We’ve all been there: You’re out and about running errands without a camera and come upon a striking scene that deserves to be photographed, so naturally you pull out your phone. But if you always shoot in Auto mode the images you capture won’t be as awesome as possible.
Shutterbug readers tend to be a gear-happy lot, with a variety of cameras for different purposes. In addition to a DSLR or mirrorless camera (or both) with an arsenal of lenses, there may be a pocket-size compact with a large sensor, a lightweight super-zoom model, and perhaps a film camera or two. Despite all this equipment, we all shoot with our smartphones on occasion (whether we admit it or not).
The SnapGrip Creator Kit from ShiftCam lets you hold your smartphone like a camera, charges the battery, lights up the scene and provides a stable tabletop support. It’s very well made and practically attaches itself.
It’s inevitable: Sooner or later you’ll come upon an interesting scene, and the only camera you have on hand is your phone. Sure, it’s possible to make impressive images with the latest phones, but what if the photo you envision requires a long exposure?
OK, listen up. If you’re rolling your eyes because “real photographers use real cameras,” we have two suggestions for you to consider: Either replace your five-year-old phone or watch the tutorial below. Then, if you’re still not convinced, go ahead and ridicule mobile photography all you want.
Vanguard has unveiled the competitively priced VEO ED 8420M Digiscoping Kit that makes it easier than ever to capture sharp close-up photos and videos of distant subjects with a smartphone.
If you like experimenting with your smartphone camera, you’re going to love this tutorial. In the video below from COOPH, they show you four photo tricks you can do with your smartphone at home.
Tired of taking the same old photos with your smartphone or camera? The clever folks from COOPH have put out a new video with fun “creative combinations” to help you shoot head-turning images that will go viral.
Amidst the ongoing race for the latest and greatest gear, some photographers minimize the important role they play when it comes to capturing great images. Hence the adage, “It’s the photographer, not the camera, that makes a photo.”
Easy-to-carry travel tripods are more popular than ever, as photographers have turned to mirrorless cameras and correspondingly small lenses to lighten their load. The challenge is finding an appropriately robust model that doesn’t sacrifice stability, quality and features—just to be small.
Despite the preponderance of accessories available for smartphone photographers, it’s rare we stumble upon something unique that stands out from the crowd. But that’s exactly what we discovered after receiving the Magnetic Phone Mount Kit from eXplorer Photo & Video.
As much as some Shutterbug readers consider it blasphemy to shoot “serious” images with an iPhone, it’s difficult to deny that—when used properly—today’s sophisticated smartphones are capable of making truly superb photographs. In the detailed video below, you’ll learn everything you need to know to do that yourself.
Is Instagram still a good place to share your photography or has it been taken over by annoying short-form videos, aka "reels," much like one of its main rivals, TikTok? Or to put it more bluntly, is Instagram dead as a platform for serious photographers?
We don’t often post tutorials on mobile photography because most Shutterbug readers prefer to shoot with a “real” camera instead of their phone. But let’s face it: today’s advanced mobile devices are capable of capturing great images, and the quick video below offers some very sound advice.