5 TIPS FOR TAKING BETTER IPHONE PICTURES

02/02/2014

* Article originally published in the M.O.B. February Newsletter*
When I look back at my childhood pictures, it’s a quick trip. My parents took photos, but it doesn’t take long to breeze through the family albums. I was born in the late 70’s and grew up in the 80’s which wasn’t a big ‘photography’ era. It’s certainly nothing like it is now.
When my daughter was born, my brother-in-law requested that I take frequent photos of her so that he could watch her grow, even if he didn’t see her everyday. And when I say frequent I mean everyday. Yup. Everyday. She is now over a year old and I have taken thousands of pictures of her. I am not kidding you. Thousands. And I don’t think I am alone. With a smartphone at everyone’s fingertips, pictures are being taken like never before.
So what does that mean for quality? And how do you make sure to get the best pictures of your baby? Infant? Toddler? Family? Jennifer Martel of JM Photography, specializes in portraits, specifically maternity and newborn. As a new mother to two and a half month old Rhys, she too is always taking photos and readily admits most of them are with her iphone. Here are a few of her tips for using your iPhone:

1. Get as close as possible to your child – especially to their face. If you are using the iphone, simply tap on their face (on the screen of your phone) which focuses the iphone. Makes the picture much more clear.
2. Make sure you clean off the lense. You don’t want fingerprints on your photos. Doesn’t need to be cleaned with anything complicated. Your shirt, a blanket or something soft is good enough.
3. When it comes to lighting with your iphone – it’s a remarkably smart device. So if you push in to focus on your child’s face – the phone will adjust itself to the light.
4. Turn OFF the flash, especially when it comes to babies. Just like we are temporarily blinded when someone takes a photo with a flash, it has the same effect on babies. Not a good thing. Turn off the flash. If you do use a flash, it will also change the skin tone of your subject.
5. Natural light is the best form of light. When Jennifer does newborn photos – she has a large bay window they take pictures in front of. Provides simple, beautiful photos.
While the iphone is a very convenient camera, it will give you good picture qualify ideally for 4×6, 5×7 and 8×10. Don’t use your iphone if you intend to blow up photos any larger than this. You will lose picture quality.
What if you have a point and shoot camera? Here are a few of Jennifer’s tips:
1. Similar to the iphone, get in as close as possible to your subject. Fill the frame as much as possible. Many point and shoot cameras will put a square around the face (in the screen). Tap on the face to make it as clear as possible. And turn the flash off!
2. When it comes to outdoor photos – try to focus on having fun with the pictures as opposed to getting the ‘perfect’ photo. Let the kids run around, play and laugh. The candid photos are often the moments that are more precious than the forced smile ones.
3. Winter photos: If you plan to take family portraits or self portraits in the winter, remember it’s best to wear BRIGHT colours. Wearing white, on white doesn’t translate well on camera.


*** TIP: If you are looking to get your kids to smile and they’re not? Ask them who brushed their teeth? You may get a cheesy grin, but a smile is better than none.
Finally if you are like me and don’t know what to do with the thousands of photos you’ve taken in one year? Jennifer suggests Apple’s photo books which are great quality.
Creating an Apple photo book is my plan. Easy to use, and the perfect way to display all of our photos. They won’t make it all into one book, but at least it’s a start. As for the rest, that’s what a memory stick is for. And when my daughter grows up and wants to look at her childhood photos? All I can say is she’d better have some time. A lot of time.
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You can find out more about JM Photography here: http://www.jmphotos.ca/
If you’d like more tips on taking better pictures from your iPhone – I found this blog that had 10 other handy tips: http://julieverse.com/2013/05/14/10-tips-for-better-iphone-pictures/