Seeing the Light: Tips for Mobile Photography Portraits

February 1, 2020

Do you ever wonder why some mobile photography portraits look professional? I’ll let you in on a little secret — it’s the lighting. Learn mobile photography lighting to create professional-looking high-quality mobile photography portraits.

A portrait taken with a smartphone camera using open shade lighting.

Lighting is a very important aspect of photography and is often overlooked. It is what makes a photo come alive and feel three dimensional. It can make or break a photo, and will often be the difference between a good photo and a bad one.

LIGHTING FOR MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY PORTRAITS

Lighting is especially important in mobile photography because the quality of the photo will be dramatically affected by poor light. Personally, I do not like to use the flash on my iPhone as I don’t like the quality it produces. Often, the flash on the smartphone camera will produce portraits with “red-eye” as the flash on the iPhone is directional. Simply, that means that it can’t be bounced off a ceiling or wall to help make the light softer and look less harsh and flattering.

While the low light cameras on smartphones these days are getting better – like the iPhone 11 Pro, my favourite type of light for mobile photography portraits is natural light. It’s what I prefer to rely on as it is all around us, and smartphone lighting accessories are not needed.

In this article, I will discuss two types of light for mobile photographers and how it can improve the quality and look of your mobile photography portraits.

TWO TYPES OF NATURAL LIGHT FOR MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHERS

OPEN SHADE LIGHTING FOR MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHERS

mobile photography portrait lighting using open shade light — A mobile photography portrait using the light from the sky in front of the subject. This photo of my son was taken on a porch using open shade and an iPhone.

Open shade is light that is not direct and it is soft. It is easily found in the shadow of a large building, under leafy trees, on a porch, in a garage or on a cloudy day – anywhere where you are not directly in sunlight. Simply, it shields your subjects from direct sun. One way to find it is to stand on a veranda and ask your subject to turn slowly (a full 360 degrees). As you look into their eyes, watch the light change. No, this is not some scene from a romance movie, you’re looking for that little sparkle in their eyes. That sparkle is called a catchlight and is produced by the light source such as the sky or a window if you are indoors. Catchlights are the reflection of the light in the eyes and can range in size. It is the sparkle that you didn’t know you were searching for. You will notice the best light comes when your subject is facing the light source (open sky).

One note of caution, if you are under trees, the lighting can change quickly and you need to beware of dappled light. While you may be in open shade and generally protected by directional light under a tree, some dappled light could come through and affect the outcome, making the portrait less desirable.

Sometimes, the light may fall short (not reaching the subject fully) so you can position the subject to be closer to the edge of a porch, the trees etc. If your subject is wearing a hat, you may want to try and get them to look up a bit. If you’re photographing a candid photo, then you will want to wait until they look up (depending on the age of your subject). Notice the catchlights in the eyes on the portraits displayed in this article.

mobile photography portrait with open shade — Open Shade from the open sky behind me, my son is on the side of a building

WINDOW LIGHT FOR MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHERS

children's portrait using natural window light and an iPhone — A smartphone portrait taken with an iPhone using the natural window light.

Window light is my favourite indoor light. You can use the window the same way you’d use the open sky when outdoors. The window light should be in front of the subject and at the back of the photographer.

Another way to use window light, and for a more dramatic effect, is to have the window on one side of your subject. The side of the subject that is away from the window will be darker and thus a more dramatic and moody feel. It’s a great type of light for portraiture.

Have your subject turn slowly so you can see how the light appears in their eyes, find the catchlights. The window light will change significantly as your subject moves. You don’t need to worry about the exact angle, just look at how it falls when your subject moves and what you prefer.

If the light source is at a 90-degree angle to the subject you will find a very dramatic look, at a 45-degree angle you will find a softer feel.

MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY LIGHTING TIPS

Pay attention to how the light falls in your home over a day or two. Natural light is constantly changing so look at it at different times of the day. That way, when the opportunity comes to catch that perfect moment, you will know how to deal with it.

As a photographer, I see the light very differently and operate intentionally. If I see the light is particularly beautiful in one area of the home or outdoors, I will wait patiently for the right moment when my subject(s) enter that area.

Hopefully, this gives you a bit more insight into two types of natural light for mobile photographers. I hope these tips will help you create fantastic portraits with your smartphone.

Caution, after reading this article and practicing with these two types of light, you may find yourself seeing catchlights everywhere.

READ: Photography Your Safari with a Smartphone

MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

I’ve been a professional photographer since 2003 and a mobile photography educator since 2013. I am based in the Toronto area.

Learn how to photograph your travels, landscapes, nature, wildlife, and people with your smartphone.

I offer fun and practical in-person hands-on mobile photography workshops in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

For those not in Toronto or the GTA, I offer mobile photography mobile photography lessons using web technologies.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

AIRBNB EXPERIENCES

If you’re in Toronto or visiting the area and are into nature, birding and wildlife photography, I offer a birding/nature walk + photography lesson through Airbnb experiences Toronto.

