Phone camera settings worth changing today
Modern phones take good photos on their default settings, but a few changes make a clear difference, and you only have to make them once.
Turn on the grid
The grid divides the frame into thirds. It helps you keep the horizon level and place a subject off center, which usually makes a calmer composition. It costs nothing and stays out of the final photo.
Lock focus and exposure
Tap and hold on your subject until the phone shows a lock. Now the focus and the brightness stay fixed while you recompose. Drag the sun icon down a little in bright scenes: phones tend to overexpose skies, and a slightly darker photo keeps more detail.
Shoot in the highest quality
Check that the camera saves at full resolution and, if your phone offers it, in a format with more latitude for editing. The files are larger, but you can recover shadows and highlights that a compressed file throws away.
Use the portrait mode carefully
Portrait mode blurs the background with software. It works best with a clear gap between the person and what is behind them. Check edges around hair and glasses: when the blur cuts into them, step back or lower the strength.
Clean the lens
The single best improvement costs nothing. A phone lens collects fingerprints all day, and a greasy lens turns every light source into a haze. Wipe it with a soft cloth before you shoot.
Keep it simple
Settings matter less than light and timing. Change these once, then spend your attention on what is in front of the lens.