Articles on how to take better pictures with your iPhone may be everywhere, but how often do you find one that helps you take better pictures of your cushions? We love receiving customer photos to see how each custom cushion or pillow is used. I thought I might give some tips on taking the best iPhone pictures you can, letting you easily share your products from Cushion Source.
I must admit, since upgrading to the new iPhone 6, I haven’t used my DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera as much as I had previously. So, needless to say, you don’t need an expensive camera to be able to take good pictures. It’s amazing how far phone cameras have come!
- Composition: Simplify your scene. Show off your custom cushions, not your entire room. Get rid of any mess and clutter to make a clear focal point on your cushion. You can’t keep everything out of your picture, but try to keep it simple. Make sure the other things in your picture are at least in the background or fit properly in the scene. Try changing your position and the angle you are taking the picture. That can sometimes be enough to fix a cluttered background. Remember, not all pictures have to be taken from eye level. Don’t be afraid to change your perspective.
- Good lighting: Since there are no defined settings to change your aperture and ISO, iPhones can sometimes be tricky when it comes to getting the perfect lighting. Try to take pictures during the day even with the indoor lights on. Try to adjust the blinds or lamps if needed, minimizing the shadows projected on the cushions. Avoid too low of light or too high of light — avoid bright windows or backgrounds behind your cushions and pillows.
- Do NOT use the flash: The flash on an iPhone is nothing but an LED light. It really does no good for your picture. Plus, there is a delay from the time you release your button on the screen to the time it actually takes the picture. It can also make the picture look grainy and blurry.
- HDR Mode: If it is dark inside, try using your HDR (High Dynamic Range) setting instead of the flash. This will combine the layers of light instead of producing a harsh flash that typically focuses on a specific object instead of the scene as a whole.
- Zoom: Use your feet as a zoom. The zoom on your iPhone camera does nothing but enlarge the scene, which can result in bad images. Instead, move yourself or crop the picture after taking it. By moving, you also learn about better composition, and you make yourself aware of what is in the picture when you’re taking it.
- Filters: Don’t use them when taking your photo. Show the true colors of your cushions and pillows; don’t use a filter to mask them.
- Focus: Stand still. This is the best way to have a sharp, clear picture. To make sure your picture is in superior focus, tap your screen on the object that is the focal point (primarily your cushions or pillows). This will not only focus on them, but it also adjusts the lighting to be in the right areas of your picture.
Have fun using your iPhone to take pictures. It’s easy and worth doing. There are lots of apps out there to help edit pictures, but I’ve found some work better than others. Here are a few of my favorites.
Now use these tips to take some pictures! We can’t wait to see your beautiful custom cushions and pillows!
*All pictures displayed in the blog post were taken with my iPhone 6.