Welcome to our Smartphone Photography Guide! Capturing high-quality photos with your smartphone is crucial for creating eye-catching images. Whether you're shooting outdoors or indoors, this guide will provide you with essential tips to ensure your subject is well-lit, focused, and easily separable from the background for seamless background removal, especially if you are using your photo for large format products like our vinyl sports banners.

OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

1. Choose the Right Time: Avoid harsh, midday sunlight that casts strong shadows and causes subjects to squint. Instead, opt for shooting in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower and provides a softer, more flattering light.

2. Find Shade: Seek out areas with natural shade to diffuse the light evenly. A tree canopy, building awning, or even a cloudy day can provide excellent lighting conditions and will stop the squinting.

3. Face the Light: Position your subject so that the light source (e.g., the sun or a large window) is behind you, illuminating the subject's face evenly.

4. Use HDR Mode: High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode helps balance exposure in challenging lighting situations by combining multiple shots. Enable it on your smartphone for better results. Google "enable HDR mode" for help turning on this feature on your phone.

5. Mind the Background: Ensure the background has good contrast with your subject, making it easier to remove later. A simple, uncluttered background works best.

6. Avoid Zooming In: This is important!! Instead of using digital zoom, physically move closer to your subject. Zooming in can result in digital noise and loss of image quality.

7. Hold Steady: Hold your phone like a camera using both hands and stand steady. If you can find something to lean on, even better. Try to use the volume button to snap the shot so you can more easily hold your phone with two hands while taking the photo. Be careful to keep your finger out of the shot, especially when using your phone's wide-angle lens.
   
   
8. Tight shots work best for our custom banners: Completely fill the frame with your subject. If your subject is standing, hold your phone vertically. If your subject is lying down, hold your phone horizontally. 
   
   
9. Strike a Pose: At a loss for ideas on how to pose your subjects for our custom banners? Take a look at our banner gallery for some great ideas!
   
   
10. Edit Your Photos: Most smartphones have a built-in photo editing app which allows for things like adjusting exposure or tweaking saturation. Be careful not to go overboard here because it's easy to do! The best edits are natural looking and not overdone.

INDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

1. Select a Contrasting Background: Choose a solid wall or backdrop that contrasts well with your subject's colors. This makes it easier to separate the subject from the background.

2. Use Natural Light: Whenever possible, utilize natural light from windows to illuminate your subject. Soft, diffused daylight provides flattering results.

3. Avoid Direct Flash: Smartphone flash can create harsh shadows and unnatural lighting. Use available ambient light sources or invest in external smartphone-friendly lighting accessories for better indoor results.

4. Steady Your Hand: Indoor shots often require longer exposures, so keep your smartphone steady to prevent blurriness. Use a tripod or brace your arms against a stable surface if necessary.

5. Portrait Mode: Many smartphones offer portrait mode, which can create a pleasing background blur (bokeh) effect. This can help make your subject stand out from the background.

ADDITIONAL VALUABLE TIPS FOR SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

1. Clean Your Lens: Ensure your smartphone camera lens is clean and free from fingerprints or smudges to maintain image clarity.

2. Gridlines: Activate the gridlines on your camera app to help with composition and aligning your subject.

3. Lock Exposure and Focus: Tap and hold on your subject to lock both exposure and focus for consistent and well-lit shots.

4. Take Multiple Shots: It pays to take multiple photos of the same subject. Once you've taken a set of photos, you can then select the best shot.

USE THE BEST SMARTPHONE YOU HAVE ACCESS TO
It sounds obvious, but sometimes the best way to take better photos is to simply use a better phone. The fact is that smartphone camera quality varies greatly, so try to use one that is capable of taking the best quality photos.

These smartphones have some of the best cameras in 2023.

1. Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro
2. Apple iPhone 14 and 14 Pro
3. Samsung Galaxy S22/S23 Ultra
4. Sony Xperia 1III
5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to capturing stunning smartphone photos that are perfect for creating impressive banner designs. Remember to experiment and practice, as practice makes perfect in the world of photography. Happy shooting!