“Stop and smell the roses”,  “Be in the moment”, “Live for the Day” and the list goes on. We’ve heard these phrases all our lives but how often do we practice them? 

Well, how about trying to do just that this week by taking some macro iPhone photos?! This type of photography trains you to look for the little peculiarities in life.  

Get close and comfortable with the flowers, a beetle, your breakfast plate. There are a plethora of stunning images you can capture that will bring a whole new dimension to your iPhone photos and your creativity.    

When you’re practicing macro photography your mind and eyes need to shift into the level of the ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’ movie. The tiniest detail appears larger than life. 

Bring your vision down a notch from what’s in front of you and hone in on the minute things that people don’t necessarily pay attention to. These are the types of scenarios that will introduce you to a whole new world of photography. You’ll be looking for patterns that are often unrecognizable by the human eye but they’ll come to life in your macro photos.   

There are two types of close up pictures 

One concept is called close-up photography which is getting your phone physically close to a subject but still utilizing the standard lens of the phone. 

The other is macro photography and it uses the technology in the lens of your phone to make an object look a lot closer than it really is. 

Apple lens technology to the rescue

The latest lens tech from Apple has really been a game changer in taking macro photos. 

The iPhone has come a long way in improving the quality of macro images. Especially with the  iPhone 13 Pro model, Apple has created the ability to take even better macro images with its third lens; the ultra wide. The autofocus works in conjunction with the ultra wide lens allowing it to hone in closer, about 2cm from your subject, and still come out in detailed focus. 

Keep in mind that you don’t have to do anything to use the feature because your iPhone 13 Pro will automatically switch to a wide lens when you get close to an object. The camera screen will pop up a yellow flower icon to let you know that it’s in that mode. 

If you decide you’d rather do it manually you can switch the Macro mode off by going to Setting, Camera and scrolling down to toggle off the Macro Control. Then the next time you want to take a Macro image you’ll select the .5 lens above the shutter button.  

For crisper photos select Raw mode at the top right of your camera screen. This will allow the use of more robust editing features in third party apps like Snapseed or Lightroom. You’ll have more room for creativity and dialing in on truly beautiful images using these apps.  

But, hold up, what if I don’t have an iPhone 13 Pro?  

Don’t worry I’ve got you covered! I’ve taken some amazing close-up and macro iPhone photos using an iPhone X. 

There are a couple of options available to get the results you’re looking for:

Apps are a big help

You can purchase a third party app. One that I really like is Halide. It allows you to improve the quality of your iPhone’s macro photography capability. The app is relatively easy to use and can be maneuvered rather effortlessly.   

Mobile phone external lens

Another option is to purchase an external macro lens that attaches to your iPhone and is placed in front of the current lenses. Using this type of lens will elevate your capacity to take some gorgeous macro images. 

The iPhone external lens I recommend is the Xenvo Pro Lens Kit. It’s a great lens plus it even comes with an attachable led light. If you think you want to step it up a notch then this higher end ShiftCam Macro Prolens mobile phone external lens is the way to go. It easily attaches onto your phone without having to take your case off.

Once you have the right tech and/or app there are a few more things to consider to optimize your macro iPhone photo results. 

Must haves for awesome macro iPhone photos

Lighting

It doesn’t matter if you’re capturing a landscape image, a portrait or a close-up it all comes back to light. Before you dive into your delicious morning frittata consider how all those colors and textures can create a cool macro image. 

Then examine the light that’s coming in through a window or from a lamp that will allow you to capture all the details in your breakfast frittata. If you’re outdoors then the usual early morning hours or late afternoon advice also applies for the best lighting. 

One thing to keep in mind in macro iPhone photography is that since you’re so close to your subject you need to be aware of your own shadow and how that’s affecting the clarity of the flower or daddy long legs you’re capturing.  

Take a look at my post 5 Simple Types Of Photography Lighting For Stunning iPhone Photos for more iPhone photo lighting tips.

Focus

Focus is crucial in almost any photo and it’s especially decisive in macro photography.

Just like holding your camera still in night time shots, it’s just as vital while trying to capture tiny details. Macro images are less forgiving than those that are farther away.  

Try keeping your hand as steady as possible. If your hands are too shaky then lock the focus by pressing on your subject on the view finder until the AE/EF function appears. Both the lighting and focus will get locked. Also use exterior help like leaning against a wall or squatting and laying your elbows on your thighs. 

Tripods can help

To eliminate shake all together use a tripod. This will take the pressure off of your hands and you can concentrate on capturing a good macro image. Tripods can be easily purchased on Amazon.  

Here’s an example of the one I use, Texlar Tripod for mobile phones. It’s light, portable and it extends just enough to allow me to capture something at ground level that’s more challenging to get by using just my hands. This particular one transforms into a selfie stick which is also a great tool to use for macro iPhone shots because you can use the shutter remote that’s included.  

If you find yourself taking more images that are higher up then consider getting a tall tripod like the Amazon Basics Tripod that I utilize for my DSLR and iPhone. I pair it up with this inexpensive cell phone tripod adapter and presto you have a solid 60 inch tripod for your iPhone photography!

