In December 2024 we retired the Stockimo app, but we’re still accepting Smartphone photos. You can read the latest update here. If you’re looking to upload your mobile phone photos to ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏyou can sign up here.
This blog article from 2015 has been kept live for archival purposes.
Five ways with mobile photography is a loose guide to getting the most from your camera phone. Not a definitive guide as there are infinite ways in which you can take and edit a photo, but based on my experience of working with Alamy, Stockimo and being an avid mobile shooter.
1.) The basics
If you’re serious about using your phone for mobile photography then you need to think about your equipment and the basics of photography.
Just because it’s attached to your phone it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t have the same respect your SLR does (if not more) and it doesn’t mean that the basics of photography should be ignored.
They might be old ideas but they’re tried and tested. Learn the fundamentals of photography first, before you learn how to correct problems with a post processing app. There are infinite guides to out there, so if you need it or you’d like to remind yourself, have a bit of a read up.
If you’re not familiar with it, then learn the . Your iPhone makes it easy by giving you a grid to work with; if you don’t know, here’s
Use the grid to line up the people, objects, the horizon, buildings, etc in the frame and place them where lines intersect to emphasise .
Get into the habit and your photos will have a better balance and be more visually appealing. When it becomes second nature, turn off the grid and start pushing ways in which you can break the rules (that’s what they’re for right?) but bear in mind it’s a rule for a reason, so some things will work, but some will not; which brings me on to the next thing…
2.) Editing
Digital and the freedom of using your phone for photography has given us the ability to shoot almost infinite shots.
Learning the basics will mean you can keep your camera roll relatively free. Pick your best shot(s) as soon as possible because going back at a later date to edit can be an agonising drawn out process. Being a ruthless editor will help hone your skills to capture that perfect shot first time (plus there’s always the recently deleted folder on your phone in case you need to go back).
If you’ve mastered the basics and/or got lucky, then you might have the final version there already. If not or you like to get super creative with your photography, there’s now an infinite choice of photography apps which can mean you still end up with endless variations of the same thing. Again, be ruthless and limit yourself on the amount of repetition, unless you’re inspired by .
 3.) Use a different angle
Your phone isn’t as cumbersome as an SLR (it’s called a “mobile” phone for a reason) so use it to your advantage. Get down low, or raise it up high, try to find alternative perspectives to capture the familiar in new and challenging ways.
Exploit the mobility of your camera armed with some of the basics such as framing, the rule of thirds and leading lines, etc, because a poorly composed wonky horizon will probably look just like that. Using the basics of photography means you can create some great, interesting and unexpected  that remain visually appealing despite not being “classically” shot.
4.) Post processing
Even from the days of darkroom film development there’s always been options to alter your photographs in post production. With the rise of digital, Adobe Photoshop has pretty much lead the way with modern post production, but that’s changing with the rise of mobile photography and the myriad of photo editing apps available, many of which for free.
The beauty of having everything in the one place on your phone is you can experiment with a lot of apps all whilst you’re on a shoot, or afterwards when you’re on the train, waiting for the kettle to boil, having a soak in the bath…
Depending on the amount of post production you want to do with your photos will depend on what apps suit you and your workflow. There are some () that work in much the same way as post production for your SLR photography.
There are however that give you more creative artistry at your fingertips, but remember sometimes less is more, don’t forget the basics before you start sprinkling glitter over everything.
5.) Shoot real life
The mobile phone has fuelled a rise in popularity for reportage style and street photography. The benefit of not having to point a weighty, large SLR lens at people means it’s easier to capture less posed more natural feeling shots.
That combined with having the freedom to shoot at different angles results in imagery that you can immerse yourself in. It has an intimacy and an of the moment feel to it.
Stock photography customers have long been asking for lifestyle imagery with a “real feel” and they’re hungry for more. It’s inevitable you’ll have your phone with you when you’re out with your friends and family, so make sure you capture what you’re up to.
If you’re looking to tap into the commercial customer market then you’re going to need model releases, but this is also where your mobile can help. There are a number of out there that enable you to get a digital release signed there and then.
Use your friends and family to capture real people (rather than having to hire models) but… whilst customers like “real life” photography… they’re not always looking for “that” real. Make sure you have a quick sanity check; would I pay money for a photo of this person to advertise something?
Personally…. I work best behind the camera.