How to shoot for social networks: a guide from TECNO and Lifehacker that will help you get mountains of likes

How to take cool selfies

01

Find good lighting

It is necessary for photographs of any genre, but it is especially important for selfies, because your face is the center of attention. Excessively harsh light can greatly emphasize the texture of the skin, a chandelier from above can add shadows under the brow ridges and nose, a lamp from behind can make the face look tired and the background blurry. The ideal light is soft, aimed at the face. When you take pictures indoors, you can find one if you stand in front of a window, and outdoors - under the shade of a tree or building.

Smartphone tools can also save the situation. At the front camera PHANTOM V Flip There are two ways to create a beautiful selfie light - a bright LED flash and screen backlight. The latter creates the effect of a ring lamp, which preserves the natural skin tone and emphasizes individual features of appearance. These are the kind of lamps that makeup artists often use to shoot makeup on models, but with the PHANTOM V Flip you can do without additional equipment.

instagram viewer

02

Wipe the lens

A mandatory step that can really be forgotten if the photo is taken in a hurry. With an uncleaned lens, selfies can turn out blurry, as if taken with the camera of a very old smartphone. As a result, the frame will remain in the gallery or fly into the trash. If you want a blur effect, it’s better to add it later in the editor: this way you’ll be able to work with the image point-by-point - for example, smooth out only the skin, while maintaining the expressiveness of the look.

An additional boost for clarity will be adjusting the focus - it’s worth fixing it on your eyes. To do this, click on the smartphone screen at the desired point before taking a photo. Frontal PHANTOM V Flip will take on all the work - it has an autofocus function. To get an even better picture, try taking a selfie with the main camera. WITH PHANTOM V Flip it's easy. On the body of the smartphone there is a small circular display with a preview mode - you can pose for a selfie in the usual way. At the same time, the image resolution will increase significantly, because the front camera has 32 megapixels, and the main one has 64 megapixels.

View on PHANTOM V Flip.

03

Experiment with angles

Raise the camera a little higher, turn your head ¾, tilt your chin slightly - there are many tips for posing for selfies. But in fact, there are no universal recommendations. We need to experiment. Take many pictures at once with different head positions and camera placement (at head level, slightly higher or lower) - you will choose the successful ones later in the gallery.

By the way, if you don’t like the way you look in a selfie, the problem may be distortion: placing the lens too close to your face can change the proportions. The way out of this situation is to take a selfie from a distance. WITH PHANTOM V Flip For such an experiment you don’t need a tripod or monopod—just fold your smartphone in half and place it on any stable surface. And so that you don’t have to involve another person to click the shutter button, use the FreeCam function: go to the camera settings, select the “Shooting methods” - “Shooting by voice command” section. All that remains is to take a pose and say the code word - Capture, Shoot or Cheese.

04

Add details and emotions

A selfie is not a passport photo. Here you can safely experiment with facial expressions and emotions. To make the photo more interesting, try adding additional elements, for example, creating a creative shadow using lace tulle or a leaf from an indoor palm tree, or bringing a book or cat into the frame.

And you don’t have to hide your hands. Play with your hair with your fingers or pretend that you are blocking your view from the sun with your palm. WITH PHANTOM V Flip You can even use two hands for selfies – again thanks to the FreeCam option. In “Shooting Methods” you can choose not only verbal commands, but also a smile or the movement of your palm - you need to extend it in front of you towards the camera. And so that the palm does not remain in the frame, you can set the timer after 3, 5 or 10 seconds.

How to create a creative portrait

01

Choose an image for the location

Or vice versa. The main thing is that they are combined. This way the picture will be more atmospheric and all the elements inside will play into creating a story. For example, if you are photographing a person in a field, it is better to ask him to wear a light and airy shirt or dress rather than sportswear.

If you are creating a portrait in a studio against a white background, you should also think about the outfit - clothing here will help emphasize the inner world of the hero. By the way, to take a close-up photo, it is better not to come close to your face, but to stand further away and use the zoom, setting it to 3x. This way you will avoid distorting the proportions.

