Christmas time is a special occasion when all the family gets together, with some relatives travelling a long way it’s important to make the most of the time together. Pictures are a brilliant way to capture a moment and treasure it forever. With mobile phones and tablet nowadays having excellent cameras on them you really have no excuse not to take some pictures.
The only problem is these cameras can sometimes be a bit confusing to use. Have you ever taken pictures in the past with your thumb over the lenses or forgot to turn on the flash? Without learning the basics, you’ll never be able to take that perfect snap! Luckily, we’re about to give you a crash course in how to take an excellent photo on your phone or tablet.
Update Your Software
First things first, before we even load up the camera app you’ll want to make sure your phone or tablet's software is up to date. With new updates come new features, take the iOS 10 software for iPhones and iPads. With the latest release, the software added lots of new features and improvements to user’s devices. These features such as faster camera launch, improved stabilisation and the ability to do RAW shooting all make the user's life easier and the photos higher quality.
Depending which device, you have (Android or Apple) you should always check you are on the latest software / firmware before you start taking those snaps. This can be easily done on any phone or tablet by going into the settings tab and pressing the check for software updates.
Use Gridlines to Help Take the Photo
Our first tip that will help you immensely when taking pictures is the gridlines tool which is available on almost any device. These grid lines might seem pointless to some people, but they can significantly help improve your photos.
To turn on the grid lines, there will be a setting section in the camera app that will let you adjust all the settings. These settings include flash, capture mode, and gridlines. Simply turn the lines on and you’ll notice the difference straight away in the viewfinder.
So how do these gridlines help? Well, these lines help you apply the “rule of thirds”. This rule says an image should be broken down into 3rds both horizontally and vertically. By putting the main point of interest in the middle and making sure the photo is spaced out evenly between the grid, this makes the picture easier to understand and grabs the viewer's attention. To read more about the rule of thirds check out this useful website.
The next time you’re taking a snap, be sure to centre the most important part of the picture in the middle of the gridlines.
Avoid Zooming In
When taking a picture on your device, the last thing you want to do is zoom in. Most mobiles and tablets don’t have proper zoom and therefore rely on something called digital zoom. This digital zoom is the same as opening a picture on your computer and zooming in. So why ruin your photo by zooming in when you can do it later?
When taking photos, it’s best to leave the zoom function entirely. If you need to zoom in for any reason, then the best thing to do is to just get closer. If you’re taking a picture of your family and they look at bit small, then move closer to fit them all in. Once you’ve taken the picture, you can zoom in and crop the photo later on your computer or device.
Make Sure there is Plenty of Light
Another great tip to take an excellent photo on your device is to make sure you have plenty of light. Dark environments are terrible for taking photos and bring up a lot of problems such as blurring, bad quality and hard to make out figures.
The best way to combat this is to either find a brighter environment or to make sure your flash is turned on. Preferably having a brighter environment is preferred as the lightning will look more natural and realistic. A flash can solve the problem, but sometimes the pictures will come out looking like you’re shining a torch in everyone's face.
Use the Correct Editing Software
Once you’ve taken your photo, it’s time to add the finishing touches. Adjusting the lighting, cropping the image, or rotating it are all the effects you can do after taking it. These might seem like small changes, but they can make a huge difference on your photo.
The best editing app available on mobile and tablets is currently Instagram. Not only does it allow you to edit your photos and add filters but it also allows you to share them with your friends and family.
If you don’t feel like sharing it with the world then don’t worry, you can also save them to your phone and share them privately.
So, there you have it, the ultimate guide on how to take the best pictures this Christmas when you’re with your family.
Show Off Your Work
Now you’ve taken the perfect photos it's time to show them off. The iBeani is the ultimate tablet holder which is capable of holding any tablet in any location. Pictures frames are so out of date, digital pictures frames are the new craze. Not only do they allow you to show multiple pictures but it can be easily done from your tablet. Simply set your tablet screensaver and place it in the iBeani. There you have it, a digital picture frame!
To view our range of iBeanis be sure to visit our online store.