention to yourself – just discreetly take a few photos of them during that precious time where they appear deep in thought and at one with the world.

Look out for moments when your child is playing intently with their favorite toy or deeply engrossed in a book. When a child is pre-occupied with play, they often won’t notice you taking their photo so you can take some great candid shots without worrying about them becoming shy or silly in front of the camera.

Many of the photos I take of my kids during these quieter times are shot from behind and at a distance so that I remain less intrusive. Don’t worry that the photo doesn’t always include the child’s face – this can actually help with creating a sense of mystery and intrigue in your photos.

When your kids need a nap, this doesn’t mean you have to stop taking photos. A picture of a sleeping child is just beautiful – or sometimes even humorous when they fall asleep in strange places! Make the most of this time as it won’t be long until they’re running around again!

6. Use Props & Outfits

While I said earlier that you should try to shy away from staging photos as much as you can, that doesn’t mean you can’t do some “pre-staging.” Really, this is my favorite way to photograph my kids, and we all have fun!

It all starts with the gathering of a somewhat large arsenal of props. First, take stock of what you already own – dinosaur toys, umbrellas, rain boots, hats, a red wagon, a tricycle, a kite, balloons, fancy dress outfits, etc.

Then maybe take a look through an elderly relative’s basement or garage! I’ve found some fantastic vintage items in my grandfather’s garage. And it’s always fun to hit a rummage sale or an antique shop. I’m perpetually on the lookout for vintage items like tennis rackets, rotary phones, hats, sleds, blankets, thermos’s, etc.

Once you’ve gathered your collection of props, find a spot where these items will be easy to grab, like your garage or the trunk of your car. Whenever a friend sees my trunk, they laugh and say “ahhhh… the quintessential photographer-mom car.”

And yes, it’s true that I carry a car full of props, but my kids don’t see it that way. They think we have a minivan filled with fun! We like to go on little outings after school, to parks, museums, etc. As soon as we park, they run to the trunk to grab a bunch of stuff to play with.

If I know where we’re going that day, I’ll be sure to throw some stuff in the trunk that’s fun for them and will fit in well with the surroundings, like a wagon for a big green grassy hill or a little guitar if we’re going into the countryside.

I don’t take their photo every day but maybe once a week or so I’ll capture a few shots of them playing with something that came out of my trunk.

7. Capture Catchlights In Their Eyes

Since I haven’t ever had any formal training in photography, this is one of those common pro tricks that took me a long time to understand. Catching that little light reflected in your subject’s eyes is so important! This light is called a “catchlight.”

Once you’re aware of catchlights, you’ll want all of your portrait photos to have it as they really make the eyes sparkle. I read somewhere that “eyes with no catchlight are dead eyes.”

Capturing the catchlight in an adult model isn’t hard. You position yourself with your back to the light source, have them sit either facing the light source directly or at an angle, and ask them to slightly move their head until you see the catchlight in their eyes.

This doesn’t sound too hard does it? However, it can be much more of a challenge with little ones who squirm and don’t like to be still!

I like to play the “can you look at that” game. Have the child sit or stand in the appropriate spot, then ask them to look at different interest points that are behind or alongside you and towards the light source. If there isn’t a good light source, you can always create one using a flashlight or anything reflective.

Hopefully you’ll be able to find the right spot as they move and you’ll capture that catchlight in their eyes. After practicing this for a few weeks, you’ll become a much better predictor of where they need to look. As an added bonus, this game usually makes them smile and relax.

8. Shoot From A Low Angle

Getting down to the child’s level is so important. It’s what lets you put their heads in the clouds! It’s also what helps you capture the little details like toes, bellies and chubby thighs that you wouldn’t see so well from above.

Occasionally a photo from above is fun if you’re trying to capture the environment they’re in, but for the most part, taking photos from a low angle, at the standpoint of the child, works best.

Shooting from the height of the child shows the world from their perspective. It also helps to put the child more at ease since you’re not towering above them, and you can make better eye contact with them. It means you can interact more with the child and your pictures will show this.

Shooting from a low angle is also great for getting more plain sky behind your subject, so if you have a distracting background this is a great technique to use.

It’s also good for creating a sense of scale. Nothing beats seeing a shot of a cute little one against a massive colorful wall or a large expanse of sky.

9. Create More Magic In Post-Processing

The great thing about learning to use a few editing apps and photoshop apps is that they enable you to relax and not be overly concerned about the small details as you photograph your kids.

The TouchRetouch app ($1.99) is great for easily removing unwanted objects such as a cut or a dirty mark on the child’s face. And Superimpose X ($4.99) is excellent for adding in extra fun elements such as a balloon, a fishing pole, your dog, some birds, etc.

I also use it to avoid arguments. If they want to wear their favorite ratty old hat to the park on the day you thought would be perfect for a few photos, let them wear it. You can then simply superimpose a different hat afterwards.

Learning how to use Superimpose X will allow you to create wonderful fantasy-style iPhone photos. Your kids will love these extra fun elements that you add. Asking them to get involved in the editing process might even give you ideas that you might not have thought of yourself.

From a simple photo of your children, you can create a magical fairytale image that will capture their imagination and hopefully get them more interested in being photographed.

If you want to learn more about improving your photographs of children, check out our other insightful tutorial covering 14 tips for taking incredible iPhone photos of children.

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