No doubt todays smartphones do a lot more than just make phone calls. Todays phones are also compact cameras ready to take great photos. But just because its easy to use and ready at hand doesn’t mean your camera will take great shots. You have to be involved in the process and make some key decisions that will lead you to capturing better pictures.

1.Look for the best angle
When you’re ready to take a picture of yourself or another subject, try to find the best angle. Move the phone around to the left of your face and then the right. Look for your best side. Look for your subjects best side. when you’ve found it try tilting the phone and explore different angles. Have fun with it and try extreme low and high, close and far. You might discover a great shot at a certain angle.

2.Keep the horizon line level
When you’re shooting landscapes or at the beach where the ocean is your subject make sure to keep the horizon line level. Also if you’re shooting a large room make sure to keep the floor level. Unless you’re going for a rocking ship look.

3. Don’t be afraid to zoom
Although some phones with low resolution cameras will suffer in this department, if your phone is a newer iPhone or similar don’t be afraid to use the zoom feature. Typically all you have to do is use a pinch gesture on the screen to initiate the camera zoom feature. Use an outward spread gesture to zoom in, or use a pinch gesture to zoom out. By default the lens on phones are wide angle, so try zooming in and compose a tighter shot. Try to guide the viewers eye to something interesting. However be careful not to zoom so much that it begins to compromise the quality of the image. Physically move closer if necessary.

4. Control the exposure
Sometimes auto exposure doesn’t get it right. Usually because its focusing on some part of the scene that you’re not interested in and exposing for that. Simply tap on the area that you want to expose for and the camera will automatically change the exposure for that. Tap and hold for a couple of seconds then slide your finger up or down to adjust the exposure manually.

5. Stabilize for long exposures
If you’re shooting at night or where there is not enough light, then your camera will need to take a long exposure. This means that it will take more time to let in enough light to get a proper exposure. However, during this time the camera must stay steady and any movement will yield a blurry picture. For that reason its important to steady the camera any way possible. You could use something to prop up the phone and try not to move it while its taking the picture. Typically a camera should be mounted to a tripod for long exposures. But with a smartphone you could use an inexpensive tripod and attach the phone to it by adapting a selfie stick. Screw the stick off and the phone holder will mount to the tripod screw. Now your phone is steady enough to take a picture at night.