I hope these tips will help you create cherished photos of your safari. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

SUBSCRIBE to wanderingiPhone.com for staying in the loop – exclusive opportunities, photo tours, workshops, webinars, and subscriber discounts on mobile photography workshops, consulting and more.

Local SIM cards for South Africa and Senegal and a resource for Europe and Prepaid Data Around the World

March 21, 2013

Why I Stay Connected When Travelling Internationally and How an Unlocked iPhone Helps Me Feel Safe Travelling Solo:

Staying connected while travelling solo internationally is essential for me. I do so to stay in touch with my husband and 2 boys via FaceTime and so they know my whereabouts in case anything should happen. I also like to stay “connected” as an extra measure of safety.

Reasons to Stay Connected

To use Google’s street view to scout the neighbourhood of the hostel/hotel I’m going to be staying at ahead of time. I can see what amenities are nearby and what the neighbourhood is like.
To open google maps and follow the “blue dot” to see if your taxi is taking you in the right direction. It helps to guard against taxi ripoffs. Prior to visiting Prague, I had read in various travel forums about the potential to be overcharged especially from the train station. I usually take a taxi when I arrive, especially at night. I used my iPhone to look up the typical cost using the World Taximeter website. By having data available, I was able to keep more of my Koruna as I could debate the cost of said trip. My driver went out of the way from the train station to the hotel so I knew he was overcharging me thanks to Google maps and world taximeter. He didn’t contest told and charged me less than what he initially asked for.
To use a Translate app such as iTranslate or Google translate. It helps me to say what I need to.

Most smartphone users know the high costs of data and roaming while travelling. So what do you do to keep costs to an affordable amount? If you have an unlocked phone you can purchase a local SIM card and prepaid data.

Purchasing an SIM card & prepaid data in South Africa:

Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport: There are several wireless provider shops near the international arrivals area. I went with Vodacom. It was easy to get set up and it was about $30-35 CAD for 1gb data, 20 minutes of calls to South Africa and texting.

Cape Town airport: There are several wireless provider shops after arrival in the Cape Town airport as well.

If you should need to top up, you can do so at any Vodacom shop or at stores like Pick n pay where you purchase of voucher for a certain amount and follow the prompts on your phone to credit your SIM card/phone number with the codes from the voucher. It’s simple and it’s in English.

Purchasing an SIM card & prepaid data in Senegal, West Africa:

In Dakar and many towns outside of Dakar there are Orange stores as well as resellers everywhere. You can barely go a few blocks without seeing an Orange sign. You can even find their prepaid cards while stuck in traffic from the vendors
that come to your window.

To purchase data service in Senegal, follow these steps.

Purchase a microSIM card. If none are available, purchase a regular sized one and have it cut or cut it yourself.
Purchase either 10,000 (1-week internet) or 25,000 CFA (1 month internet) at any reseller. You will get a scratch card with the pertinent information.
Important: Visit www.passorange.sn to activate the prepaid card and choose which service you’d like.

Open up your browser and you should see that you’re connected.

.

Activating your Orange prepaid data card

If your phone is locked:

A locked phone means that you cannot change your SIM card from that of your usual wireless provider. You have to either “roam” (costly), rent (if available), buy something local or wait for a wifi connection. You can read that post here.

A Regional SIM card and staying connected in Europe:

In March 2012, I travelled solo to 8 cities in 6 countries in Europe and chose IPhoneTrip for convenience as they provide data plans for the world, a region or one country. I chose coverage for Europe so I could travel seamlessly from one country to the next rather than getting a local SIM card because I was only in some places 24-48 hours. I didn’t want to have interrupted service and I also didn’t want to spend my time having to find an SIM card on arrival. The service providers automatically switched as I entered a new country and I barely noticed.

iPhoneTrip sends you an SIM card as well as a backup SIM card in case there is something wrong with the first one. Rental is for a minimum of 7 days. At the time of rental, it was $11.99 USD per day for unlimited data. I only needed data as I use apps such as Vonage and Skype to make phone calls and iMessage and What’s App or Facebook messenger. My phone also worked as a wifi hotspot (tethering) so I could share my data with up to 5 devices if I wanted to. Fellow passengers on the tour bus to Budapest from Vienna became my best friends 😉

Prepaid SIM cards and Data Plans Around The World:

Here’s a great site that Susan of Vibrant Travels tweeted to me. It lists Prepaid SIM cards with data by country. http://prepaidwithdata.wikia.com/wiki/Prepaid_SIM_with_data

I checked Senegal and it’s not up to date, but I added a comment with some information. I also checked South Africa and it seemed pretty up to date. So please do further research before you travel before relying solely on the information presented.

There is definitely something to be said for wandering about and getting “lost” and disconnecting, but sometimes it is not okay to do so. For those of us that need or want to stay connected, I hope these tips will help you.

