Smartphones are easily the most popular cameras around, but even though they’ve improved a lot over the years, taking a solid photo with a smartphone is still a little different than a traditional camera. MacRumors put together a video filled with iPhone tips, but they’re all applicable to any smartphone camera. One of the lesser known tips is to learn how to lock exposure and focus.


If you’ve never used the focus or exposure adjustments before, they’re pretty easy. Tap anywhere in the camera app to change the focus to that object. Tap and then move your finger up or down to change the exposure. Once everything’s set up how you like it, tap and hold your finger on the screen to lock both settings in place. This allows you to take a little more time working on the composition of an image to get it right. When you’re all set, you can snap a photo just as you usually would. The video walks through a handful of other tips too, including skipping the digital zoom in favor of moving closer to a subject, never using the flash, and making full use of HDR.

Tips for Taking Better Photos With Your iPhone | MacRumors