There's no better camera than the one in you always have with you. You can have the best reflex in the world, with unbelievable optics and all the accessories in the world, but if it's tucked in a drawer at home and you're out on the street, it's utterly useless. However, our camera phones are always with us. That's why we're going to share 7 tips to take spectacular photos with your smartphone.

Smartphones have rapidly improved, especially in terms of the quality of the photos you can take. You take photos of anything and everything and share them with your friends instantly. And you can even take expert photos that can impress even an experienced photographer. While the quality of your photos largely depends on the brand, whether Apple, Samsung, Google, LG, Huawei or Sony, they've all developed phones with great photographic capacities. Many of them even achievable with poor light conditions.

After our post on How to create amazing photos for your online shop with your phone, many of you have asked us about photography techniques. So I thought it was a good time to write about taking the best photos with your phone in the broadest and simplest way possible.

1. Hold your camera properly

The first rule of thumb we'd like to share with you is to achieve stability. To take the best photos it's crucial that the image is well defined. Many people hold their phone with just one hand, which causes unexpected movement and therefore blurred images. Use both hands and, if your phone allows, press the physical button to take pictures instead of using the touch screen. Most phones let you do this by pressing the volume buttons.

Moreover, we also recommend that you rest your elbows on a steady surface to increase your stability.

2. Take photos in threes

Many times a photo can appear perfect on your phone, but when you see it on a larger screen we usually find imperfections, such as closed eyes or a moving element. That's why it's recommended to take shots in threes, thus increasing your chances that the photo will turn out great. This way you can pick and choose the best photo without imperfections

3. Stay away from the zoom!

Most phones don't offer analogue zoom, but rather digital zoom. This means that it simply stretches the image and processes it so that you don't notice the pixelation. Although some devices do the job relatively well, most of them don't. Always try to get closer to the object you're photographing. If you can't, most times it's best to take the photo without zoom and crop it later.

4. Find a different perspective

One of the biggest benefits of smartphones is that due to their small size and weight, they allow us to take photos in difficult positions. Larger professional cameras make this more difficult and uncomfortable. Almost everyone takes photos at eye level, but if you search for a new perspective you can take more original photos. Get on top of a chair or some stairs, or take a photo from the floor laying down. Seek perspectives that create more shocking photos.

5. Try different positions, focal points and depth

On most smartphones you can change the focal point and illumination of any photo you take. It's as easy as touching the screen where you want to extract more clarity or light. Many devices let you even do this separately. Experiment and take various shots with different configurations. The results may surprise you, pleasantly.

6. How to take spectacular photos with your smartphone iPhone 7 plus: retouch mode

If you have an iPhone 7 Plus, make sure you try the retouch mode. This feature lets you take advantage of the double lens of the phone to capture incredible photos with blur effects. It's ideal for retouches, where people stand out in the background. It can also help to photograph objects or still life giving them a spectacular close-up.

The people at Apple put together their own exclusive on how to take photos with your iPhone7 for both versions, the 7 and the 7 Plus. It's very interesting and interactive, I highly recommend it. 

7. How to take the best photos with your Samsung Galaxy: Explore the manual mode

The Samsung Galaxy's photo app is one of the most complete you can find these days. It doesn't limit you to use the automatic mode. Explore all the different modes it includes. There are modes for photographing landscapes, moving objects...but the best of all is the manual mode, which, almost like a reflex, lets you control the exposure, white balance and the ISO. Play around with it, taking lots of different shots and get to know all the cool features. Really you should do this with any camera you own.

The Samsung brand also offer some great advice with tips and tricks on how to take the best photos with your Galaxy S7, so check that out as well.

I hope these tips help you take better shots with your smartphones. If you have any questions or doubts just drop us a line and we'll happily get back in touch.

'Til next time!