13 Smartphone Photography tips & tricks

[@jamiewindsor]

*There are a lot of comments saying Lightroom Mobile isn't free. I think people might be getting confused with the desktop app. At the time of making this video and the time of writing this comment, the mobile app is free, so please don’t be put off from downloading and using it.* *From Adobe's Website:* _Lightroom for mobile and tablets is a _*_free_*_ app that gives you a powerful, yet simple solution for capturing, editing and sharing your photos._

[@lastgaminggt7828]

Okay queen

[@buyaport]

Perhaps one should also read the small print, not only the marketing slogan. Yes, the app itself is free, but features like raw editing, selective adjustments or healing brush are only available as "in-app purchases" aka "premium version".

[@jamiewindsor]

@@buyaport Yes, like I said in the video, not _all_ features are available in the free version. But you can shoot raw images via the camera feature and use the manual controls.

[@pongoni7586]

@@jamiewindsor mobile is free and so is millions of filters by other users

[@anonharingenamn]

What comes through SO clearly in your videos is your desire to inspire people to shoot more. Thank you.

[@wildvisuals4415]

Same here 👍🏽

[@JasonShinks]

don't think I've come across anybody that thinks so deeply and explaines so clearly, the creative process Jamie. Great work.

[@Gatodel77]

Dear Jamie. The quality of your content is unique and spectacular, for those of us who love old school photography. The vintage aesthetic of your work is a direct blow to nostalgia. Greetings from Argentina

[@jamiewindsor]

Thank you. I’m glad it’s appreciated.

[@Jackbrsp]

"Newschool" photographers as well! Saludos desde Brazil, hermano! ❤️

[@Lucho_Torsa]

indeed, one of the best content creators on these topics. He was already missed around here hehe. Latinoamerica unida jeje greetings from Cuba.

[@laynetravis]

I agree absolutely!

[@brittneyh5464]

@@Lucho_Torsak gm😢y y jfhY

[@the-secrettutorials]

The amount of love in those handcrafted transitions, titles and themes for every single video is insaaane

[@keshavcharan]

"Choice is the enemy of creativity", that's a great quote.

[@jamiewindsor]

Thanks. It’s maybe over-simplified a little, but basically true I think.

[@michaelbuckenmeyer4996]

Not much gets me excited to shoot like a new JW video. Jamie, one of my favorite things about your videos is your dives into theory and use of examples. I’ve discovered so many great photographers because of your channel and I find the way you present their work highly instructive. There’s tons of photographers on KZbin talking about gear and editing, but no one really talks about theory like you.

[@alexandra_sa_lazer]

By FAR the best video on smartphone photography I’ve seen. I only endeavored to take better selfies, but I feel like a whole new world has opened up. Thank you!

[@Indrakusuma_a]

As a hobbyist, I bought my first camera to dive deeper into photography and hopefully be a better photographer. But even so, I still shoot regularly with my phone, and I do have many of my fav shots taken with my phone. As people have repeated the whole time, the best camera is the one in your hand.

[@ezgar714]

I’m a photographer from Southern California. Love your work, you’re quite the inspiration for me. I just wanted to say thank you for continuing to make these videos for us. I hope all is well.

[@Jackbrsp]

Oh the memories... I've been shooting from cellphones since the flip ones in the beginning of 2000s 😂. I was just able to afford a camera in 2019, so my hole school of photography practice was made on phones. I'm so glad you approached this subject! Good to see you back and making spectacular videos again, having us thinking about all that. ❤️

[@BhaaskarDesai]

For quite a few years I've been telling this exact same thing to some of my friends who always spend loads of money on newer models of smartphones every year just for the hype of having "Better" cameras and still not getting the desired results. You nailed it when you said "Choice is the enemy of creativity". Perfect example of 'Less is better'. I've been using my 5 year phone for landscapes, abstracts, portraits, macro and street photography and so far it's been great. Thank you for all your hard work and putting your thoughts in such a precise way. Love from India. :)

[@sidha22]

You're partially correct. I went with family to Malaysia. It was raining so out came my water proof samsung with ability to shoot raw. So now I have memorable pics which can be improved even after 30 yrs. Old phone camera r ok but if u can buy new go with it. Not to mention 4k recording instantly. But ofcourse my kids r growing so I consider moments captured worth the cost of 4k phone cameras. Big camera is just useless in capturing family moments.