02

Play with light

If you are taking pictures outside, catch the “golden hour” - the period immediately after dawn or before sunset. The sun is especially soft at this time and is ideal for photographing people. When shooting in a building, look for additional light sources. They will help not only highlight facial features, but also make the photo more creative. This is where colored light comes in handy, a lamp standing behind a person, or rays passing through a ribbed or mesh barrier that creates an unusual shadow.

To work comfortably in any conditions, use your smartphone settings. For example, with PHANTOM V Flip you can add additional light using a flash, and also adjust white balance and exposure and exposure (that is, the time during which the light will fall on the matrix) through a professional mode.

03

Take test shots

This will be especially useful if the person you are filming is not used to being in the frame. Create photos from several angles and poses, and then show him. This will help you understand how best to frame a photo, and the subject of the portrait - how to control the body and facial expressions. To make it easier for a person to relax, select references together - examples of photographs similar to the result you want to get. You can focus on them during the shooting process.

With a smartphone PHANTOM V Flip It will be easier to get shots that will appeal to all participants in the photo shoot. All thanks to the preview mode: the subject of the photo will be able to watch himself in real time on the external display in order to pose more confidently - just like in front of a mirror or front camera.

More about PHANTOM V Flip.

How to capture nature

01

Check the horizon

A littered horizon sometimes works as an artistic device, but more likely in portrait photographs. In the case of landscapes, such shots may look unsuccessful: the sea will look like a waterfall, and a flat field will look like a rolling hill. A grid of four lines that divide the screen into nine parts will help to avoid this effect. Turn it on in the camera settings and make sure that the horizon matches one of the horizontal stripes on the screen. To ensure that the correct positioning is maintained throughout the photo shoot, it is also important to keep the smartphone level. Stylish body PHANTOM V Flip Finished with eco-leather, it fits tightly in your hand and does not slip - this will help you feel more confident during the shooting process.

02

Work with zoom

Shooting outdoors is a wonderful opportunity to get creative with zooming in and out. U PHANTOM V Flip There are several modes that are useful for creating panoramic shots of endless forests, and for a majestic photo of a waterfall, and for the perfect “portrait” of a hedgehog. An ultra-wide-angle camera with an angle of 120° will help you capture all the beauty of the world around you.

If you want to photograph something very tiny, like a dewdrop on a leaf or a ladybug, select the 2x mode on the main camera - it will zoom in and crop the frame without losing quality. Another option is to bring your smartphone close to the subject and turn on Super Macro mode: it improves image clarity when shooting close up.

03

Add depth and volume

This can be done in different ways. For example, shoot against the sun so that it filters through the crowns of trees, or bring into the foreground a detail - a branch or leaves that have fallen to the ground. Another option is to add an element with leading lines, such as a path or river.

How to shoot a cityscape

01

Find interesting details or stories

Unusual graffiti, a stylish couple walking along the embankment, a dove perched on the canopy of a building - all this can enliven even an ordinary city landscape. Carefully examine the surrounding space in search of similar accents and take a lot of shots so that later you can choose the coolest ones. U PHANTOM V Flip as much as 256 GB of internal memory - you won’t have to worry about the storage becoming full during the shooting process.

02

Look up

Not all interesting elements in the city are on your eye line. Features on building roofs, bridge spans, or tall monuments can make cool photo centerpieces. And you can shoot them in different ways. For example, use the zoom and take a detailed photo, lower the camera and photograph an object against the sky, or move further away to fit it into the overall landscape. This is where your smartphone's ultra-wide-angle lens comes in handy again. PHANTOM V Flip with a viewing angle of 120°. You don’t need to run a kilometer to get everything into the frame: you can photograph a monument or a bridge in its entirety even while standing next to it.

Find out more.

