I-Phone Tips from Sunnyvale Newborn Photographer

How to get clearer photos using your I-Phone
The biggest mistakes I see people make when it comes to taking pics with their I-Phones (or similar handheld point and shoot cameras) is just a matter of awkward handling. Are your pictures fuzzy? Foggy or Hazy? How do you fix that?

1. When shooting, hold your camera as still as you can. Especially in low light conditions. Your camera is designed to slow its shutter speed in low-light scenarios which means you gotta hold REALLY still to get a clean shot. So practice bracing your elbows to your sides while hold the camera up. Or, find a solid surface that works almost as good as a tripod. This will support the camera and hold it still much better. One more funny tip is to try holding your breath for a moment when you click the shutter! Kinda weird but sometimes that's what it takes!

2. Speaking of low light, the best way to get a clear shot is to light your subject properly. Back light is horrible for today's I-Phones. The phones just can't handle it. Place your subject closer to a window, or shoot outside in full shade. Just getting good light on the subject alone, will help the camera itself perform better. Check out my post on taking photos of your kids for more low light tips.
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3. It may seem silly, but WIPE YOUR LENS! LOL. I can't tell you the number of times I've offered to help someone get a family shot on some travel adventure, and I look at the back of their phone at the actual lens. Surprise! It's grimy! A simple trick, but an effective one, and one we don't think about all the time- simply wiping off your lens will make your pics clearer. After all, we store that thing in our purses, and heaven knows what kid-size drama made it into my bag this week! (we can exchange stories on toddler messes when you next see me around!)

HAPPY SHOOTING!