Background

Beside Light and Focus another thing to examine is your background. Although you’re taking close up images in macro iPhone photography you still need to keep track of what else is in your viewfinder besides the subject.   

For best results use a muted background. 

Another idea is to utilize the sky which will really get your ‘tiny’ subject to pop. It’s clean, crisp and lets your eyes focus on the most important part of your photo. 

Also, play with your angles by looking for unusual positions and points of perspective. 

Move the iPhone around the focal point you have in mind. For example, capturing an image from above will add a more dramatic effect. Capturing a shot from down looking up can get a beautiful sky and can make your small subject look grand.  

One more idea to add interest to your photos is the use of water since it acts like a lens and refracts and reflects light in a unique way. A droplet of water on a flower reflects light in an unexpected manner and adds a new twist to your composition. 

To sum it up       

Macro photography takes practice and patience. 

If you don’t own an iPhone 13 Pro that’s totally fine. You can improve the image quality by purchasing an external lens like the ones mentioned earlier. In addition you can add a third party app like Halide. Both these options will greatly transform your macro images.  

Finally, remember the basics. Proper lighting is still king, keep your iPhone steady for optimal focus and change your view by trying out unusual angles and moving your iPhone around your tiny subject.  

There’s no better time than the present to have fun with your iPhone camera and experiment with some of these tips. You might just enjoy slowing down a bit to check out the small stuff and in the process get more creative, unexpected and beautiful macro iPhone photographs! 

PS – Once you amass a bunch of new macro iPhone photos you might find my free guide helpful – 6 Successful Ways To Organize Your iPhone Photos With Albums. In it you’ll learn some simple but powerful steps to get your photo gallery under control!

How To Capture Amazing Colorful Macro iPhone Photographs Every Time

Long, long ago in a place far, far away….Lol

No, seriously, before I discovered that I had an eye for photography I thought that great portraits of real people could only be taken at studios by professional photographers.

The few times we took family photos we went to Sears, remember that place? I would also see similar photos when I visited friends’ homes. Their parents would have portraits of their families hung on the wall with everyone sitting stiffly and smiling at the camera. That’s how I viewed portrait photography.

Fortunately that just isn’t the case anymore.

This truth is that today the simple fact that you possess a quality camera in your pocket changes everything. You have a great tool at your disposal with your iPhone that can be used at a moment’s notice. Taking iphone portraits of your family can be spontaneous or you can take advantage of being at a park or on a trip and take an extra few minutes to take some choice photos of the kids or your friends.

There are 5 main techniques that can transform a good photo of someone into great iphone portrait photography of that same person. You can start by using Portrait mode on iPhone (that by itself can snap some pretty professional looking shots) but also keep in mind where you’re taking your photos, the angles you use, your subject’s posture and how natural it looks.

1) Portrait Mode

It seemed that overnight the layman’s ability to take a professional looking photo was changed in 2016 when Apple introduced their iPhone 7 Plus, the first iPhone with portrait mode.

Portrait mode is located next to the regular ‘Photo’ mode on your iPhone and it creates a depth of field effect that previously had only been available on DSLRs and fancier expensive cameras. With it on your iPhone takes two photos, one with the depth effect and one without. In essence it keeps your subject in sharp focus while blurring the background behind them. This maintains your attention on the subject and diminishes the distraction of louder backgrounds.

To optimize Portrait mode on iPhone you need to position your iPhone camera between 2 to 8 feet from your subject (your phone will also remind you when you need to keep these distances). This means you can even take a selfie in Portrait mode if you have an X or newer!

Once you take your iPhone portraits you can control the amount of blur by going to your camera app and clicking on ‘Edit’. From there you will see ‘Portrait’ in a yellow or orange box at the top. Click on that box to remove the blur if you so choose.

You can also control the amount of blur while also in ‘Edit’ and going to the top left and tapping on the horizontal oval that starts with an ‘f’ and then a number. A slider will appear and you can either move it left or right to intensify the blur or diminish it.

Along these lines you can play with the choice of lighting that appears at the bottom of the ‘Edit’ page. Choose Natural Light, Studio Light or Contour Light which are options that either even out the light or add shadows. The other 3 features are Stage Light, Stage Light Mono or High Key Light Mono. All of these latter options crop out your subject and change the background to black or white. I usually stick to the first three choices. They seem to have the best results in my portrait photos. Usually I test each one to see which displays my subject in the most flattering way.

2. Clean Background and Blank Space

The best way to take iPhone portraits of a person or your pet is by having minimal distractions behind them.

A busy background takes away from your focal point which is your subject. Any bright colored objects in the frame will move your viewer’s eye to that object.

In order to have a more impactful iphone portrait photography be sure to shoot your image with a neutral background or more solid colors in the scene.

