Dear friend, I just had a thought — why not just shoot all of our photos on a smartphone?

Why do we need these fancy high-end digital cameras? Isn’t our smartphone more than enough?

Reasons not to shoot only on a smartphone

Okay, I have to admit first of all— I don’t only shoot on my smartphone. But I love the idea.

To start off, the reason I don’t only shoot on my smartphone is because I often don’t find it as ergonomic as holding a camera with a grip. Sometimes the smartphone is too small, slippery, and thin.

But then again, often the smartphone is the best camera to shoot with — because (for most people) it is always on you. Most people (if their pockets are big enough) have their phones in their front or back pocket. Not only that, but the smartphone is our most intimate device— we are constantly looking at it, interacting with it, and communicating with it.

If you think about it— the smartphone is the best camera for (almost all) forms of photography. I think the best camera is the one that we don’t have to think to operate. Most smartphone cameras only require us to click one button. The smartphone does all the thinking for us— the autofocus, the aperture, shutter speed, iso, and exposure.

Why do you shoot?

We also have to think why we make photos.

Do we make photos to print them out really big? Then a smartphone probably isn’t ideal for you.

Do you make photos to document your personal memories, and share them with others? Then a smartphone is probably ideal for you.

Do you upload 99% of your photos to Instagram, Facebook, or other mobile-optimized social media platforms? If so, you probably don’t need more than a smartphone camera to make photos.

What if?

I think what prevents a lot of people from shooting on a smartphone (most of the time) is they fear: “What if?”

What if I capture an amazing photo and want to print it out really big? What if I want the best image quality, and a smartphone isn’t good enough? What if my smartphone isn’t fast enough to capture “the decisive moment”?

Be honest with yourself — how many of your photos did you print out really big in the last year, or 5 years?

Also, to counter the other point — I think we often miss more “decisive moments” by not having our “normal” cameras with us. Once again, we always have our smartphones with us — so we are more likely to catch good “decisive moments” with our smartphones.

But my cameraphone sucks

The truth is there is a big difference between modern smartphones and older low-end smartphones. Lower-end smartphone cameras do have really horrible image quality, are often very slow, and unresponsive.

In that case, you’re better off using a small compact digital camera, or upgrading your smartphone.

We’re at a breaking point where smartphones (with great cameras) are becoming really affordable. I think the biggest breakthrough in photography is the iPhone SE (retails for $400 for the cheapest model, which has the same camera as the iPhone 6S).

Or you can use your crappy smartphone camera to an advantage — just shoot in high-contrast black and white, and make the low-image quality and grit a “feature” (not a bug). Meaning, use your disadvantages to your advantages. I feel that grittiness and graininess in black and white looks a lot nicer than a gritty and grainy color image (especially when shot digitally).

Processing your photos

Using filters is not “cheating”. Photographers used filters in the days of film (in the darkroom) and we use filters today in terms of modern digital technology.

The app I recommend the most is “VSCO” for the phone — as I find the presets to look the most aesthetically pleasing. I’m a huge fan of the “A6” preset (color film simulation) for my images— which mimics the look of Kodak Portra 400 (and does a damn good job).

Another option is the free Google “Snapseed” app — which has more controls and flexibility. Also it processes RAW photos (some smartphones can now shoot RAW, although I honestly find it unnecessary).

The benefits of shooting on a smartphone

Honestly, I think almost all photographers would benefit by learning how to shoot on a smartphone.

Why?

1. You learn how to shoot in better light

First of all, you need to learn how to photograph in better light with a smartphone. Smartphones have less “dynamic range” than high-end digital cameras, which means that if we shoot in harsh light (like in the afternoon), our photos will be washed-out, white, and “blown out”.

So when shooting with a smartphone, experiment shooting with your subjects standing in a doorway, through a window (natural light), or during ‘golden hour’ (sunrise/sunset). Learn that the quality of light in your photos is less dependent on your camera, and more dependent on the lighting situation.

2. You can’t shoot wide-open

Secondly, a lot of photographers with cameras that allow them to shoot wide-open (f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2) take the easy way out. They just shoot wide-open to get a lot of “bokeh” (to blur out everything in the background that can be a distraction). But a great photo isn’t about having a lot of bokeh and a blurry background. A great photo should have an interesting subject and background/context.

So by shooting with a smartphone camera, you don’t rely on shooting wide-open as a crutch. Because with a smartphone camera your depth-of-field is very deep, you are forced to consider the background more when shooting.

By not being able to shoot wide-open; this is a creative benefit.

3. You don’t make excuses

You always have your smartphone camera with you. So you can’t make an excuse for not taking photos.

How many moments have you passed by and thought to yourself: “Wow, that might have been a great photograph. Too bad I didn’t have my camera with me.”

Banish that thought. Whenever you see something interesting, just snap it on your phone.

Smartphone photography into the future

Moving forward, I want to start shooting more on my smartphone. If anything, it is the ultimate camera. You can shoot with it, post-process your photos, and upload/share them (all in one device). What is more incredible than that?

As time goes on, smartphones will get cheaper and cheaper, and the camera will just get better and better.

There will always be DSLR’s into the future and other high-end cameras, which will also get smaller, faster, and more affordable.

Yet I think as photographers, we should optimize for size, convenience, and ease of use (in terms of cameras). Why use a more complicated camera than you need?

The best camera is your smartphone.

Always,
Eric

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