Tips for Taking Incredible Pictures from your Smartphone

Taking pictures is not something which is very difficult but still many of us take blurry & unclear pictures which have smudges.  If you ever struggle to click the pictures then the below tips might help you in taking incredible pictures with your smartphone.

Get Stable Shots without Hassle:

Though your phone has built-in optical image stabilization features, you have to hold your phone with both the hands to get sharper and better images, this is the same as holding the traditional camera. The secret behind taking great pictures with your phone is to use the volume button instead of using the camera button on the phone. Pushing the volume button to take a picture can eliminate shaking and gives you a sharper and clearer image as an end result.  Apart from the volume button, you can use your headphones to click the pictures as well. 

Downloading the Camera App:

You will find better camera apps on Google Play & Apple store which have improved over the period of time. These apps are great for average users but as a photographer, if you need a little more control then nothing better than apps. Some of the great camera apps are:

Android Camera Apps:

Google Camera
Camera MX
DSLR Camera Pro
ProShot

IOS Camera Apps:

Adobe Lightroom

Obscura2
Pro camera
Halide

Camera+

You will find various third-party apps on Google Play and Apple Store which gives you total control while taking the pictures.

Don’t Use Zoom Feature:

If you want to take better shots then avoid zooming the pictures while taking photos, if you want to click a closer image then use your feet and walk down straight towards the subject if possible. The end result of using your feet can improve your compositional skills.

Setting the Focus:

It happens sometimes even after cleaning the lenses of your phone you will not see the sharp & clear picture which you can avoid by setting the focus on the subject and also increase the contrast, brightness and other options to get the best picture.

Exposure is the Key:

You have adjusted the focus and everything is good to go before clicking but all of a sudden you get the over bright or too dark picture. You can avoid this by simply adjusting the exposure or brightness before taking the picture. Make sure that the most important part of the scene is properly exposed which gives plenty of colour and details to your picture. 

Using of HDR:

Taking photos of high contrast scenes must be a problem sometimes when it comes to exposure because high contrast scenes have both dark and bright areas for example landscape with a bright sky or a dark foreground. When you take photos you will struggle with either one problem. Fortunately, we are blessed that nowadays smartphones cameras have HDR features. HDR means High Dynamic Range which allows you to capture the details in both shadows and the highlights. If you don’t find this feature on your camera then you must enable it from the camera setting option. With HDR on you can click some beautiful shots with perfect exposure of your entire scene.

Nothing Better than Portrait Mode for Blurred Photos:

Nowadays every smartphone has this feature and you can click professional-like photos without any DSLR. Portrait mode uses depth effect software to keep your foreground sharp with a blurring background.

Ever Want to Take Action Shots Use Burst Mode Feature:

Now you don’t need perfect timing to press the shutter button while taking running or action photos, use the burst mode feature to capture stunning action shots without any hassle. It is a very easy feature to use, only you have to long-press the shutter button and at least one perfect shot you will get. Rest delete all the unwanted shots to save the memory of your phone. Basically great for taking pictures of children, moving subject and animals.

Another great hack to get a perfect picture is to have a tripod if possible, but what if you don’t have a tripod. Here are some hacks to get great pictures without a tripod

• You can rest your phone on a solid surface to take still pictures.

• You can also hold your phone with both the hands and make a tight grip.

• Another posture is to position your body against the wall or something for a steady grip.

Try out whatever to keep your phone steady and that’s it, you will able to grab nice professional pictures.

Click Beautiful Photos with Camera Grid Feature:

The nice composition is what sets apart an average photo from an amazing one. Composing an appealing photo involves exact positioning of important elements in the frame. This is where you can use the camera grid feature which is an inbuilt option your phone camera has, this helps you to create more balanced and natural compositions that are engaging and pleasing to eyes.

Using of Leading Lines for Powerful Depth Images:

Does your picture look flat and lifeless?

Check out one of the best mobile photography tips to get a picture full of life:

Use of leading lines, basically leading lines are the lines that lead from the foreground to the background of the scene. A leading line could be anything a river, path, railway line or a road. It could be a fence, a wall, or a row of trees. To ensure the leading lines, create a sense of depth in your photo and frame the shot so that the line starts from the foreground.  