An alternative you might want to take is to position your subject on one side of the frame and leave the rest of the frame with a plainer setting

This ‘blank’ area is known as Dead Space by photographers. It’s any space that doesn’t have other elements to distract the viewer’s eye. It can be muted, empty, faraway or one-toned colors. It gives the photo a heavier dimension feeling and your subject pops out even more.

3. Mix Angles and Create Perspective

Angles, angles, angles….this is where good photos can turn into great iPhone portraits!

You can capture your subject from unique angles and this will change the perspectives of the viewer. The subject stays in place but the photographer moves. This can make the photo more interesting.

There’s eye level perspective which is the one typically used by many people.

Another option is to hold your iPhone above your subject. This is called High Angle Perspective. What’s at the forefront looks larger and the rest shrinks and blurs out.

Or take a shot while positioning your iPhone coming from below your subject, called Low Angle Perspective. This gives your subject a bigger, more powerful look.

Also attempt some shots from the side. Have your subject keep their gaze forward and you can get some interesting profile photos.

Experiment with all sorts of different angles. Don’t be shy, you have nothing to lose and you can surprise yourself by the results!

4. Body Positioning

The way your subject is positioned can make a big difference in the outcome of your iPhone portraits.

Your subjects can be sitting, standing or anything in between. The most interesting shots are the ones where your subject is not standing stick straight facing forward.

If your subject is standing you can have them lean against a wall. Or if they’re standing solo then try getting them to tilt a shoulder down in your direction. Many times you get the best results by your subject having one shoulder higher than the other (usually the one in the back).

If the subject is sitting, try different poses while in a chair; lift a leg over the armrest, sit on the arm rest and put their feet on the chair, or sit on the ground with their knees raised.

Also in regards to their faces, tilted ones get the most expression. Keep an eye for inverted or hiding chins. Those don’t look very attractive and can cause the unwanted ‘double’ chin. Have your subjects lift their chin a bit or if the chin is angled down do so ever so slightly.

The hair is another thing to watch out for. If it’s long, push it to one side so the face is revealed. Or for a more mysterious feel, have the hair shade one of their eyes (or both).

How you crop your iPhone portraits while you’re taking them can make a difference too. Remember in full body length photos not to cut feet or hands out of the shot. It makes the subject in your image look very odd. For the best results you can take photos above their waist or crop the shot at their knees.

Also, smiles don’t have to be part of the scene. I’m used to it having broody teenagers that don’t always like to smile. This can come in handy when you want to add a little mystery or a subdued feeling to the image. Your viewer can be more drawn into this type of photograph.

5. Be Natural

These natural types of iPhone portraits can be considered more candid and also seem the least staged.

If you are photographing more than one person you can have them chatting amongst themselves. This brings out calm, relaxed and natural faces. Sometimes it even catches some genuine smiles and giggles, especially if you’re photographing kids.

Another great technique if you’re outside at a park or at the beach is to have your subjects walk towards you while you’re photographing them with your iPhone. This will make your subjects look less posed and more in their element, and it creates a better quality image.

Lastly, you can take an iPhone self portrait when you feel like focusing on yourself in your natural surroundings (and then add your favorite Portrait mode effects if you like).

In Conclusion

The only way to get better with taking iPhone portrait photography is by practicing and taking a lot of shots!

Try one or all of these techniques the next time you’re out and about taking photos of your family or friends.

Pick a place that has neutral colors and experiment with how your kids are standing or sitting. Then move the iPhone around for the shot.

Tell them silly jokes to get them to laugh and always, always capture the shots with portrait mode on iPhone. The blurred background gives iPhone portraits that extra touch of professionalism.

By utilizing these time-tested techniques you’ll see how quickly you can learn to master iPhone portrait photography!

Bonus Portrait Mode Tips Video

Just in case you’re more of a visual learner I created this iPhone Portraits video to help you get all the portrait techniques down from my post. Enjoy!

PS – With so many new family portraits on your iPhone you might find my free guide helpful – 6 Successful Ways To Organize Your iPhone Photos With Albums. In it you’ll learn simple but powerful steps to get your photo gallery under control!

Savor Marvelous iPhone Portraits Now With These 5 Powerful Techniques

When I first started my photography journey I didn’t pay much mind to the whole notion of light. I just saw something I liked or wanted to remember and I clicked the shutter. Little did I know of how greatly the different types of photography lighting influences your whole photo. Now in hindsight I shouldn’t have been surprised at my lackluster results. 

One of my first cameras was a little waterproof Olympus point and shoot. It was so long ago that I had to buy physical rolls of film, remember those! Lol. I would press the button and pray that within the 24 or 36 chances I was given that I had captured at least some keepers. Since I had to be deliberate with so few possibilities I started becoming more vested in the results and my passion for taking better images began. 

My journey led me to purchasing my first DSLR 15 years ago. And although it was digital it had a memory card the size of a coffee coaster! Regardless, I was thrilled that I wasn’t limited in the number of pictures I could snap and it allowed me to experiment with a lot of different shots.

I then began to read more on photography and the theme of lighting photography techniques. Unfortunately, I was under the impression that the lighting rules were mostly for DSLRs and I didn’t immediately transfer those concepts to my iPhone photography. 

