How to take amazing portraits on a smartphone

The latest smartphones are fantastic tools for portrait photographers. Amy Davies speaks with three photographers for advice on taking portraits with their smartphone

Anybody with a half-decent smartphone is probably already more than aware of its prowess for capturing off-the-cuff shots. But, when used in a considered way, they’re also superb for portraiture.

Most modern smartphones have some kind of portrait mode, designed to mimic the effects of shooting with a wide-aperture lens. The results from these modes, powered by clever AI and algorithms, have become ever more impressive. A lot of smartphones also have full manual modes, which is useful too. Most high-end smartphones also include short telephoto lenses, giving you a close approximation to shooting with something like a classic 50mm or 85mm optic.

In this piece, I asked three photographers who have all been using their smartphones to excellent effect to show us exactly what can be achieved by using the device in your pocket, including one who has been using smartphones to take portraits remotely, sometimes – impressively – from the other side of the world.

Below, we’ll also discover which smartphones on the market are ideal for this kind of work, to help you to choose one for yourself. As always, we’d love to see your pictures. So if you’ve been using your smartphone to take portraits, send them via email ap.ed@kelsey.co.uk or tag us on social media @ap_magazine.

Elaine Taylor

Elaine is a moderator of a number of Instagram groups, a jury member for international mobile photography awards, a beta tester for a range of mobile apps and has delivered smartphone photography workshops. Alongside that, her iPhone photos have been exhibited, published and featured in photography competitions.See more of her work at Instagram.com/sunflowerof21

Elaine uses an iPhone 11 Pro Max, but an iPhone of some kind has been her only camera for over 12 years. Although she has a number of add-on lenses, she says she doesn’t use them all that often, preferring to capture moments as she goes about her day. One accessory she can’t be without is the phone’s protective case and battery pack, and she also has a Lifeproof waterproof case for holidays to take underwater shots. It’s worth noting that many modern smartphones are waterproof without the need for a case (but always check the rating of any smartphone you have before dunking them!).

‘A phone is perfect for any kind of portrait shot,’ says Elaine. ‘I can get near people for close-up portraits without being too intrusive, and I can take candid “environmental” portraits of people going about their business without being noticed. Sometimes you have to be quick to get the shot, so having my “camera” always close is perfect.

‘I take all kinds of portrait shots – a portrait doesn’t just have to be head and shoulders. The ones I prefer are candid whole-body shots of people in their surroundings which tell a story, as well as close-up shots which convey some kind of emotion or character. ‘I don’t really compare my phone to “standard” equipment. I just use it like any other camera.

The same basic principles of photography apply. The Portrait mode on the iPhone is a great function – but I don’t use it that often. I prefer to shoot in standard mode and if I feel blur will enhance my shot by eliminating unwanted distractions, I will apply it later with an editing app.

‘The only major challenge I’ve found is low light. I never use the flash as it often creates a harsh, unnatural effect and can change skin tones. Instead I seek out outdoor light or an indoor position near a natural light source.’

Elaine’s top tips for smartphone portraits

1. It’s a very basic – but important – tip, but make sure you have a clean lens.
2. Aim to get the best possible photo at the point of shooting, without taking too much time and risking losing the shot. Taking a moment to quickly scan the scene before taking the shot should become second nature. Sometimes all it takes is a slight repositioning of you or your phone to make an okay shot into a great one.
3. Take multiple photos of the same scene and choose the best afterwards. The phone’s burst mode is great for that. I often find that, with portraits, the best and most natural one is usually when the subject is not aware that I’m still shooting.

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Abbie Asadi

Abbie uses her iPhone for her photography business, working in her home studio, but she will also travel to create imagery in a range of situations. She’s recently been running a portrait project on Inspiring Women in Business, for which she has used her iPhone to take the pictures. See more at studioaphotography.co.uk

Currently Abbie is using an iPhone 12 Pro Max, but she has used a variety of other models. ‘My Inspiring Women in Business project has involved a really diverse mix of portraits and styles incorporating both close-up and whole body shots. I also like to take into consideration the environment that we are in and am always looking for lines, shapes and framing to complement the person. I do love getting in close though and picking out details – it helps tell their story.

‘Compared to “standard” equipment, a phone is cheaper, lighter, fits in my pocket and I don’t need to change lenses. I can preview, edit and send very quickly if I wanted to all in one phone – I am a big fan of its convenience. I very often use portrait mode as I like the depth of field it creates.

‘The limitations I find are with movement, the phone can sometimes not be quick enough or powerful enough. This is even more true with children and animals.

‘If you are running a shoot, preparation is key. I always aim to have a mood board per session – planning my shots, ensuring I have any props necessary (chairs, tables and so on). I can then take my time with the shot, taking multiple images to choose from when editing and creating the story. I’ve found that iPhone photos print well and to large sizes which I have even used in galleries.’

Abbie’s top tips for smartphone portraits

1. Always ensure that your grid lines are turned on in your camera app. This will really help with composition.
2. Don’t be afraid of going in close for a portrait. I always ask my clients if it’s okay to come in close, as some people don’t enjoy you being in their space. Most are accepting when you ask.
3. Keep talking to the people you are photographing. It keeps you at ease, them at ease and helps if you are directing them to capture the shot that you have planned.