[@Twiddle_things]

I just want a darn camera that doesn't over saturate or desaturte the colours to ridiculous extents 😔

[@Mark-Huigen]

I love this kind of well thought out, detailed, original, uncompromising work! It may take a little more patience in between video's but it's always easily worth the wait.

[@GuillaumeTANNEUX]

I'm half way through the video and I pause a minute to share my appreciation of the visual quality, the meaningful subject and the great storytelling that makes the whole cohesive and absorbing. I'm taking this time (pause) also to last this moment of joy. Jamie, you are an amazing video producer, a wonderful storyteller and probably most of all an important human being for the community. Thank you.

[@kevhaworth5313]

A rare thing happened tonight, I watched a full video on KZbin. You are very easy to listen to and understand, incredibly well thought out and informative. Thank you.

[@jason-m]

I’ve taken thousands of photos of my dogs with my “pro” camera and one of the best pictures I got was with my iPhone early one morning when I would never have had the big camera with me. Fantastic content as always Jamie hope there’s more from you this year 🤞

[@Malitz101]

Whenever I see a Jamie upload notification, I instantly watch.

[@paulasimson4939]

Me too!

[@thomasdawson5934]

Same here!

[@ddddvvid]

just 30 seconds and it's already one of my favourites videos in many time, love your video style man, hope you can make more this year anyway, good luck with your personal projects and stuff, we appreciate you

[@Patrick190763]

Your intro about explaining the philiosophy of iphone photography is one of the most interesting i've ever heard. Since I own a iphone 15 pro i leave my Nikon DSLR more and more at home.

[@elle8099]

I agree with everything you said. I practice street photography just by the use of my smartphone - OPPO Reno 3. It's capable, very simple to use, and although I cannot change settings such as apperture, iso, shutter speed, and no lens I can interchange with it, the best practice it gives me is the creativity to compose a photo. Plus, it taught me to lessen my excuses and give me a chance to explore photography even by just the use of a smartphone. Love your video! 👏🏽

[@AdrikuTV]

Jamie, I just wanted to say that I absolutely love your content. When I started studying photography, some of your videos teached me more concepts about phototography than any class explanation. Now that I work as sports photographer, I recommend your channel to anyone I know who wanted to learn more about photography. I really appreciate the work you do here in YT. Thank you 💜 Greetings from Spain! 💜

I think number 12 is the most important. Roland Barthes used to talk about the difference between punctum and studium and how in modern photography we are focusing more and more on the studium (the theory and technical application of photography) and less on the punctum (the subject of the photo, that thing that excites us and that is only found in great photographs) Great video!

[@Travelerglobal]

Thanks, Jamie Windsor! Very helpful advice and brilliant tips. Ligia from Los Angeles

[@jamiewindsor]

Thank you.

[@mihaipredescu]

Its the LIMITATION that makes CREATIVITY reappear when nobody would expect it. One side is about having all the gear in the world and losing precious time for the effective creative process and the other side is limitation that comes when we face the worst enemy: TIME passing, precious seconds away from the moment that we had expected and now is gone. Tech stuff limitations vs. Creativity *humanized interaction*. That is an important paradigm switch. Great video, Jamie!

[@girishnagarkar8730]

Thanks.You have boosted morale of random photographers who shoot for their happiness and share to family and friends 🤗

[@BladeV8]

