How to Take Vacation Photos with Just an I-Phone

We all want fantastic images of our vacations, but with all the packing and gear that is involved in a family getaway, bringing a big, expensive camera isn’t always optimal. Even a small pocket camera is just one more thing to remember in a sea of clothing, toys and books. In the past year, I have stopped taking my “good” camera on our trips and started taking all my vacation photos with an iPhone. Amazing vacation photos with an iPhone?? It’s possible. Even as a professional photographer, addicted to my expensive, SLR camera, I take great photos using only my phone. With all the apps and accessories on the market today, iPhone photos have come a long way. Knowing a few tips and tricks can take your photos from average to exceptional.

Focusing In

A first step in great photos with a phone is to really understand the capability of an iPhone. Did you know that you can adjust exposure and change focusing points on an iPhone? This is the most important part of turning an okay photo into a great photo. Make sure your subject is properly focused and exposed to make them stand out, especially if the subject is against a bright background. To set the focus and exposure, simply tap your subject’s face and the camera will adjust and your subject will be properly exposed. If you keep your finger held down, the focus and exposure will “lock” so whether you zoom in or out, the exposure and focusing point stays on target. This function is very handy when you have squirming children who are running in and out of a scene!

Compose Yourself

Next is composition. Understanding the rule of thirds helps immensely with composition. A scene should be evenly divided by two horizontal lines and two vertical lines and the main subject of an image should fall on the intersections of those. Activate the grid function on your iPhone camera and it will help you ”see” and execute the rule of thirds. To turn on the grid, go to settings>cameras>grid on.

Use Your Tools

My next step for getting fantastic vacation photos with an iPhone is experimenting with lenses for an iPhone. Did you know there was such a thing? Well there is! One of my all-time favorite stores is PhotoJojo. The sell everything one can imagine for photography–including lots of unique things for iPhonography. They have handy little lenses to stick on an iPhone to bring a new dimension to photos. My favorites are the macro lens and the wide angle lens. The lenses are small and come with a handy dandy carrying case, which is much smaller than a big camera bag.

Simple, Simple, Simple

When taking vacation photos, think simplicity. A close-up of a shell your son found on the beach, your children running down the sandy shore at sunset, your daughter quietly playing by herself with a shovel and bucket. Most importantly, shoot from a lower level to capture certain scenes. A low angle gives a much more interesting perspective than the typical chest-level photos. Pay attention to your background! How precious is a photo of your children proudly holding up the sand dollar they just found? Now how lovely is it with family of ten setting up beach chairs behind them? Simple is the name of the game.

Post-Shot Apps that Work

Wondering what to do with all your pretty pictures after vacation? Utilize some of the amazing apps on the market to edit your photos. My personal favorite is Snapseed. Snapseed allows total control over how an image looks. Exposure adjustments, cropping, black and white conversions, color adjustments and a variety of filters can all be applied. I use Snapseed for virtually every vacation picture I take. I’m also a big fan of PicTapGo for various filters and SquareReady for converting photos into a square size suitable for Instagram.

Experimenting with different filters and techniques will negate the need for a big fancy camera when traveling with family. With a little practice, you will find that vacation photos with an iPhone is all you need to capture your memories.