03

Follow the sun

It will help create a story. The sunset or dawn sun is suitable for landscapes with a romantic, dreamy mood, the “blue hour” (twilight) for a mystical atmosphere, midday for bright and dynamic scenes. If you're photographing a densely built street, watch how the rays interact with the buildings. Shadows on the walls or on the ground, formed into an interesting pattern, will become a cool detail in the frame.

How to photograph objects

01

Compose a composition

A simple shot of an object against a plain background is possible, but it is difficult to convey a story or mood through it. And they are very important in photographs for social networks. Therefore, in addition to the main “character”, other objects can be placed in the frame. The main thing is that they suit the mood or meaning. For example, if you want to photograph a magnet you brought from a trip, place plane tickets, a photo taken on a trip, or a hat in the frame. But don’t overdo it: the abundance of details can blur the accents.

Also pay attention to the combination of details and background color - make sure that their warmth, brightness and saturation match. To make it easier, you can arm yourself with the support of special services for selecting palettes, for example Coolors. Tinting filters can also support the mood of an object. U PHANTOM V Flip There is a ready-made gallery of these: you can find them in the camera menu.

02

Turn on the grid on the camera

This will make it easier to build a composition. To focus attention on the main subject, place it not in the center, but at one of the points of intersection of the lines. This technique is called the rule of thirds. The grid is also useful for controlling the horizon - this will be useful if you shoot objects not from above, but directly in front of you.

03

Control your shooting angle

It determines how objects will look in the frame. For example, if you photograph a layout on a horizontal surface from above (this technique is also called Flat Lay), it is better to hold the phone exactly above objects - even a slight deviation can distort picture. And if you shoot them directly, simply holding your smartphone out in front of you, you can experiment with angles. By placing the camera directly in front of objects, you will make them appear flatter, and by moving it to the side, you will add volume.

04

Use your hand

When creating frames with objects for social networks, you can move away from the classic layout. Try to take the object in your hand and remove it by weight. This option is suitable, for example, for a photograph of a cup of coffee or a travel postcard. With a smartphone PHANTOM V Flip It will be convenient to take such shots thanks to the touch shooting function. To enable it, you need to go to the settings, select the “Shooting methods” section and move the slider next to the corresponding option. To take a photo, it will be enough to tap on any part of the screen, except for the panel with settings and modes.

How to take clear shots at night

01

Turn off the flash

It will give too bright light, which will prevent night photography from looking truly mesmerizing. It is better when some light source is directly in the frame. For example, this could be neon signs, the moon, street lights, or headlights from passing cars. If you are in complete darkness and cannot do without a flash, try to smooth out the effect by covering the flash with a napkin or sticker. The main thing is that they do not come into the lens - otherwise some mysterious “ghost” will appear in the corner of the frame.

02

Select night mode or configure settings manually

Modern smartphone cameras have a special mode for night photography. And you shouldn’t neglect them. Its secret is the combination of several shots with different exposures - this provides a clear picture with deep dark and bright light areas. For the richness of night shots from the main camera PHANTOM V Flip The RGBW light sensor responds. Unlike classic RGB sensors with red, blue and green detectors, it also has white photodiodes inside.

If you want to be a little more involved in the process, choose Professional mode instead of Night mode. There you can independently adjust the camera settings, including the shutter speed (it is better to set it to 30 seconds) and the ISO level, or the sensitivity of the matrix (200 or lower). To find the ideal settings for the level of illumination at the shooting location, experiment and take test shots with different values.

03

Place your smartphone on a flat, stable surface

At night, any accidental movement of the hand can ruin the entire photo. All because of the long shutter speed. It’s better to play it safe and use a tripod or place your smartphone, for example, on a bench or pedestal of a monument. Folding body PHANTOM V Flip will provide a stable position and will not limit creativity: the smartphone can be bent at different angles - from 30 to 150°. This way you can photograph both the street at night and the moon glowing in the sky.

More about PHANTOM V Flip.