My lighting epiphany

Then one day it dawned on me that it didn’t matter what camera I used, the nuances of lighting in photography was the same no matter what lens was used to capture it. 

Lighting is essential in all photography. It affects your results entirely. It is just as true for digital photography on your iPhone as it is for professional photographers with their fancy cameras.

Light can convey a lot of emotion, creates different moods and brings meaning to your subject. Photos can be soft or edgy, creative or traditional. 

There are several different types of photography lighting but the most common are hard, soft, front and backlighting. Besides the types of light, other important factors are positioning and the colors of your images. 

Understanding the effects of light is the quickest way to improve the quality of the iPhotos you take.

Photography is the capturing of light, your subjects just happen to be in it.  

What are some of the types of photography lighting? 

Front light

Front lighting is the most traditionally used type of  lighting. It occurs when the light source is coming from behind the photographer, which is you, and directed towards your subjects.

It is one of the most common types of photography lighting because it’s simple to set up and evenly illuminates the subject using natural light or artificial light.

It also allows for the most amount of details to show up as all the shadows fall behind your subject.

Because of this, front lighting generally works great in most situations but can sometimes look the least creative or interesting compared to other types of photography lighting. 

Soft light

Soft lighting Is an ideal setting to take photos, especially for beginners. It is a lot more forgiving. It occurs when light is diffused by something and comes from a large light source with wide surface area. There isn’t much transition between shadows so it’s a less intense contrast between dark and light parts of your photo. 

Soft light can be captured anywhere. In an indoor setting it can be created by using a curtain to diffuse the rays coming into a room on a sunny day. If you want even softer light, pick a north facing window and the light will be even more diffused. The larger the subject the more ways the light can come in and ‘attack’ the subject from all angles. 

Outdoors it occurs best on cloudy or overcast days. The rays of the sun are diffused by the clouds which create a more spread out source of light. But you can experiment with anything that will diminish the harsh light of direct sunlight with an umbrella or the shadow of a building or tree.You can even try the umbrella idea indoors by diffusing the direct light of a flash or big overhead light. 

In general portraits turn out better with soft light. It creates less harsh shadows on faces, softer lines and hides blemishes the best by causing less drama overall. 

Hard light

Hard lighting is produced from a small light source when the light is directed straight onto the subject. A good example would be when you’re outside in the middle of a sunny day. Although this type of light source can cause some sparkle in the photo it mostly shows intense contrast between light and dark. This in turn produces sharp shadows with minimal transition. 

When you’re indoors this hard light comes from an overhead light above your subject or a strong light directed towards your subject, like a flash. This type of light is not usually preferred in portrait photography because it can cause more shadows under eyes and skin blemishes appear more prominent. It is not the most forgiving light unless you add additional light sources to counter the shadows. 

But don’t stress out too much about it for now because I’ve managed to take some decent iPhone photos using my flash. It’s just not the most natural or optimal looking. Just be aware of the shadows. Later on when you get the hang of lighting better there will definitely be opportunities to use it and show impactful photos and reveal textures more noticeably.  

Backlight

Backlighting is exactly as it sounds. It comes from a light source that is behind your subject. It’s a different way to show your creativity in your photographs. You do give up some details in the subject. 

For example if you´re taking pictures of your kiddos and they´re in front of a big light you won’t be able to see their faces very well. But you will get some cool looking silhouette images! Long shadows can be a product of these types of photos too. 

If you´re concerned with showing more detail in your subject’s face, consider using a diffused light that shines on your subject. This reflects some of the light from the background to the front of your subject. Sometimes portrait shots can get a nice halo effect this way. It’s fun to experiment with backlight, especially outdoors with leaves and flowers.

What affects your lighting?

So how can you make good use of your knowledge of these different types of photography lighting sources and improve your photos overall quality? Begin by moving. That’s right, move while you’re taking photos. It’s the key principle in ‘positioning’. 

Observe how changing where you stand with your phone changes the shadows and color of your photos. Experiment with putting yourself in different angles from that light source. Click the shutter on the side of your subjects, raise your phone above and press the shutter and then move it down and angle it upwards and snap away. 

You can also try spinning your phone 180 degrees and observe how the positioning of the lens works out. This can create interesting shadows which perhaps are more flattering. 

Also, be aware of the size of your light source. Are you outside on a cloudy day or a bright day? This will affect the softness or crispness of your images. Or are you indoors with a room lamp that’s directly lighting your subject?

Pay attention how close your subject is to your light source. The distance will have an impact on the shadows and the amount of texture and levels of contrast in your photos. You can play with moving the lamps and lighting around and see the outcome.

What affects the colors in your photos?  

A lot has to do with human visual perception. Observe the light that’s present when you’re taking an iPhone photo. Different types of photography lighting sources create different colors. Are you shooting outdoors in broad daylight or are you indoors with fluorescent or incandescent bulbs?

Ideally you capture the color you want right away. If not, the beauty with technology these days is that you don’t even have to use an outside source besides what’s on your phone already! 

