Using the Darkroom In Your Phone

Over the years our phone cameras have developed from little better than those disposable cameras from back in the day to professional cameras with a plethora of settings.

One thing Apple, Android and the others (are there others?) have done very well is keep phone cameras easy to use for those who just want to point and shoot.

For those who want to dive deeper, the more advanced setting are there and easily accessible.

The ones we use on our iPhones are covered in the next column of info.

Our goal is to share tips on getting great shots of your dogs, not recreate an Apple iPhone or Android Droid camera course. Though we will pass on tidbits we think will help with dog photos.

With constant software updates and new phones to tempt us, we'll leave the more detailed specifics to the phone manufacturers.

Ready, Set, Go To Settings

Tap on the Settings icon on your home screen. From there you can tweak settings like a pro.

Formats: Most Compatible keeps photos as jpeg files. HEIC takes up less room, but can be awkward to edit

Apple ProRawis useful if you like to edit your photos

Record Video: 1080 at 30fps is a good middle of the road setting

Grid:Turn the Grid that divides the screen into thirds (9 squares) on or off

Scan QR Codes:QR Codes are shortcut URLs, while gaining in popularity, only turn on when needed.

Lens Correction: Corrects any lens distortion (anything that does stuff so I don't have to is a yes for me)

Smart HDR: HDR takes many photos at different exposures and combines them into one (love this)

First - Use the Auto Focus feature!

As you are focusing your photo, tap on the most important part, probably your dog’s face.

Your iPhone automatically sets that spot as the focus. A yellow square with a starburst will appear. You may have to tap more than once to keep the focus if your active isn't cooperating.

But wait there’s MORE. You can also lighten or darken your photo (aka set the exposure) by sliding your finger up, to lighten, or down to darken as you focus. 

Next & My FAVE - Get To Know Portrait Mode

Oh yeah, this is how you get the way cool blurred effect you see in high-end pro photos. Now you can do it, too. 

Bliss Bit! I took the picture above using Portrait Mode and in Edit I played with the settings (darkened it, added Studio light) until I got this effect. This quick step took a throw-away image into one I am going to have printed! -Kathy

Even though most of us have a professional quality camera aka smart phone with us all the time, it can still be daunting to capture your dog's essnce in a photo.

Here are a few more pages of tips, hints and bits of bliss to help getting the perfect shot. Now that is bliss!

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