Yaaaay! A new JW video. I agree broadly with everything you said, but I would add two further caveats: 1) Lean into shooting with your phone camera as is, even without using RAW/manual & other "proper" photography tips, as well as periodically doing it the proper way. The form of a lot of these things is ephemeral & leaning into what they're good at and editing that is just as rewarding an exercise as trying to push them back the other way. I suppose this builds off your initial point of it makes you rely on fundamentals vs creative uses of expensive gear, but you'll learn more about the rough and ready rudiments of editing etc than you will shooting manually (at first) and trying to decide what you want the shots to do afterwards. A lot of these phone cameras have a "look" and do something specific well, start there and work out. 2) Experiment with phones that aren't just iPhones. This isn't an Android v Apple thing, but if you're exclusively an Apple fan and only use/have used their hardware, then you'll miss out on a lot of what's good about mobile photography. Apple is all around A+ in the video/mobile camera stakes, but their phones definitely have a "look" and they're way less keen to try more experimental things with their hardware and software. Lots of the Android brands - particularly Samsung & Oppo - use much larger sensors on their phones, as well as offering several reasonable quality ones (wide, tele, etc) on their handsets vs Apple. I've found Samsung's tele lenses in particular have become just as good as their main sensors, and that encouraged me to take more portrait style images/framing whilst commuting vs just wide angle shots. Equally, Google are doing incredible things still with their Pixel phones in terms of image stacking & macro photography.

[@rickbiessman6084]

I agree with most of what you said, except the A+ for iPhones. Not sure which models exactly, but up until the 14 (I think) the past few years iPhones have been butchering skin and sunsets (and everything that’s somewhere between orange and light tan) in the most disgusting form I’ve ever seen. Truly atrocious. Google Pixels are legit though. I’d go as far as saying a used Google Pixel 5 could be a better choice than picking up a cheap used DSLR or mirrorless.

[@CaptainPsychopath69]

Definitely the best channel on KZbin about photography/creativity.

[@marianodemiguel3442]

You did it again! I was hesitant for this. How wrong I was! Another game changer for me. You opened up a whole new imaging universe in my mind. My endorphins are bubbling and can not wait to try this!! I love you man ! Keep doing this. You have the gift .

[@sowalima243]

Everytime i see your videos i'm learning so much about (imo) "real" photography and the ability to see. Your way to develop this knowledge is outstanding. Thank you so much for your work!!

[@billpanuska5775]

Applause for your purposeful, relaxed manner. The video is rich with suggestions and sound advice.

[@timallenphotogram]

Another brilliant video Jamie. You don't post often but every video is essential viewing.

[@christianhicking5150]

I had been waiting so long for a video like this on your chanel! I just thought about it this morning, cause you are really my favorite photo content creator! I am really not into smartphone shots cause I miss the viewfinder, but I got at least two shots with my smartphone that I am proud of. Thanks and please do not let us wait so long again for content!

[@livemoksha]

So great to see the master of scripting, editing and communicating back! Love you, man!

[@LS-vz5fi]

Best photography channel on KZbin by far!

[@linus2771]

Dear Jamie, now that I've seen all of your videos, I really mean all of them, I want to say a big thank you to you. Your videos are absolutely brilliant, very professional and have a documentary style, on a very, very high level. I see how much work you do, how many hours, days and weeks went into these videos, graphics, visualizations, effects, the music and then you have to cut everything together, oh my god 🙈 which I really like on the one hand is the high content and thematic level, but on the other hand also the philosophical, the meta level, which gives your videos the depth they have. I think that makes you very different from everyone else who talks a lot about equipment and photography in the technical, theoretical sense. With you it's often connections and also interpersonal things that you address and that makes me think so much. I would like to thank you very much and encourage you to continue, all the best from Germany, Linus ;)

[@jamiewindsor]

Thank you.

[@iantroup]

I keep coming back to this video, the more I watch it the more I learn, it has helped me tremendously in focusing my mind when taking photographs. Thanks for the tips!

[@pravindesai3718]

We as photographers at all levels forget the amazing advice you gave us. Just shoot and make something of your environment in rather than look for the perfect setting, light, mood etc. Thank you for the reminder! Pravin Desai

[@TJNorton]

Found your video at exactly the right time ... Been taking pics with my iphone for a while, editing them on the phone into abstracts that mostly look like screen printed art. I recently got asked for a print of one, and after talking to a local photo printing studio, got told that they can only be printed to small sizes due to the low quality of phone pics. The low quality is why i turned them into abstracts, and i want to see them in large sizes. THANK YOU for pointing out so much in this video, and reinforcing why i love using my phone to create images that are far from the norm. Sometimes bad is good!

