Why buy professional cameras when you can get similar results with something that fits in your pocket? All of us own smartphones with very capable cameras and when executed right, your photos can turn out just as good as the ones taken on cameras worth thousands of dirhams! Here are 5 tips that you can keep in mind when taking photos on your phone:

• Symmetry

Capturing a symmetrical image is one of the key aspects to taking a good photo. Go to your Camera settings and turn on the grid option. Use the lines of the grid to align the subject of your photos in the centre.

Importance of using symmetry in your photos * Zooming

When taking an image of a subject, zooming in a bit (around 1.3-2 times) will make the background appear blurrier and enlarged. This small difference provides the photo with a look straight out of professional cameras.

Different levels of zoom giving two completely different image * Framing

Framing (No, not the act of killing someone and making it look like someone else did it) is also a cool way to capture the main subject in your image. Framing can be done by using objects around you such as doors, windows, mirrors etc. Framing provides a neat look and makes the viewer focus on the subject of the photo immediately.

Using a frame provides more focus to the subject of the image * Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important things to control when taking a picture. It is important to balance the brightness of the shot. You can do this by tapping the screen and then using the lighting slider to go up or down according to your need.

Brightness slider in the Camera app * Experiment

And last but not the least, experiment with all the different features and functions on your camera. Most people don’t realize how much potential their phone cameras have! Try taking photos using functions such as ‘night mode’, ‘panorama’, ‘wide-angle (if applicable)’, etc. And don’t forget to just have fun with it and practice, practice, PRACTICE!