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World Photography Day: 8 tips and tricks + a security must
August 19 is World Photography Day! It’s also National Potato Day and International Orangutan Day, but let’s focus on photos. (See what I did there?)
Below are some of my favorite tips and tricks for better smartphone pictures, along with a privacy tip at the end that always gets at least one major “thank you.”
8 pro secrets for better pics
- Less is more: Too often, people try to get way too much in one pic. Tightly crop your shots to fill the frame and try to keep the background clear of distractions.
- Stop using your camera’s zoom: Your feet work better and you’ll capture more detail. Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal.
- Flash is not your friend: Natural light is. Your phone’s flash makes people look extra harsh and natural scenes washed out. Early morning and late afternoons are most flattering, btw.
- Clean your lens: Talk about a quick win. Dust, fingerprints and smudges make your pics blurry. Yes, I usually use my shirt and hope for the best …
- Tap to focus: Tap your subject on the screen to bring it into focus. Most phones automatically adjust the exposure when you do this, too, giving you a clearer image.
- Better action shots: Hold your finger down on the shutter button to take a ton of pics faster than you could clicking one by one. Save your favorites and delete the rest.
- Time for a dad joke: Saying “cheese” leads to fake-looking smiles. “Yoga,” “whiskey” and “money” give more relaxed smiles. I make a silly joke and then start snapping. What kind of photos do lobsters take the most? Shell-fies.
- Use a tripod: The pros do this for good reason. This inexpensive option is both a tripod and a selfie stick. This top-of-the-line version is good enough for the best-quality videos.
Most importantly, stop oversharing
When you snap a picture, your phone stores details about your device, camera settings and location. If you text pics you took at home, anyone who knows how to access this info now knows where you live. Yeesh.
Steps may vary slightly based on your phone and OS version. Start here:
- On iPhone: Open the image and tap the share button (square with an arrow pointing up). Select Options > toggle off Location > tap Done.
- On Android: Open your gallery and select the photo. Go to Details (it may be a three-dot menu) > Remove location data.
You can turn off this kind of data tracking for good, too. Steps here on my site.
Let’s end on a happy note
Some of the best pics on my phone are of my dog, Abby, and kids and flowers. My favorite trick is to mix up the angles. I know my best selfie angle, but little ones look cute no matter what. Get down on the floor, stand on a ladder (be careful) or move to the side.
Don’t get left behind – Stay tech ahead
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
- National radio show: Find your local station or listen to the podcast
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Tags: Android, Apple iPhone, camera, family, home, phone, privacy, security, settings, videos
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