Learn the above tips and take your photography to the next level. Feel free to add your own ideas while clicking pictures. If you take great pictures you can try your luck by uploading your pictures on Stock Photography websites which is the great way to earn some extra bugs.

Great Stock Photography Tips

Photography can be the easiest and greatest way to make money, doesn’t matter whether you are an amateur or a professional. Nevertheless, who has done this as a main source of income without ample knowledge have failed miserably. You need to do a lot if you want to succeed in this venture. For photography or stock photography quality is the name of the game which you need to perceive to get better results or you can say income. If you want to dive into the potentially lucrative world of stock photography then you must go through this article for some of the best tips.

Choosing the Niche:

One of the biggest challenges you will face is getting your image noticed. The stock-image market is so saturated that it would be difficult to get your photos in front of potential buyers. You can overcome this by choosing the niche or a concept you are fond or passionate about. Building a portfolio of your interested items or nature or anything can help you in creating your persona in front of the buyers, basically grabbing the attention.

Flow with the Flow “Go with the Trend”:

Studying the current trend and going with it is a secret mantra of this business. Read magazines, newspapers or watch TV, you will see stock photos everywhere. Try to imitate them so that you get to know the technicality of specific photos. 

Think Like an Advertiser:

Stock photography is used everywhere, especially in advertisements. Before clicking the picture think like an advertiser that how it might be used, basically thinking about the look and feel of that subject so that it matches the particular need. 

Test different Shots before finalising the Image:

Taking the same picture from various angles can help you in realising which angle works best for that particular picture. Try to take as many as you can, the more variety you can get the more chances you can sell your clicked photos.

Go Bigger:

Advertisers will often look for the bigger or large photos so that they can edit as per their needs. Make sure that you are taking the highest resolution pictures, this is the way you can grab the attention of your potential buyers. This small step may end up in getting more sales.

Enhancing Photos:

After taking the photos and before submitting it to a stock photos website, try to enhance the picture quality by simply editing it with a tool such as Photoshop, Pixlr and Photoscape. Editing will give you a chance of correcting your errors, adjusting colours and contrasts so that your photo looks perfect and appealing. 

Targeting the Market:

Try to find out what people are buying in terms of photography and try to fill the gap in between by introducing your skills. You can try different styles and ideas that may be liked by many people in the near future, don’t hesitate to experiment. 

Polishing Your Technique:

You have to polish your skills by trying different techniques, reading photography blogs and discussing photography forums. Modern cameras and equipment or even phones make it easy for you to take better pictures, remember the higher your standards, the higher your sales would be.

Taking the above stock photography tips can be very helpful in getting the most appealing pictures for your business. Avoid the exceptions to embrace the better alternative is the key to success in the world of photography.

Tips to get Started with Still Life Photography

Still, life photography is the best way to express your creativity. It can also help you in making money through stock photography. The advantage of still photography is that you don’t need any fancy studio, you can easily start with a small space or just with a window.

Still, photography is a very lucrative business as many magazines, art galleries, and catalogue designers all need to shoot the product. Let’s check out some of the merits which are often underestimated in a still photography business:

What is Still Life Photography?

It is fine art photography in which subject matter is an unmovable commonplace object. In still life photography, the main key is composition and you will get plenty of time to perfect your vision. One of the best advantages of still photography is you need to learn to master it. It offers complete control over the photographers.

Now that you are convinced that Still Photography is the best practice where you can earn money then let’s talk about how you can start with Still Photography:

Choosing of the Subject that Attracts you:

It totally depends on you what you want to capture. Think out of the box and don’t go for flowers or plants as most of the photographers doing the same thing, go for something unique which is overly ambitious.

Try to find exclusive props for your Still Life Photography:

 An attractive prop can give life to your still photography. There are many household things you will get to make a prop such as old books, crockeries and much more stuff. You can also try fresh vegetables or cutlery to take your photography to the next level. You must ensure that if you are clicking any vintage stuff shot then keep everything vintage-looking more over the background, look and feel.

