How to take good portraits with your smartphone

Ah, capturing beautiful portraits with just your smartphone – it’s absolutely achievable! It’s all about understanding a few key principles and leveraging the strengths of your device. Let’s dive into the details:

1. Mastering the Light: The Soul of a Portrait

Light is arguably the most crucial element in any photograph, and portraits are no exception.¹ Here’s how to make it work for you:

• Embrace Natural Light: This is your best friend. Seek out soft, diffused light, like that found near a window (but not in direct sunlight, which can create harsh shadows) or in open shade.² Overcast days can also provide beautifully even lighting.
• Avoid Direct Sunlight: As mentioned, direct sun often leads to squinting, harsh shadows under the eyes, nose, and chin, and blown-out highlights.³ If you must shoot in bright sunlight, try positioning your subject in the shade of a tree or building.
• Pay Attention to the Direction of Light:

• Front Lighting: Can be flattering as it evenly illuminates the face, but it can also be a bit flat and lack dimension.⁴
• Side Lighting: Creates more dramatic shadows and highlights, adding depth and shape to the face.⁵ Experiment with different angles.
• Backlighting: Placing the light source behind your subject can create a beautiful rim light or halo effect.⁶ Be mindful of your camera’s exposure, as it might underexpose your subject’s face. You might need to tap on your subject’s face on the screen to adjust the focus and exposure.
• Be Mindful of Artificial Light: If you’re indoors with artificial light, avoid harsh overhead fluorescent lights, which can cast unflattering shadows.⁷ Look for softer lamps or try to diffuse the light by placing a thin cloth over the light source.

2. Composition: Telling a Story Within the Frame

How you arrange your subject and the elements around them significantly impacts the portrait’s impact:

• The Rule of Thirds: Imagine dividing your screen into nine equal sections with two horizontal and two vertical lines.⁸ Placing your subject’s key features (like their eyes) along these lines or at their intersections often creates a more balanced and visually appealing composition.
• Leading Lines: Use natural or artificial lines in the background to draw the viewer’s eye towards your subject.
• Filling the Frame: Sometimes getting closer to your subject and filling the frame can create a more intimate and impactful portrait, focusing solely on their face and expression.
• Negative Space: Leaving some empty space around your subject can emphasize them and create a sense of balance or mood.
• Consider the Background: A cluttered or distracting background can take away from your subject. Look for clean, simple backgrounds or use techniques to blur the background (more on that later).
• Angles and Perspective: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different shooting angles. A slightly lower angle can make your subject appear taller and more powerful, while a slightly higher angle can be flattering for some face shapes. Shoot at eye level for a more direct and engaging connection.

3. Focus and Depth of Field: Making Your Subject Stand Out

Smartphones are getting increasingly sophisticated with their focus capabilities:

• Tap to Focus: Most smartphone cameras allow you to tap on the screen where you want the focus to be.⁹ Make sure to tap on your subject’s eyes for a sharp and engaging portrait.
• Portrait Mode (Bokeh Effect): Many modern smartphones have a dedicated “Portrait Mode.”¹⁰ This feature uses software or multiple lenses to create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and making your subject pop. Experiment with the intensity of the blur if your phone allows it.
• Understanding Aperture (Simulated): While smartphones don’t have physical apertures like DSLR cameras, the “Portrait Mode” simulates the effect of a wide aperture (low f-number), which is what creates the background blur.¹¹
• Getting Physically Closer: If your phone doesn’t have a great portrait mode, simply moving closer to your subject can naturally create some background blur due to the physics of the lens.

4. Capturing the Expression: The Heart of the Portrait

A technically perfect portrait can still fall flat if the subject’s expression is unengaging:

• Connect with Your Subject: Talk to them, make them feel comfortable, and encourage genuine emotions. A relaxed and natural expression is always more compelling than a forced smile.
• Give Direction: Offer gentle guidance on posing and expression. Instead of just saying “smile,” try asking them to think of something that makes them happy.
• Capture Candid Moments: Sometimes the most beautiful portraits are the unplanned ones. Be ready to snap a photo when your subject is laughing, talking, or simply being themselves.
• Pay Attention to the Eyes: The eyes are often called the “windows to the soul.” Ensure they are in focus and capture the light. A small catchlight (a reflection of a light source in the eye) can add sparkle and life.¹²

5. Utilizing Your Smartphone’s Features:

Don’t underestimate the power of your phone’s built-in tools:

• Grid Lines: Enable the grid lines in your camera settings to help you apply the rule of thirds.¹³
• Zoom (Use with Caution): Digital zoom can often degrade image quality.¹⁴ If possible, physically move closer to your subject instead of zooming in. Some phones have optical zoom lenses, which are better for maintaining quality.¹⁵
• Burst Mode: Useful for capturing a series of shots quickly, increasing your chances of getting the perfect expression.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range): Can be helpful in situations with high contrast, balancing the highlights and shadows.¹⁶ However, use it judiciously for portraits, as it can sometimes make skin tones look unnatural.
• Filters and Editing Apps: While it’s best to get the shot right in-camera, editing apps like Snapseed, VSCO, and Adobe Lightroom Mobile can help you fine-tune your portraits by adjusting brightness, contrast, colors, and sharpness. Use filters subtly to enhance, not drastically alter, the image.

6. Practice and Experimentation:

Like any skill, taking great smartphone portraits takes practice. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different lighting conditions, compositions, and angles. The more you shoot, the better you’ll become at recognizing what works and developing your own style.

Key Takeaways for Great Smartphone Portraits:

• Light is paramount. Seek soft, natural light whenever possible.
• Composition matters. Use the rule of thirds and consider your background.
• Focus on the eyes. Tap to ensure sharpness.
• Capture genuine expressions. Connect with your subject.
• Utilize your phone’s features wisely.
• Practice, practice, practice!

With these tips in mind, you’re well on your way to capturing stunning portraits with the device you already have in your pocket. Now go out there and start shooting!