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A popular debate in photography circles is: does the device matter? Some say yes, while others disagree. If you ask me, my answer might be a bit ambiguous. It actually depends on several factors—the type of photography, the purpose, and the setting. For instance, if you're aiming to work with a renowned fashion brand on magazine shoots, a smartphone camera is unlikely to match the performance of a professional camera. Similarly, your smartphone camera might fall short compared to a DSLR in low-light conditions due to limited ISO support. However, to answer the question, the device doesn’t matter when you’re starting to master photography. I believe the first camera is already in your pocket, and smartphone cameras are far more capable than we often imagine.
Personally, I don’t prefer spending a lot of money before learning something. In my opinion, if you want to master anything, you should start with what you have. That will teach you the basics. Learning the basics is crucial when it comes to mastering any art.
Smartphone cameras are often considered point-and-shoot cameras. Most smartphone cameras come with very basic options to adjust settings. For a beginner, I think that’s a great advantage. Imagine you're a newbie trying to learn photography. Once you hold a professional or semi-professional camera, you're overwhelmed with settings like ISO, aperture, shutter speed, exposure, and more. You can always learn these later, but as a beginner, I believe you should focus on learning how to compose a picture first.
Do you know the difference between a good picture and an average one? Composition. Think of photography as creating a dish—you need to carefully combine every element to compose the best possible photo. In previous blogs, I have discussed some golden rules of photography!
Here’s some advice to help you level up and master photography faster:
(By the way, all the pictures shown in this blog were taken with a smartphone camera!)
Take Pictures Every Day:
Practice, practice, and practice. As a beginner, you shouldn’t take pictures only on special occasions. Make photography a daily habit. Always stay observant; this world is incredibly strange and beautiful. Every moment offers something unique to capture—you just have to notice it. Cultivate a habit of being aware of your surroundings.
Know the Grammar:
You read it right. Like we have grammar in our language, photography has its own grammar too. Learning grammar means knowing the basic rules of how you should compose a picture. Once you know the grammar, your outcomes will be perfect. Rules like the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, leading lines, and creating/breaking the pattern will help anyone generate a certain style of their own photography.
Watch as Many Pictures as Possible:
To become a great photographer, you need to study the works of great photographers. Follow them on platforms like Instagram and VSCO—both are excellent for viewing inspiring photography. Trust me, this will significantly improve your composition skills in a shorter time.
Learn Post-Processing:
Knowing how to edit a picture gives you an edge. Editing is one of the toughest yet most impactful skills in photography. Check out my previous blog for my top three picks of mobile editing apps. Every picture should convey a mood. Here’s a bitter truth: turning every color photo into black and white might give it an artistic look, but this approach won’t work in the long run. Learn to play with colors. Not every picture demands a black-and-white edit—you need to sense what works best for each photo.
Don’t Crop Your Picture So Much:
That’s a common mistake every beginner photographer makes. They take wide pictures and try to crop irrationally any particular object. But this is a wrong practice. I read it somewhere: “If your picture is not good enough, that means you were not close enough.” To compose a good moment, you really need to be close to your subject. Also, most smartphone cameras don’t allow you the best resolution when you crop a picture too much.
Try Shooting in Decent Light:
Natural light is a very important factor in photography. Good light can literally change the whole ambiance of a picture. Also, avoid taking pictures in low light because not every smartphone camera delivers the best output in low light. And here’s a tip: morning light and afternoon light are the best natural light.
Believe Your Guts:
Once you start taking pictures daily, you can sense the probable events around you. Sometimes you can sense what is going to happen, or you may have the power to compose the picture in your mind. If you ever feel like this, you should wait for the moment. This mostly applies to street photography. On the street, you always need to compose a setup in your mind so that you can be fast when it comes to clicking the shutter.
Mobile photography is the perfect starting point for anyone exploring the art of photography. With practice, observation, and attention to composition, your skills will grow naturally. Remember, it’s not about the gear—it’s about the passion and creativity you bring to every shot. Good Luck !