Your iPhone camera app comes with preset filters that you can choose from.  There’s Vivid, Warm, Cool, Dramatic, to name a few. If for any reason your phone didn’t adjust the white balance well enough you can always try the ‘Warm’ filter. 

There are also other more robust editing apps with more filters available in the app store. Or you can use some other editing features on your iPhone to manipulate the outcome but that’s a discussion for another time.   

What’s the best type of photography lighting?

Golden Hour

Bet you thought I forgot number five. Nope, I just left the best for last!

My discussion on the different types of photography lighting would not be complete without talking about the most flattering time to snap some pix.

You might have heard of it – it’s referred to as both the Golden Hour or the Magic Hour. And it gets these names for good reason! During this phenomenal time of day most of the photos you take have a soft and warm look to them.

The golden hour is the period of time shortly after sunrise and before sunset. ‘Hour’ is a figurative term here as the length of this type of photography lighting varies depending on your location and the time of year.

In simple terms, it’s when the direct beam of the sun is less intense as it sits lower on the horizon. This produces softer, redder light that reduces dark shadows and overexposure. It’s even more magnified when you take it near water and capture the reflective light that bounces off of it.  

During the golden hour your photos not only get a beautiful sky background but your subjects are illuminated in the most magical way. It’s truly the best time to capture some stunning shots!  

In Conclusion

Now that you have a better grasp of some of the different types of photography lighting, get out there with your iPhone! Take pictures of your kids, your dog, indoors, outdoors, even the scenery that’s around you. 

Go outside today in whatever light exists and begin to take some shots of anything that strikes your fancy. Then move yourself around that subject. Try experimenting with that same subject again at a different time of day. Compare your results. 

Doing this every so often will begin to build up your awareness of how lighting affects your photos. Gradually you’ll improve your eye for light and you’ll begin to take some really great iPhone photography! 

Bonus Video

Check out my YouTube Short for a quick recap of the five types of photography lighting you just learned about. Then peruse the channel for more fun iPhone photography tips videos!

PS – I think you’ll find my free guide helpful – 6 Successful Ways To Organize Your iPhone Photos With Albums. In it you’ll learn simple but powerful steps to organize all the photos you’ll take with your new found lighting knowledge!

5 Simple Types Of Photography Lighting For Stunning iPhone Photos

The Mardi Gras festivities were in full swing this past week all over the world. I love seeing the photos of the purple, yellow and green colored costumes and decor. 

It brings me back to when I was in my early 20s and visited New Orleans for the first time. The festivities were held in the beautiful French Quarter with its whimsical balconies, romantic street lamps and yummy Creole French southern cuisine. 

Of course this was way before kids, husbands or major responsibilities. It was a time in my life when having fun with my girlfriends was at the top of my list. We’d take off from work for a few days and venture on mini trips. Our Mardi Gras adventure was no different…well maybe a little more celebrating than usual, lol.  

Fantastic family fun

Although we didn’t get dressed up in carnival costumes on that trip I was able to enjoy my own kids dressing up years later. We’ve always had a dress up trunk that they’ve gone to when friends come over. Costumes get taken out on cold winter days and they find some magic in that trunk that transforms their imaginations to another place and time.

Today with our iPhones it’s so easy to get some good video clips or photos of these blissful moments when they’ve become princesses, pirates, chefs, storm troopers, fairies, bears and the list goes on. 

Even though taking photos during these moments might not always be what you’re thinking about, getting in the habit of photographing these times will be priceless in the future. You’ll find some true gems in those images that you’ll fondly look back on years from now. I know I do. 

As families we need to have more fun. And what better way to do that than through the lens of your kids while they’re at their happiest. 

Here are five tips to making some lasting dress-up memories:

1. Props, props and more props

Have plenty of props around for kids to play with and transform themselves before their own eyes. You can have old clothes of yours, old Halloween costumes, garage sale finds, vintage store buys and more.  

It’s always good to have glasses, sunglasses, vests, capes, dresses, swords, shields, slippers, necklaces, tutus, bracelets, wings, boots, among some of your essentials.  And of course all sorts of head gear, like cowboys hats, fedoras, crowns, flower bands, masks, and animal ears. If you can imagine it then add it to the pile. Have a trunk full of them. 

This works great with boys and girls alike. Kids regularly using their imaginations develops their problem solving and language skills. It also encourages creativity and builds their self confidence. They get to create their own worlds and scripts fostering their independence.

2. Plan it

Be sure you’re sharing in the revelry at least once a month and documenting it. Put it in the calendar for a certain day every two weeks or once a month. It’ll be something you can all look forward to as a family.  

There might be other times that they’ll play with the trunk of goodies with their friends but you’ll make it up as it’s closer to your dress up day and celebrate their creativity and imagination. It’ll soon become a cherished tradition.

3. Get inspired

Have your iPhone ready and charged. Be flexible on taking photos indoors or outside. 

