You don’t need a big camera to take amazing photos! Whether you’re on vacation or just capturing everyday moments, a few simple tricks—and the right apps—can make a big difference.
Recently, I met up with my friend Jefferson Graham – he wrote about technology for years in USA Today and recently started his YouTube photography channel and newsletter dedicated to helping regular folks take better pictures with the camera they already have – the smartphone in their pocket!
Now, he travels the world to find the most photographable places for his show, PhotoWalks TV.
“I take people around on a virtual photo walk and I offer them tips on how to get great vacation photos on the phone that’s in their pocket,” said Graham.
That means an iPhone, Samsung or Pixel, most of the time.
“You don’t need any big gear. You don’t need to talk about shutter speeds and f-stops,” said Graham.
His top photography tips? Charge your battery before you set out, clear out storage, and always start by cleaning your lens.
“Because our lenses get very dirty. They’re sitting in our pockets. They’re sitting in our purses and it’s night and day. It’s just a little cloth over the over the lens will make a big difference,” said Graham.
I personally love these microfiber cloths. I keep them everywhere—in my car, backpack and all over my home.
In his experience, the iPhone takes the best photos and videos overall —with natural colors. He says the Galaxy and Pixel tend to overprocess and enhance.
“I find the most true reflection of what life is like is on the iPhone,” said Graham.
Some of his must-have apps?
For starters, he says Adobe Lightroom Mobile is a must. He especially likes the tool called Dehaze. You’ll find it under Edit > Effects > Dehaze.
“If you like to look at your clouds and your sky and say I wish I could darken it a little bit, [try] the de-haze button,” explained Graham.
Another app called Radiant Photo makes your pictures look their best in one tap. Graham told me about this one a while back, and it’s especially great for touching up a picture before posting it to social media. There’s zero work involved.
“You press one button and it’s an instant fix and the instant fix is usually really good,” said Graham.
When it comes to video… he likes how the Blackmagic camera app lets you generate better time-lapse videos. His suggestion is to record in 10-second increments.
“I love time-lapse videos. Watching the world fly by at top speeds is one of my favorite things to do,” said Graham.
Finally – Halide. The camera app has an anti-AI camera mode that lets you capture shots without any processing or enhancements.
What has he learned in all of his travels?
“It’s an incredible country. Every state as you’re driving, you’re watching the world change – things you’ll never see up in a plane,” concluded Graham.
You don’t need a big camera to take amazing photos. Whether you’re on vacation or just capturing everyday moments, a few simple tricks—and the right apps—can make a big difference.
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