One of the best things about travelling and exploring, is the opportunity to take loads of eye-catching photos to share with family and friends or on social media.
You don’t need an expensive camera or a degree in photography to capture amazing photos. There are so many creative ways to use your phone to capture that perfect snap!
Read on below for my top tips for elevating your photography to the next level…
1. Master the Rule of Thirds
This classic technique is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to improve your photos. It divides your image into a 3×3 grid — creating four key intersection points.
Pro tip: Place your subject at one of these intersections, not in the centre. This adds balance and visual interest.
When photographing landscapes, try aligning the horizon with the top or bottom gridline — it’s a game-changer.
📱 Bonus: Enable gridlines in your phone camera settings to guide your composition.
2. Frame your shots
Use natural or architectural elements to create a frame within your image — think tree branches, archways, windows, doorways, even rock formations or mirrors. This simple technique draws the viewer’s eye directly to your subject, adds depth, and gives your photo a more intentional, professional look.
Framing can also help tell a story. It gives context to your subject — placing them in a setting that feels grounded and thoughtful. Whether you’re capturing a mountain view through a tent opening, or snapping a portrait through a café window, this method adds visual intrigue and atmosphere.
💡 Try this: Next time you’re out, pause and scan your surroundings. Look through things. You’ll start to see endless creative possibilities — it’s like finding hidden photo opportunities all around you.
Once you start framing your shots this way, you’ll wonder how you ever took photos without it!
3. Get Creative with Angles
Switch up your perspective!
- Try tilting your phone for a fresh composition
- Use the ultra-wide lens (0.5x) to capture more of the scene
- Crouch down for low-angle shots, or shoot from above for a flat-lay or bird’s-eye view
Experimenting with angles can turn an ordinary photo into something spectacular.
4. Underexpose for Rich Colours
Bright scenes like sunsets can often end up overexposed, washing out colours. Try tapping the screen and dragging down the exposure slider to darken the shot slightly.
📸 You can always brighten the photo later in editing, but underexposing helps preserve rich, vibrant tones straight from the camera.
5. Remove the Light Dot
That annoying green dot in bright photos? It’s lens flare. Here’s how to fix it:
- Move the dot over the light source so it blends in
- Or remove it later using the Healing tool in Snapseed (free on iOS and Android)
Simple, clean, dot free photos — sorted!
6. Use a Tripod
Want to get in the shot or experiment with night photography? A tripod is your new best mate.
Pair it with a Bluetooth remote or the Lens Buddy app (iPhone only) for timed or interval shooting.
🌌 Low-light photography? A tripod keeps your camera steady, helping you capture crisp shots of the stars or softly lit cityscapes.
7. AE/AF Lock
Ever nailed the perfect composition, only for your camera to refocus right before you hit the shutter? Say goodbye to that frustration with the AE/AF Lock feature on your iPhone.
Just tap and hold your screen until you see AE/AF Lock pop up in yellow — this locks both your exposure and focus, keeping your subject crisp and your lighting consistent, even if things are moving or you’re snapping a series of shots.
🎯 Pro tip: This is a game-changer for portraits, action shots, or any moment where you want total control over how your photo turns out.
8. Level balancer
Ever snapped a stunning landscape only to realise the horizon’s doing the leaning tower of Pisa? Say goodbye to slanted shots with the built-in Level tool on your iPhone.
Head to Settings > Camera > Composition > Level and toggle it on. This handy guide appears as two white lines on your screen when you’re holding the phone flat — helping you line things up perfectly every time.
🌍 Whether it’s a beach horizon, a skyline, or that coffee flat lay, this feature ensures your photos are straight, balanced, and so satisfying to look at. No more fixing wonky angles in editing!
9. Play with Depth of Field
Want your photos to feel more cinematic and professional? It’s time to experiment with Depth of Field (DoF) — the art of focusing on a specific subject while letting the background (or foreground) blur into a dreamy haze.
This technique helps your subject pop and works especially well in busy scenes or nature shots where you want to highlight one key element — think flowers, food, or a person against a bustling backdrop.
🌟 Try this: Tap to focus on your subject, then get closer or further away to control the blur. Portrait mode on your phone does a lot of this automatically, but playing around manually gives you even more creative control.
10. Create Your Own Signature Style
One of the best ways to stand out on Instagram? Develop a signature style that’s unmistakably you. Whether it’s a warm tone, a moody vibe, minimal edits, or a recurring object (like your favourite hat or a glass ball ✨), consistency makes your feed feel cohesive and polished.
Your style tells a story and helps people instantly recognise your work. Stick to a certain palette, subject, or mood, and your photos will start to feel like part of a collection, not just one offs.
🎨 Pro tip: Start by asking yourself what kind of imagery you’re most drawn to. Do you love soft, golden light? Wide open landscapes? Close-up portraits? Build your style from there and keep it authentic to you.
Your feed, your rules — but when you shoot with intention and a consistent aesthetic, the results speak for themselves.
You’ve got everything you need right in the palm of your hand to capture stunning, scroll-stopping shots. With a little creativity, a dash of confidence, and these simple techniques, your phone becomes a powerful photography tool.
✨ Don’t be afraid to play, explore, and make mistakes. That’s where the magic happens. Your unique perspective is what will truly make your photos stand out.
📸 So get out there, chase that golden light, and start building a gallery you’re proud of.
And hey — if these tips helped level up your photography, I’d love to see your shots! Tag me or slide into my DMs on Instagram:
@cheshirekat_
Let your creativity run wild. You’ve got this! 💫
Live Laugh Love ✌🏼
Great work Kat!