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Monika Sergiejew

Monika is a professional photographer, who uses smartphones to carry out remote portrait shoots using an app called Shutter App. Her models can be found all around the world, while she stays at home in the UK to take the picture. See more at Instagram.com/monikaremote

Monika started taking remote photos during lockdown, something which became quite popular in a short space of time because of the obvious restrictions on face-to-face meetups. She found Shutter App – and found it very easy to use. After her first ‘foreign’ shoot with a model living in Italy, Monika loved the process so much that she decided to carry out a project contacting people from as many countries as she possibly could, something which carried on for months.

She says, ‘I felt like I was on holiday for an hour even though I was sat on my sofa in the UK. It was brilliant and it was still being creative. It was a great way of getting to know new people in lots of different countries. It’s not just about the photos themselves – it’s about the social aspect of photography.

‘How it works is that the model needs to download the free app, create an account and share a unique ID number with me. I can access the app either from my laptop or my phone. I can talk to them via the app to discuss a few things – sometimes they might show me around their place, and I can advise where to put the phone to get the most from the space, or where the light is best etc. And then, I simply take photos using their phone.’

Shutter App works with either iPhone or Android, and when you’re shooting remotely, you’re reliant on the quality of the other person’s smartphone – though of course most modern smartphones offer very good image quality. Monika says, ‘The biggest challenge when I started doing my mobile phone portraits was accepting the fact that the quality will never be the same as a DSLR/mirrorless, or perhaps what we are used to.

There was a time when I was worried that my viewers would think that my standards had dropped. Phone cameras are amazing these days – a lot of people may not be able to tell the difference between a phone or a camera, especially when they are posted on Instagram.

‘I use “standard” mode most of the time. Sometimes I might use the wider angle lens, but generally I like to be able to focus on a model and not have too many background distractions. Shooting in people’s homes or rooms is not always that easy and it can take a little while to set the camera up as I want it.

‘I like shooting whole/half body shots a lot, as I think that using arms and hands creates the most interesting poses. I use the same techniques as when doing my face-to-face portrait work. Also, I often tell my models to close their eyes and dance to a song they have in their head, and of course, forget that I am there. I’m also a fan of close-ups, they tend to feel more intimate and emotional.’

Monika’s top tips for smartphone portraits

1. Don’t put pressure on yourself – just have fun.
2. The same applies to the model – ignore the photographer, be yourself and allow them to capture you acting naturally.
3. Use whatever is around you. Don’t overthink things; sometimes the simpler approach is the best one. When shooting outside, look around for interesting features, strong lines or structures.

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Best smartphones for portrait photography 2022

Almost all modern smartphones offer either a specific portrait mode. Sometimes it might be called something else such as ‘Live Focus’ or ‘Bokeh’ mode. These modes are generally designed to throw the background out of focus, and sometimes will also include enhancements to things like brightness and sharpness.

Here are three of the best current smartphones on the market for this type of work: the iPhone 13 Pro, the Google Pixel 6 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (which recently took home the Smartphone of the Year award at the AP Awards). I shot a portrait with equivalent settings using each model.

iPhone 13 Pro

• From £949
• 3 lenses, including telephoto
• iOS
• Portrait mode

With the iPhone 13 Pro (and Max variant, which uses the same camera setup), you can use Portrait mode using either the 1x or the 3x lens – the former allowing for more environmental-type portraits. You can also choose different ‘lighting modes’, with the default setting being Natural Light. Night mode will also automatically activate if low levels of light are detected.

You don’t have to use Portrait mode for your portraits, you can use the standard Photo mode if you prefer, giving you the option to use any of the three lenses available. You might prefer to do this if you want to make more of the background than might be blurred out with the specific portrait mode. Raw format shooting is available in the standard Photo mode.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro

• From £849
• 3 lenses, including telephoto
• Android
• Portrait mode

Google’s Pixel range was one of the first to create truly impressive shallow-depth-of-field-effect images in its Portrait mode. With the Pixel 6 Pro’s Portrait mode, you can use either the 1x or the 2x lens to achieve an environmental-type portrait, or a more traditional type.

Portrait mode can combine with low light mode, but you should advise your sitter to keep as still as possible for the best and sharpest results.
Again here, you don’t need to use the Portrait mode, you can instead use the standard ‘Camera’ option, which will also give you access to the super-wideangle lens, and won’t blur out the background. You can also shoot in raw format when in the standard Camera mode which can also be useful.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

• From £1,149
• 4 lenses, including two telephotos
• Android
• Portrait mode

With the S22 Ultra’s dedicated Portrait mode you can use either the 1x or 3x lens. The wider-angle lens being ideal for keeping some of the background in view. You can experiment with different types of lighting mode, including studio lighting, or removing the background entirely. It’s also possible to change the intensity of the blur. Night mode will automatically activate should low light be detected.

Once again, you can use the standard Photo mode should you wish to. With this you can use an ultra-wide lens, or 1x, 3x or 10x lenses. The 1x and 3x lens deliver the best results. Raw format shooting can be activated in Photo mode. There’s also an option to use ultra-high resolution 108-million-pixel mode, if you’re looking for maximum detail.

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Need more smartphone photography inspiration? Check out how to take better smartphone photos and great macro photos on a smartphone here.

Have your smartphone photographs featured on our website and social media! Tag us in your smartphone photographs using #APSmartphonePicoftheWeek.

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