If you’re indoors make sure you’re near open windows and take photos in the middle of the day for optimal light. Outdoor pictures are also fun perhaps in a nearby wooded area, near a rock park or just in your backyard. Kids’ inspirations seem to get heightened in the fresh outdoors. 

Be prepared to take a bunch of photos both in regular and portrait mode.  

4. Kids in on it

Get the kids behind the camera photographing themselves and taking video of their play as well. It could become a little mini movie creating time for them. 

It’s the closest thing to truly seeing through the eyes of your child. They might surprise you with the angles they choose to film and the subjects they pick. You can always help edit their creations later. 

Afterwards, it’ll be a treat for the kids to join you in watching the videos and photos you’ve taken together. Make it a special event and tradition after your dress up time. It’ll also serve as inspiration for them and it’ll give them new ideas for the next dress up day.   

5. Compile the Pix

Save the images and the videos on your iPhone in special albums on your camera app. 

You can find out how to do that by getting my free guide 6 Successful Ways To Organize Your iPhone Photos With Albums and you’ll get quick tips on how to make, move and manage your albums.   

Once you get all the cute dress up pics in one place you can go to an online photo service like Shutterfly or Snapfish and you can create a stunning album. They’re both fairly easy to navigate and they’ll give you design suggestions and curated layouts to make it easier and quicker. You can also auto populate your photos with one click and viola you have a finished album! 

If you’re more like me and want to do it manually then you’ll be able to add a little more of your own flair and humor into it. The dress up albums you create will surely become treasured keepsakes.

In conclusion

The kids’ years at home should be full of wonder, imagination, fun and laughter. By making sure you record the moments of your kids in role playing and merry making you’ll capture some of the true essence of their childhoods.  

You’ll never regret taking these wonderful images and neither will they. If they’re anything like my kids, creating and viewing these dress up photo shoots, videos and albums will be some of their favorite pastimes from their lives growing up.  

Having documented them in photos just adds to the magic and the memories. 

Enjoy those costumes! 🩰👑👒🎓🥼🦺

——-

Bonus Video

Just when I was going to share some new iPhone photography tips those darn kids stole my phone, used Tip #4 and made their own dress up video!

Make Beautiful Dress Up Memories With These 5 Simple iPhone Tips

Taking pictures of the favorite peeps in your life is a given. There’s Emma’s dance recital,  Luke’s 10th Bday, your last holiday beach outing, but we don’t see enough tips about taking amazing dog photo shoots of your favorite furry canine. 

As I sit to write this I have my own doggy running into the room to see what I’m doing and poking me in the leg with his snout so I give him a pet. He truly is the biggest pet hog but when he stares at me I just melt. He’s so adorable and I can’t help but take my iPhone camera obsession and turn it onto him as well.  

If you’ve been thinking about snapping some cute dog pictures of your beloved pooch then continue reading to get my easy pointers on how to collect wonderful shots of your pup and have fun doing a dog photo shoot.  

1. Preparation is Key

Capture the catchlight! Most dogs’ eyes are dark and you want to make sure you see the sparkle in them. Our canines express so much with their gaze. Make it a focal point. Be sure they’re not blocked by fur by doing some trimming beforehand.

It’s always best to take the ‘happy dog’ approach. Get them comfortable and pet him or her a bunch before, or play with them a bit. Make sure it’s fun because dogs, like children, can get impatient. Another trick is to have a friend or older child with you so they can help keep your furry friend entertained and happy while you shoot.

A few more things to prepare: 

• Have your iPhone charged. You don’t want to have contorted your body to get the perfect angle and miss that amazing picture opportunity because your iPhone dies.  

• Make sure your pup has gone to the bathroom beforehand. Those doggies can get restless with a full bladder!    

• If your dog knows ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ this will make it much easier when you’re ready to shoot some pics. 

• Bring dog treats and toys to keep them entertained.

• Carry along some props – a hat, blanket, etc.

2. Venue

Like with so many other subjects, natural light is the way to go when it comes to cute dog pictures. It captures your dog’s eye color and fur really well and makes doggo pictures shine.

As you search for the perfect dog photo shoot venue check to see if it’s safe for your pooch and quiet enough so they won’t get distracted. The best way is to keep things natural and relaxed. Talk to your pup the whole time, especially if you’re in a less familiar venue

Check the Area

Once you’re outside and have picked the place, be aware of what will be in the background of your photo. Keep in mind the color of your dog’s fur and choose a spot that will contrast their color. For example if your dog is gray, shy away from blanched rocks. You’re looking to make your doggy’s image pop.

Also keep it simple so the background won’t distract from the most important part – your adorable pooch. Watch out for weird objects like tree branches and poles that can make it look like your dog is growing a strange limb, lol.

Lighting is Crucial

Flash photography inside usually takes away from showing your pup’s best look but it can work with the proper preparation if outdoors isn’t an option.

So if you have to take the photos indoors, get near a window or aim a lamp in your pups direction. Open the curtains and let plenty of light into the area where you’re taking the photos.