Selecting the Background:

Whether you are capturing the straight or overhead shots, you will always need a perfect background to get the shot as it makes your click look more genuine and attractive. You can easily find background in different stock images websites such as Pixtock, Shutterstock, Istock etc.

It is best to use neutral colours so that they will not overpower your shots and subjects. So how you can get the best shot which nice backgrounds:

Control Over your Lighting Equipment:

One of the best things about still life photography is you can adjust the light as per your needs and preferences. If you are a beginner then try moving the lights which directly hits the viewer's eye. Changing the light source angle can lead to the change in the look and feel of your photos. 

So basically there are no rules in still life photography, but post-production is a place where you add or delete any unwanted things and also you can enhance the photography so that it looks good in every means.

You need to get creative, taking adequate timings. If you are getting confused about what you are expecting then you can get plenty of ideas on the internet. Pick any of the still photography sites and you will get each and every idea on how you can take perfect photos of an object. 

It is the second thing on which stage your career is, remember your portfolio website is to be the centre of your marketing strategies. It is the best way to increase your presence in the market.

Types of Photography Genres to Pursue your career as a Photographer

 Photography is a vast field and has different genres which incorporate various sub-categories such as wild-life, seascape and many other forms. You need to have special skills to capture beautiful photographs.

There is something for everyone in photography and the photography jobs are just exciting. Here are 15 types of photography genre which we are listing here: 

Product Photography:

Of Course, the first one is product photography which is in utmost demand nowadays as several businesses have their online presence. Product photography covers a lot of ground. Food photography is a unique niche and restaurants need to advertise their meals and also need to create the menus. Likewise, Jewelry and other products which are sold in e-commerce websites are in high demand nowadays. Based on the requirement some products shoot demands models, but many times you will be working solo doing still life photography.

Fashion Photography:

Fashion photography is one of the most glamourous but tedious and difficult photography jobs today. This is totally focused over the models and needs extra effort and timing to get the beautiful photos to be clicked. The photographer is the one part of the system, this also needs stylists, wardrobe specialists, makeup artists and many more to make the fashion photography successful.

Travel Photography:

Travel photography is another niche where you can click the shots of the places while you travel. Be it on the beaches, a farm or an ice field, the job of the travel photographer is to transport their audience without leaving their home.

Sports Photography:

If you love sports then sports photography is what makes you a professional sports photographer. Photos wind up in publicity materials for teams, in advertising and marketing or in the media or print.

Aerial Photography:

Nowadays there is one more genre in photography which is in high demand and that is aerial photography. Aerial photography is now used for everything from architecture to wedding and events. The unique pictures clicked by drones are unbeatable.

Stock Photography:

If you are a professional photographer then this might be one of the interests, it is kind of earn while you learn. Stock photography is one of the premium ways to earn money only by selling the rights of your photographs so that someone else can use them without any hesitation. The advantage of selling stock photos is that you can sell any type of image you want. Once the photos are captured, a lot of time is spent to create the catalogue and keywording images so that the images can be searched as per the specific needs. 

Advertising and lifestyle Photography:

We are surrounded by advertisements everywhere from social media to print media and even on the roads, stations, airports you will find flexes of different brands here and there, this is all about the lifestyle and advertising photography. In this, you are hired by the brands to click the product and brand images which are then used to advertise in different mediums to attract buyers.

Fake or Real: How you can spot the relevancy of Stock Photos

A beautiful and effective photo can capture your audience's attention and showcase your brand personality, images from the relevant stock photo sites can give the exact message to your readers but have you thought about exactly the other side of a coin. Unfortunately let us discuss the negative side of the stock photos, the photos that are not legit and also used by many of us who are unaware or fake stock photos.

Bad Stock Photos can kill the purpose of your commercials, these are pictures which are shady and commonly used by many small businesses who are trying to get these free from search engines or any other sources. It’s very hard to detect which photos are legit or fake.