[@danielcaudillmedia]

This is one of the best photography videos I have seen. Even though my main camera is a Sony full frame, I have to say that I have been relying more on my Pixel phones for capturing certain moments. Thank you also for showing us the work of Kathy Ryan---those were fantastic images!

[@teocrawford]

Ahhh Jamie I’m so happy every time I see a new upload from you! This was again fantastic!

[@SerMattzio]

The editing of these videos always blows me away. I feel like I'm learning things just watching the awesome intro sequences.

[@user-jl7kx9nj6o]

the Vibe of your videos is immaculate. Pure pleasure. Huge, huge thank you!

[@leonardogomez2259]

I started with a kind of "tell me quick" attitude but got trapped by your amazing way to communicate, loved the video.

[@bradzaruba9686]

I don’t know which is more stimulating: your information; your presentation; or your exquisite production. I guess it’s all the above! Cheers from the States.

[@josewantland]

I have a nice DSLR and accessories , but not to long ago I took a class offered at my local college ( Orange Coast College in California ) and the name of the class was Cellphone Photography, I was so impressed with the results coming out of my old iPhone 8, we did use the same Lr mobile app and is so crazy to see the amazing results, another thing I highly recommend is to use a tripod ( small or a normal size ) with the timer shutter release , you will get very sharp images. The funny thing is I'm also taking analog ( Film ) photography at the same college and I also love the results coming out of medium format cameras I have, It is nice to enjoy both extremes of technology, Thank you for your video and all the tips.

[@YouNeedMyVoice]

Jamie🎉 I missed you, hope this year will be one of your best!

[@baluan3585]

Greetings from Vietnam Jamie! I've been following you for a while now, by far your channel is the most invested one on KZbin, creativity wise. Please upload more regularly, I'll die for your videos. ❤

[@Rlancup]

How I love your videos... it's like a celebration everytime you post something! 😀

[@lidalahola2202]

You said it PERFECTLY and in a nutshell...... thank you for your very positive perspective on using the phone as a complementary camera. I love it!!

[@R2r_1337]

I feel much more confident with my Fuji XT-3 when photographing people. I think when you take snaps of random folks with your phone they can start thinking why are you doing this, while with a proper camera you look like just doing some photography. Anyway, great video as always ❤

[@joehaines748]

Thanks!

[@jamiewindsor]

Thank you!

[@richardlizier5270]

Sound advice. For me but one 😉 The Lightroom editing is nicer on the phone than on a PC. I love it. When you are traveling, it's a great way to have your pictures ready for sharing, using 'time lost'.

[@king_of_twins2]

The art of storytelling at its finest. Thanks man.

[@tibixd]

jamie, huge love from romania, love to see your videos everytime you post. keep it up

[@AndreiVaida]

Another excellent episode, well done Jamie! Yes, the creativity is far more important than the camera. Nice conclusion at 16:36 🙂 Actually, smartphones have high dynamic range now thanks to the software; sometimes higher than the DSRL's standard picture profile. Android has manual mode by default; I use it quite often.

[@unliving_ball_of_gas]

Yep, every phone nowadays has built-in hdr bracketing. But the quality of thw hdr photos really vary from manufacturer to manyfacturer.

[@flaviamendes-mulheressabias]

It is one of the best videos I’ve seen on KZbin as a photographer because all your thoughts resonate with mine and I’ve left camera and trying to make works with phones and I still a lot to learn about shooting with phones. Also I felt like creating a channel here in my country about that. You are such an inspiration. Thank you for the thoughts and sharing the art of photography. Now I subscribed. Thank you.

[@saramarkowicz]

Your video is SO GOOD ! I am so glad that I found your channel, thank you ! I used to take my Canon everywhere but got tired of it sometimes because it's huge. So now I take stunning pictures with my smartphone and yes it makes you even more creative !

[@thwaitey]

Oh, the excitement when I saw a new Jamie video had dropped. Always a joy. Lots of useful hints and tips. I'm inspired, thank you.

