Surrey

Surrey-based dynamic duo Sara and Andi (below), know a thing or two about creating gorgeous photography for small indie businesses with over 12 years of image making experience between them. These screen goddesses &#8211; aka <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/surrey-social-stock-photography/">Surrey Social Stock Photography</a> &#8211; can elevate your phone pictures to another level &#8211; so read on!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-66.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-45843" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-66.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-66-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-66-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-66-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-66-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-66-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



You carry an amazing camera around all day with loads of high-tech features but if you haven’t actually poked around in your settings, you maybe missing a trick. Before you start, it seems obvious but make sure your camera lens is clean (use your glasses cleaning wipe not your jumper sleeve!).



Now, first off we always recommend turning your&nbsp;grid&nbsp;on in your camera settings.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-64.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-45844" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-64.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-64-686x800.jpg 686w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-64-857x1000.jpg 857w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-64-343x400.jpg 343w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-64-768x896.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-64-1317x1536.jpg 1317w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-64-450x525.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Turn on your grid</figcaption></figure>



Photographers love the aesthetic loveliness of the Rule of Thirds… which basically means it’s a compositional tool to frame your subject and helps direct your viewers’ gaze to the main focal point of your image. If there’s a subject in your image that lines up with one of the thirds on your grid (remember the rule of thirds), your eye is instinctively drawn to it before your brain allows you to explore the rest of the image. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-62.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-45845" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-62.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-62-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-62-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-62-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-62-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-62-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-62-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-62-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Natural light through a window is great for portraits</figcaption></figure>



Next up, think about&nbsp;light. It can make or break an image, and good lighting means everything to a photographer. We are natural light fans and will always look for a spot to shoot that’s out of harsh sunlight. Golden hour is, of course, a fab time to capture anyone at their best, but don’t discount cloudy flat light days, which are also great for soft lighting. If you’re shooting indoors, make use of the gorgeous soft light you can get from a window.



Your phone will have an exposure slider which you can adjust (on an iPhone for example tap on the screen – a yellow box appears with a sun &amp; slider bar to the right of it. Move the slide bar up or down with your finger to play with different exposure settings for your shot.) Although other brands will differ so its worth having a play around to familiarise yourself with all your phone can do.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1026" height="1028" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Surrey-Social-Stock-pink-bike-IG.jpeg" alt="pink motorcycle" class="wp-image-46249" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Surrey-Social-Stock-pink-bike-IG.jpeg 1026w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Surrey-Social-Stock-pink-bike-IG-798x800.jpeg 798w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Surrey-Social-Stock-pink-bike-IG-998x1000.jpeg 998w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Surrey-Social-Stock-pink-bike-IG-400x400.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Surrey-Social-Stock-pink-bike-IG-768x769.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Surrey-Social-Stock-pink-bike-IG-524x525.jpeg 524w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Surrey-Social-Stock-pink-bike-IG-500x500.jpeg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1026px) 100vw, 1026px" /><figcaption>Look for leading lines and interesting angles</figcaption></figure>



Now for composition and leading lines, creating a little depth of field. Leading lines are manmade or natural lines which lead the viewer’s eye in and around the photograph. It gives your image that added depth of field and helps your viewer explore the whole scene…once you start noticing leading lines, trust me, you won’t be able to stop! Look for roads, paths, tracks, rivers, fences and architectural lines.



Once you’ve found your leading line, place your subject somewhere along the line, pressing your finger on them on your phone so that the yellow focal box appears and the camera understands that’s where your focal point is. Extra points if you pop your subject somewhere on a grid line for our rule of thirds trick.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-61-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-45846" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-61-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-61-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-61-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-61-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-61-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Untitled-design-61.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Keep it simple</figcaption></figure>



Next lets throw all those rules in the air as we get onto perspective! There’s nothing more banal than the same old same old insta shots, so let’s have a think about shooting from different angles, using negative space, looking for reflections and shadows and creating a little intrigue. Shooting from unusual angles makes your subject stand out. Try shooting above or below your subject – I can’t tell you the number of times we end up actually lying on the floor to get the ultimate shot!



Finally, one of our best tips is to&nbsp;keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate. Often a single subject with a plain background says oodles more than a busy image.



Try to eliminate any distractions in the frame when you’re composing your image. We call it policing the frame – check to avoid that classic shot where something in the background looks like it’s coming out of your subject’s head. A simple shot can make a powerful impression in this super disposable era when we are being bombarded with images and messaging thousands of times throughout the day. Cut through the noise with a minimal yet memorable shot.



If you’ve clocked all these tips and still feel like you could use a little professional help with photography for your business or socials give <a href="https://www.surreysocialstockphotography.com/">Surrey Social Stock Photography </a> a shout, you&#8217;ll soon go viral!

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