Nowadays spammers and unethical marketers are using these images to clickbait you and sell their products. This is a serious problem which many of us are facing but fortunately, there is a solution for this which can protect you from getting scammed.

Why are fake images free?

Spammers are looking for the stock photos which are posted by other photographers or publishers and they use them in other websites to drive traffic towards their own website. They can use the images even if it is watermarked, by simply removing the branding from the stock photos.

Basically, they not only for the traffic but also for building several backlinks to their website which is somehow able to gain traction in their search engine optimization process to drive up the keyword ranking of their own website. The main drawback of these images is that you will find the same image very common which is used by many websites or businesses.

How to get rid of this?

Fortunately, there are many ways to figure out which image is fake and which are relevant. Nowadays you can check simply by using a reverse image search on Google. If you find that image is available in Google and it is not having some sort of watermarking or branding then surely it is a fake image. By doing a reverse image search you will also get to know how many websites are using that same image which you are going to opt.

So basically if you are using any common or mainstream sites for buying stock photos then it is probably possible that your competitor is also using the same image, not only your competitor but other businesses as well. One thing you can do to get unique stock images, try to find websites which are not very common check out a few of them below:

StockSnap:

Might be possible that you hardly heard about this site but if you visit this you will get to know that this website allows you to see which photos are most downloaded. Images on the website are more business-centric and due to fewer people know about it the pictures are not very common.

Using this website feels like scrolling a catalogue of some designers. Check out some great pictures below.

This site is best for B2C Sales,  Media, and Consumer Technology.

Moveast

Moveast is a photo journal of an Asian pacific person ideal for those who want to target the EMEA or APAC market. The pictures take place in trendy settings and have a natural unforced feel. Most of the photos you will find is of music festivals, night outs and some events.

Moveast offers you multicultural and extremely diverse photos.

Pixtock:  Multiniche and multicultural pictures are the USP of Pixtock, here you will find HD pictures from every category from sports, nature, person to transportation you will find everything. The best thing is that this site is purely Indian and you will find Indian images only which is very much useful for those who are trying to target Indian audiences in their commercials or for any projects.

The bottom line is a very good stock photography website, best for consumers brands, Food and Beverages Industry, Education Industry and Fashion 

Barn Images:

The photos you will see in Barn Images are generally you will not see in other stock websites or even other competitor websites. The lifestyle, objects and people are the USP of this website. Check out some 

Did we leave any of the stock photo websites which are your favourite please let us know in the comment section and we will definitely add it to our list.

Ultimately try to use stock photos that are relevant and less used, we have featured some of the best stock photo websites in our article. So that you can be in full control of the outcome of your final creative products.

Effectiveness of Stock Photos: What works and what not?

When it comes to online world stock photos provide visitors with a sense of texture, size, scale, the contrast of a brand. According to the market gurus, 72% of online shoppers have rated high definition images as their integral part of marketing campaigns as it directly affects the purchasing decision of the buyers.

It’s no secret that high-quality images help to sell products online, but sometimes brands ignore the importance of pictures in their campaigns. It is said that from traditional advertisements to online advertisements are essential to an eCommerce experience. It’s not just that the images are valued, it’s that they are often more valued than other content on the marketing campaign such as rating, reviews and long description. 

Psychologists also say that imagery has the ability to affect the person’s mood which results in changing of cognition, feelings and behaviour. So let's see in detail what exactly works and what doesn't.

Types of Stock Photos for Buyers Purchasing:

In marketing campaigns, researchers have seen that most common buyer purchases include images of people, food, animals and travels. Stock Photos comes into three categories:

Royalty-free Images: When you buy royalty-free images from a stock photo website you can use it as many times as you like. All you need to purchase the one time license.

Public Domain: There are some stock photos which you can use without buying it, these stock photos are free for everyone and it is used anywhere.

Rights - Managed Images: For competitive reasons, these types of stock photos are limited for use, and the buyer can limit the photos to use by other people due to authenticity and competition.