And don’t forget to turn your auto flash off! You definitely don’t want that weird ‘red eye’ that actually makes your pup look like they have possessed green eyes and give you cursed dog images.  

3. Get (and Keep) Their Attention

First you have to get your doggy’s attention. What’s the best way to do that?  Before you begin you should know a bit about your dog’s personality. What gets one canine super excited can barely keep the attention of another. 

Then determine the kind of dog photo you’d like. A playful action shot or some sleeping dog images where your pup is looking chill. Start by motivating them by either playing with them to get more energetic shots or give them a treat and pet them plenty to get a more relaxed pose.  

Have a squeaky toy handy so they look at you and the iPhone when you need it. You only get a few shots with this technique so make them count. After the toy effect wanes resort to some good old fashion treats to keep them alert and looking in your direction.

4. Poses and Props

Taking iPhone dog photo shoots of your pup should be fun. This is the time to capture your doggies in all their glory and goofiness. You want to see their true personalities in the photos you take. 

A great mode to use with dogs is ‘Portrait’. It’s not only good for human faces but can get some amazing shots of your pooch too. 

If you’re on ‘regular’ mode don’t be shy about getting close ups of your dog. You can capture some cute photos of your pooch’s nose and eyes. These classify as full length shots, taking up the whole frame of the camera. 

Get the Right Angle 

The fun doesn’t stop there! Get down at your pup’s level. Play with different angles as well. Perhaps a bird’s eye view from up above can be really cool. Hopping on a chair, step, or landing can help with this type of angle. 

Another fun idea is using forced perspective. When your dog is laying down, position your iPhone in front of their furry face while including the rest of their body behind them. This interesting perspective will make it look like a big head with a small body and shows some creativity.     

Wardrobe Please!

This is also when you can experiment with different props. For an adorable creative shot try covering part of your doggo’s face with a blanket so all you see is their snout. Other props can make for some cute pics like a smaller hat, shirt, bows, or a kid’s cape. The list is endless. You can see a couple of examples in the dog photo shoots with our adorable schnauzer (lucky for us he’s super chill with getting dressed up).    

5. Capture the Moment

Expressing spontaneity in dog photography is wonderful as well. Your favorite canine doesn’t just have to stay still. 

Try an action shot by running next to your pup while they chase after a ball or toy. Remember to use ‘Burst Mode’ in these situations so you can catch many moments in a sequence. Action shots like this will capture your pooch and the background will have a nice blurred effect. 

If you have a newer iPhone then try taking short burst videos by keeping your finger pressed on the shutter button. And if your pup gets tired of the running you’ll have a chance to get cute dog photos of them panting, tongue and all.  😜

What Did You Say?

Another way to get a spontaneous shot is using trigger words. For example with our dog, the words ‘Treat’, ‘Going Running’ and ‘Birthday Cake’ make his ears perk up and his facial expression changes to total excitement. Experiment with some words that might have the same effect on your doggy. Sometimes I even make high pitched noises as he tilts his head and looks at me funny. Capturing that face is priceless! 

Last But Not Least

Don’t forget that your furry canine doesn’t have the longest attention or longevity span for dog photo shoots. Use some of the ideas above sparingly and one at a time. Experiment and just have fun. Many times those are the pics that will be your favorites!

And at the end of your dog photo shoot, however long or short it was, sit down with your pooch. Hug your furry friend and show them a bit of lovin’. 🐶💗

Then turn the iPhone onto you both and take a well deserved dog taking selfie.

You made it!   😍

Bonus Dog Photo Fun

Check out my cute little dog photo shoot video to get some more pics and poses ideas for your pooch!

PS – With a whole slew of new dog photos on your phone you might find my free guide helpful – 6 Successful Ways To Organize Your iPhone Photos With Albums. In it you’ll learn simple but powerful steps to wrangle the photo monster that has taken over your photo gallery!

Enjoy A Blissful Dog Photo Shoot With These 5 Brilliant Tips

Everything when you have kids! One of my missions as a mom is to document all kinds of family snow pictures of our children using simple iPhone photo tips. This week’s sledding escapade was no different…or was it?

While the East Coast was getting hammered with snow storms we sat in the dry Southwest envious of the photos and videos our family back east were sending showing them building snowmen and sledding. We quickly decided that we would take our own adventure to the mountains the next day!

Snow day here we come!

We spent a good amount of time the following morning getting our gear together – jackets, boots, snow pants, gloves, hats. I even had a brand new pair of snow boots I had bought last spring that I proudly got at a great bargain. Gotta love those off season sales! 

With several kids it wasn’t necessarily the fastest operation because invariably someone doesn’t fit in gear from the previous outing but we managed to find something for everyone. We piled everything into the back of the van and off to the mountains we went.  

The kids were bubbling with excitement since it had been almost 2 years since our last snow expedition. The dog even seemed enthusiastic with his little orange booties strapped on! 

Once we arrived we were happy to see more snow than we expected and soon found a place to park along the road. Everyone jumped out and went to the back to put their gear on. 

Time for my new boots!

