Gear Hacks: Capture Pro-Level Shots on a Budget (No Fancy Camera Needed!)
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So you dream of capturing amazing photos, but the price tag on that fancy DSLR is giving you nightmares? I feel you! Fear not, budget-conscious shutterbugs! You don't need a professional kit to get started unleashing your inner photographer. With a little creativity and some clever hacks, you can take pro-level shots that'll leave your Instagram followers drooling – all without breaking the bank.
Embrace the Smartphone:
Your trusty phone is more than just a social media machine - and good news, you won’t have to fork out for this considering you probably already have one if you’re reading this! We use our phones everyday, so why not try it out for some cool shots! Phones these days are designed to take incredible photos! Master the basics of composition, lighting, and editing apps like Lightroom Mobile (it’s free!), and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve. I started out like this more than 7 years ago, and since then, we have come a long way in phone technology!
Bonus Hack: Invest in a mobile lens kit (around $30 on Amazon) for fisheye, macro, and wide-angle effects that add dramatic flair to your shots. I love these because they’re a cheap and easy way to get a taste of what you like before having to upgrade into expensive gear! And these create beautiful effects too! Check out options like the Camkix Universal 3 in 1 Camera Lens Kit for Smart phones for its stellar reviews and budget-friendly price.
DIY Diffusion Magic:
Want dreamy, soft-focus portraits like those fancy lenses create? Grab some old stockings and secure it with a rubber band in front of your phone's camera lens. Voila! Instant pro-level diffusion filter for an ethereal, vintage vibe. This has been a big trend in photography as of recently, with photographers like Ashley Tracy on Tiktok, and it truly does feel magical!
Harness the Power of Natural Light:
Forget expensive studio strobes. Learn to work with the sun, your new best friend. Early mornings and golden hour bathe your scenes in warm, flattering light, perfectly diffused for portraits and landscapes - this is every photographers favourite time of day - just look at how wonderful that water looks! Explore the play of shadows and highlights to add depth and drama to your photos.
Bonus Hack: Reflect sunlight strategically with a white foam board (around $10 at any craft store) or a small reflector for $30 from Amazon to fill light in portraits or to brighten up shadowy areas (especially when/if your subject is backlit).
Composition is King:
No fancy camera can compensate for poor composition - it’s always about how you use the tools. Master the rule of thirds, leading lines, and negative space to guide the viewer's eye through the image and create visually compelling shots. Below is a couple of shots I took on my phone in New Zealand. Both use leading lines as the main composition element to create visual interest.
Bonus Hack: Turn on grid lines in your phone camera settings to help you visualise the rule of thirds on your phone screen and instantly level up your framing game!
Editing: The Final Polish:
Even the best photos can benefit from a little post-processing magic - it is literally my favourite part. There are many free apps like Snapseed, Lightroom mobile and VSCO Cam. These offer powerful editing tools that let you adjust exposure, contrast, colour balance, and more. Play around and express your unique style! I used Lightroom mobile for the example below, and as you can see, a little bit of playing around brought out the beautiful colours of the flowers, and brought back some contrast into the scene so you could see the city more vibrantly. It doesn’t take much too make an amazing image!
Before Edit
After Edit
Remember: Gear is just a tool. Creativity, passion, and a willingness to experiment are the true ingredients to achieve pro-level photography status. Look at creators like Jordi Koalitic - who started out on a phone! He still does from time to time, and his stuff is incredible!
Get out there, get creative, and capture the world through your lens – your budget-friendly lens, that is!
Let me know in the comments if you found this helpful, and if you tried out any of the gear we mentioned! I’d love to see your shots!
Now you know how to get pro-level shots with just your phone, find out how to edit like a pro with these mobile editing apps!
Shop the Gear We Mentioned:
Snapseed (FREE): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.niksoftware.snapseed&hl=en&gl=US
VSCO Cam (FREE): https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=5032127892134861949&hl=en&gl=US
Lightroom Mobile (FREE): https://www.adobe.com/au/products/photoshop-lightroom/mobile.html