Where you can use these Stock Photos:

You can easily use these stock photos for multiple purposes, commercial use is one of the most important aspects where almost all the brands are using stock photos. Apart from commercials, these photos can be used in projects, editorial and many other places. All you cannot do is to use these images in material content in the real world and also you can’t be resold or distribute it.

How much does this stock images costs:

Stock photos are not that much costly that it will burn your pocket, most of the stock photos websites charge very less for most of the pictures but if you go for a subscription for buying a large number of images then it would cost you slightly higher. You can find websites where you can grab images at a very affordable price, some of the affordable websites are Adobe Stock, IStock, Shutterstock and Pixtock.  

But if you are from India you can’t find Indian stock photos very easily, for this you can check Pixtock where you can find images of Indian people, places and many more which gives you more advantage if you are using it in Indian commercials, editorials or any other projects as it connects your potential Indian buyers.

Pros and Cons of Using Stock Photos:

Let’s check out some pros first:

 Easily editable to fit your business needs.

 Versatile enough to use anywhere.

 Time and cost-effective in terms of hiring photographers.

But still, you can’t ignore the potential drawbacks:

Images you use can be already used by other brands.

Inauthentic to your targeted audience if not choose properly.

Unintentionally violating people's emotions.

Why good visuals matter a lot:

If you don’t know this let me tell you photos can directly affect the buyer’s mind which drives purchasing decisions, try to choose the images related to your business or marketing campaign. Some statistics show that:

Optimizing your commercials or any projects with effective images can drive more traffic that simple content.

Content with photos generates around 35% more views than those without pictures.

If we talk about the powerful conversion of stock photos, you can see that today all the brands are using these whether for the commercial purpose, website design service or for business presentation purposes. These are inexpensive, easy to find and much recognizable.

Nowadays stock photos are more used than in the 90's, brand individuality is all about choosing the unique and authentic stock photos. When it comes to your commercials or projects use photos that are realistic, meaningful and relevant, if the images meet these criteria then it could be a great choice. 

How to Click Best Festivals and Occasions Photos

Festivals are the ideal occasions to take a break from hectic routines and create memorable times by clicking lots of photos. We all embrace photography and try to capture each and every moment of our lives, so how could we ignore photography during the festivals. Since festivals provide us with lots of photography opportunities, this is a great time to explore different techniques to click pictures. In this article, we will tell you how you can take great pictures from phones, even with a professional camera and make it nostalgia for your future.

Those who prefer phones: Nowadays everyone is having phones on the go, and different phone with different specs makes us clicking pictures easier than ever before. If you are clicking pictures from the phone you must try some third party app which will make your photos look like they were taken by the professionals. It also gives you full control over your camera as the built-in apps in your phone don’t offer. The third-party app offers you night-mode so that you can click great pictures even in the night or dark. If you are an android user you can try Google Camera, Open Camera, Camera MX and not to forget about Camera FV-5 whereas if you are using Apple then you can go for Pro camera, Obscura and VCSO.

Make the Most of the Light you can get: In Navratri and Diwali when the festival starts after the sun goes down there should be plenty of light which can illuminate your pictures. Use candles, diyas and other decorative lights with various angles to take advantage and frame your photos so that the lights can highlight your subject without creating too much noise or even make it look too harsh.

Take a Closeup Picture as much as you can: Though we are not using professional cameras, we need to get closer near the lights to get great pictures as too much zooming in can reduce the resolution and quality of your pictures. Instead, get closer to your subject to get better picture quality (hd quality).

Keep your Camera Steady: To take a better picture you need to make your camera steady while clicking pictures or if you are finding difficulty in making your phone steady you can use a tripod. While using a tripod you can use the self-timer feature which will not only give you enough time but gives you the advantage to keep your picture still.

Basically, the bottom line is, in order to have a great time in photographing festivals and getting a great shot, you don’t need anything more than a mobile phone and everything else is a bonus. If you are using a mobile phone to click pictures, try some third-party apps which you will find very easily in Google Play Store or Apple App store. Clicking pictures and creating memories is not enough, if you take great shots you can sell your photos this festive season on some stock photo websites which can give you great extra bugs if your pics are sold out.