[@polmorgan3533]

I'm a musician/ producer trying to make it like everyone else, this naturally means i need to learn to be better at video and still photography. I mostly use an old Nikon coolpix camera its a weird twisty thing and i like its querkyness I think i have a decent eye for composition, But i'm an absolute beginner, Thanks for all your good advice. I'm binge watching your posts. You do great editing as well as the photos. I'm new to OBS too. all the best mate.

[@palmbregas]

As someone who started his journey on this photography world with a smartphone, I can recommend anyone to watch this video to improve their phone photography. Everything he mentioned is 100% correct.

[@Ms19754]

Your content is truly inspiring. I love and re-watch so many of your videos. And while I am not even a photographer, you have enabled me to appreciate photography so much more. My day to day pictures have become better through having this shift in mindset and I've taken pictures that I am actually proud of and love.

[@rickbiessman6084]

So you _are_ a photographer then! 😊 Maybe not a professional, but that’s true for most of us here I think.

[@meladkareme5851]

We love you Jamie! So glad you finally posted and will look forward to the next one 🙌

[@davidhaas5987]

Great video! I use my iPhone 13 PR Max now more than ever including underwater with a housing! It travels so easy and makes diving a breeze. Looking for contrast, shadows, etc. is spot on and I shoot whether converting later or in camera in B&W too. One thing I'll add is the iPhone 13 to 14 series main Wide 26mm f1.5 camera (which really is a camera module and separate lens on all iPhones) is the sharpest of the 3. I paint myself into the corner trying to shoot that lens most of the time but will use the Ultrawide more than the 77mm tele only iPhone 13 PRO Max. Keep the great videos coming!

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

The more you shoot the faster you learn how bad you were yesterday.

[@SteveBradshaw-e1w]

How I love your videos... it's like a celebration everytime you post something!

[@in3vitableTIMING]

Thanks for this! It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow and is the perfect time to put what I’ve learnt to good use!

[@abreakwell]

New follower of yours and so happy that I came across your content. I am no great photographer just a guy that enjoys it. Over a decade ago I saw a book of pictures taken using a disposable camera, as I remember he was sick of people saying that they were awful and set out illustrate just what you are saying. It stuck with me that it is not the camera but the skill of the photographer and understanding how to use each camera/lens that matters. Not saying that cameras/lens don't matter but it is great that you are pointing out that amazing photos can be taken on any camera.

[@lautreamontg]

Thank you for this video. I've lost touch with photography because of my low income. It's really felt impossible for such a long time now. How could I think of film or a new digital camera when I'm looking at day old bread on clearance sales, and praying that my car transmission holds up another month? But even a poor person has a smart phone nowadays, because it's so essential. Thanks for making me realize that you can do something on it other than cheap social media photography.

[@chrispixl]

Jamie, toujours trop rare, trop inspirant, trop énervant, trop, trop génial, trop merci. bravo et bonne année 2023 !

[@labradorhund7769]

So good to have you back! ♡

[@m3photo726]

Jamie thank you. Your excellent presentations which entail a lot of hard work are a pleasure to watch, not only for the content but the dynamic structure. You have made subscribing to your channel a must!

[@kathynassa9974]

Well said Jamie! It’s not always the gear you use…..but the creator behind any lens. Thank you. 📸📸

[@marjoriesiler255]

I've missed your content so much! Thank you for another stunning video Jamie!!!!

[@isabel95]

Absolutely the BEST video I've seen on phone photography. Very inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

[@guyd.vinson9627]

So nice to have someone talking about making photographs rather than just equipment, you bring to mind Edward Weston and why I became interested in photography. Thank you

[@KristiOliinyk]

I am so happy that you uploaded this video!🔥

[@edn.3442]

Great to see you back! Another excellent video in so many ways. Keep them coming!

[@Firnling]

Complimenting the camera rather than the photographer is like calling someone talented rather then skilled.

[@personnelproton]

THANK YOU! I’ve been saying that for years! Calling someone talented isn’t a compliment. I wasn’t born with some innate ability, I worked my ass off to achieve the skills I have.

[@lightninginmyblood]

That's some Sun Tzu level of wisdom

[@Firnling]

@@lightninginmyblood thank you! 🥰

[@amalirfan]

People mixing talents and skills is also one of my pet peaves

[@abhijit-sarkar]

More like complimenting Whole Foods when you liked the food at a restaurant. But then, today’s cameras have made it possible for any monkey with a wallet to call themselves a photographer.