I waited until most had gotten their stuff before I made my way to the open van door to get properly outfitted and finally put on my sparkling new boots. The kids had thrown their things everywhere and the more I searched for my boots the more I got this eerie feeling that they wouldn’t be unearthed in the mess of discarded clothing. No matter how hard I looked I couldn’t find them!

The kids were already dressed and walking away when it dawned on me that my new kicks had been left behind. I could envision them now, unscuffed, furry and super insulated to keep my toes toasty warm. 

Instead I looked down at my feet and all I had were an old pair of short leather Teva boots. In the rush to get out the door my husband had packed all the kids’ stuff and left my brand new boots upstairs in our bedroom! :(((  

To say the least my mood changed and I told everyone to go ahead without me. 😢😢

Take it as it comes.

After 15 minutes of pouting I knew my dimmed mood couldn’t last forever because I was also looking forward to snapping some new pics of the kids in different gear. They had all grown so much since the last time we had been in the mountains during winter and some new family snow pictures would document that well.

I decided to make the best of it and get out there knowing my feet would be a bit colder and wetter but the kids would be thrilled and have fun regardless. With my iPhone and mini tripod in hand I ventured into the snow! 

Our dog the cliff diver.

The kids had found a sledding trail away from other families and the dog was in heaven. Upon seeing me our little pup went into a frenzy, leapt off a 6 foot ledge, landed smoothly in a pile of snow and came bounding up to meet me. It was an amazing jumping feat and he was ecstatic!

That put a huge smile on my face and I let the snow and sunny skies bring me some happiness. The rest of the day was spent falling off of sleds in laughter, tumbling, sliding on our butts and taking lots and lots of family snow pictures. I even got in a few self timers!

Family snow pictures are a snap with these four valuable iPhone photo tips.

1. Have your camera on you at all times.

You can never plan for the unexpected but always be ready to capture it! This is even truer when it comes to family snow pictures (since we all know kids can do the darndest things) and these days it couldn’t be easier with everyone carrying their iPhones around with them wherever they go. I know some activities like sledding might pose more of a challenge but just find a secure, zippered pocket and be ready to pop it out to catch all the ruckus and laughter.  

2. Lighting is a big deal when it comes to taking quality photos.

You need to make sure there isn’t too much or all your subjects will be washed out in the photos. It’s always better to take darker pictures that you can later lighten up. There is very little you can do to improve an overexposed photo. Always remember that.

Also, you don’t want too many uneven shadows because your favorite peeps will have funny looking striations and lines from the different dark spots. On bright sunny days in the snow keep in mind to find some more uniform light amongst a group of trees or give yourself some distance between the subject and camera phone. The iPhone camera picks up many different light sources and generally does a good job of evening it all out.

3. Remember not to zoom past 3x.

On the newer iPhone models the camera will begin to use digital zoom beyond 3x (with older phones it may be as early as 2.5x) and the quality of the picture becomes more degraded. So if you’re looking for crisp, clear images this isn’t a good thing. Digital zoom simply increases the size of the image and crops it. In other words, your camera isn’t gaining any new detail, it’s just getting a bigger, blurrier shot. With that said, try not to use digital zoom over simply moving closer to the subject of your photos.

4. Relaxed faces will definitely produce the best photos.

Taking pictures of kids during a fun activity like playing out in the snow is a sure way to capture them in their natural state and facial expressions. These are the best times to take pictures because it won’t feel posed with fake smiles but instead get their genuine emotions. You’ll see a big difference in the mood of the shot even if it was self-timed, like we did on a couple of them.   

Extra Bonus: 4 Secrets To Taking Amazing Family Adventure Pix

When it’s time to head out into the wilderness don’t forget these four extra bonus tips from my video on how to take amazing family adventure pictures:

1. Bring your iPhone…Charged!
2. Go with the flow.
3. Forgive yourself for imperfect pix.
4. Laugh and Relish the moment!

Using these pointers you’ll take amazing family snow pictures of them doing all their favorite outdoor activities.  

Those dang kids grow up so fast!

And you don’t want to miss any of it, so make sure you’re ready to take family snow pictures with your iPhone in hand! Years later when you look back and remember the funny moments you might have forgotten you’ll be glad that you were able to document those good times. Your new boots may become old and unappreciated but your awesome family photos never will!

Has your crew journeyed into the great outdoors this season?

There are so many fun things to do outdoors in the winter. Our family loves this time of year. Everything looks so different from the summer months offering tons of photo opportunities. The shorter days mixed with rain or snow can make for some interesting lighting challenges. And with a lot of the plants and trees losing their leaves it can feel a bit desolate and foreboding. But winter can also be incredibly beautiful (especially when there’s snow!).

Maybe your family likes hiking, skating, skiing, snowboarding, tubing, or snowshoeing? Whatever you choose, make sure to comment below and let me know what family snow pictures you’ve been capturing lately! 

PS – If you’re looking for more useful iPhone photo tips get my free guide – 6 Successful Ways To Organize Your iPhone Photos With Albums.