[@xenaxeZ262tr]

I so get what you mean... I so do enjoy clicking anytime, anywhere.. as soon as something appeals to my eye...& i can't leave it be..it must be captured and for memory..exactly as I see it through the lens in my eyes...i am mostly satisfied... Glad to have happened on your channel.. Thank you. 🙋🏻‍♀️🙏🏻

[@bushmanphotog]

I shoot film and digital, and I even use my smartphone for certain images. I use a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, and it allows me to get a 108mp photo. I've also been able to print those photos (and sell them) at 20x30 inch prints.

[@mabus4910]

A friend of mine is an artist who experimented with smartphone photography after the first iphones came out. He even had expositions. I bought some of his pictures. I just realized that they are high contrast black and white pictures. (Eventhough he also shot in colour).

[@sagarchakraborty007]

My god, what have I seen. One of the best video about photography.

[@dominusgengar]

yea, new video! Always spot on take on the creativity topics. This is why this channel is my favorite when it comes to expanding my creative thoughts.

[@punitb]

Great to have you back. I always learn so much from your videos

[@cheekinchan7597]

Recently just started with smartphone photography. Now I have more ideas on what I can do with smartphone photography. Thanks.

[@ronald4139]

Top! thanks! This inspires me to pick up my good intention again tomorrow and to take a good creative photo with my phone every day. thanks again!

[@PeterArnold1969]

I've been waiting on a video like this, from you, Jamie. Thanks for this. ☺️

[@badermienhoff773]

man , you are such a gift to us photography enthusiast !!! thanks for great content

[@yousefkhalid7424]

its my second video to watch but u are really good in the intros and that doesn't let me feel its an intro , im not a kind of a guy to easily get attracted to videos but u made it on me applause .

[@pollypowell3907]

So glad to see back. Great as always. Thank you!

[@youaregodspursuit-47]

It should always be the concept, the visual interest, and the abstract - the equipment is tertiary at best. Because it is the recorder, not the creator. And post editing is just varnish for the product. Thanks for the reminder to get to basics first! And thanks for the tedious but needed work to get this video out!

[@DracoUmbraEcliptica]

This video was incredibly practical and full of useful tips.

[@damsjs6866]

Thank you Jamie. Couldn't agree with everyone who commented before me. You are an inspirational and exceptional teacher. I've so enjoyed your videos. I've recently upgraded my phone because of problems with my older one. This video has really helped me understand the potential of the camera phone,. Keep up the great work and thanks.

[@lisahaaseckle]

Thank you! These are some very good tips for using a phone camera instead of packing all the other camera gear. You're right in that we always have our phones with us.

[@princenkhoma9357]

This is one of my most enjoyable videos on photography. Thank you lots

[@romeskiie]

i would love to hear you tackle the topic of people who use high-end digital cameras with vintage lenses and fully embrace to manually operate everything from aperture to focusing. Or rather people who make most out of their bargain gear they bought from thrift shops or flea markets like the legendary D3100 and even if they've managed to earn enough money to afford higher-end gear, yet they still use old gear and vintage lenses because of the charm, I know they're a lot of them, let alone content creators who dedicate themselves to film photography. But anyway, I'm glad you're still doing KZbin.

[@ShadowHunter-i6x]

Thanks for creating such a well-thought-out and detailed guide.

[@bankhousegirl]

I am a big fan of using my phone for photography, I especially like abstract. I also have a mirrorless canon camera, which I am using less and less. Came across your video accidentally, but agree with all 13 tips and tricks. Thank you for confirming what I already suspected that phone photography can be great. I have just invested in a samsung s24, and I love it. Have subscribed to your channel, and looking forward to seeing more videos. Many thanks Jamie.

[@andrejkrieger4617]

Great video! For years I go out with one fixed lens. This limits teach me to move around my picture. It slows me down an I enjoy photography much more.

[@salvatoremillitari5246]

thanks Mr. Jamie for your honest videos.... finally I found videos not only related to a technical items/gear staff!!