Until next time,

Andrea… and my wandering iPhone

Why This Mother and Wife Travels Solo

February 24, 2013

If you knew me you would know that I absolutely love my husband, sons, friends and family. If you knew me you would know that connections are important to me. So why does this mother of 2 and wife leave behind my family to travel solo?

WHY THIS MOTHER AND WIFE TRAVELS SOLO

I travel solo because sometimes there are places I want to go that others don’t.
I travel solo because it is such a feeling of accomplishment. I research the places I want to see. I choose the accommodations, the activities, my transportation and my meals. I go from one end of the city to the other, from one city to the next and from one country to another.
I travel solo because I get to meet like-minded individuals from all over the world who are also travelling. It is amazing to learn of where they have just come from and where they are going next. It makes the world feel smaller and more connected.
I travel solo because it gives you space. Space to reflect, breathe and appreciate.
I travel solo because there are places all over the world that I want to experience for myself.
I travel solo because there are people all over the world that I have yet to meet.
I travel solo because it gives you time for yourself and to come back home more renewed than ever. Often when you travel with others, it’s a series of compromises. Sometimes I just want to take a while longer while photographing something or to really be present.
I travel solo to take care of myself. Some people shop, I travel. Travelling is so much a part of me that when I don’t travel I am itching to get back out there. It is much more than just a destination, it is all the experiences that come with it. It is living life.

Solo travel gives you as much or as little time as you want, to see, to listen, to touch, to smell and to taste. It’s only up to you to decide how much. All your senses truly come alive.

SOLO TRAVEL QUOTES

The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready. — Henry David Thoreau

Solo travel not only pushes you out of your comfort zone. It also pushes you out of the zone of other’s expectations. – Suzy Strutner

Loving life is easy when you are abroad. Where no one knows you and you hold your life in your hands all alone, you are more master of yourself than at any other time – Hannah Arendt

Traveling alone doesn’t mean living lonely. It is when you travel alone you are most open to others. – Salil Jha

LONE TRAVELLER EXPERIENCES

Sometimes I just want to sit a while longer with my vin chaud (mulled wine) and people watch at the café in Paris.

Vin Chaud in Montmartre district in Paris, France — sipping vin chaud and people watching in Montmartre – Paris, France

Sometimes I want to enjoy the views a little longer.

Neuschwanstein, the fairy tale castle in Bavaria — Neuschwanstein, the fairytale castle in Bavaria

Sometimes I want to take more time to photograph what I see or wait for a shot I envision while listening to the calls of the wild in the Kruger National Park.

Sometimes I want to enjoy the culture of the city I am visiting and go to a ballet in Vienna or opera in Prague at the historic theatres.

Yes, you are physically alone when you travel solo and sometimes I feel lonely for a spell, especially missing my family, but I never feel truly alone. As a solo traveller, it is easy to meet people, mostly without even trying. I feel that the connections you make with yourself, the people of the world and nature can only be genuinely experienced while travelling solo.

If I didn’t travel solo I wouldn’t have had an opportunity to travel to and spend time in a village in the Eastern Cape to witness a Sangoma (traditional healer) graduation ceremony in South Africa.

An amaXhosa elder in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

If I didn’t travel solo I wouldn’t have taken Djembe (African drum) lessons with a Master djembefola at a neighbourhood cultural centre in Dakar, Senegal and be invited to watch his group practice for a performance after. I was the only foreigner amongst 30 drummers, dancers and local children. We also chatted about life over mint tea after the lesson.

djembe lessons in Dakar, Senegal, solo traveller experiences — still photo of me drumming in Senegal (from a video).

Watching a local Djembe group practice in Senegal, solo traveller experiences — watching a local Djembe & Dance group practice in Senegal

If I didn’t travel solo I wouldn’t have been invited to sing Christmas carols with 5000 locals against the backdrop of Table Mountain under starry skies and the shimmering lights of Cape Town in the background.

Carols by Candlelight - Cape Town, South Africa — Carols by Candlelight – Cape Town, South Africa

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVELLING SOLO AS A MOTHER

One of the biggest reasons I travel solo as a mother is for my boys. I want to show them that I am not just a mother, but that I am a woman that has dreams and that dreams do come true.

I want them to know what living life to the fullest is all about. They can’t always come with me, but with technology, I can share my travels in real time (FaceTime or photos) or when I get home.

I want them to learn that there is more out there than just our neighbourhood or country and that the world is not a big bad scary place as some make it out to be.

I want to inspire them to find things they love, to follow their hearts and go after their dreams.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly as I am raising men, I want to raise them to respect, encourage and support women in their dreams. The best way to do this is by example and what better way to learn what it takes to be a man than witness their father support my dreams and travels around the world.

I am grateful for my dear husband, but I know that is not the reality for many. I hope for a near future where “let” and “allow” are replaced with “encourage” and “support” when it comes to mothers, wives, girlfriends and daughters in following their dreams of travels around the world.

All these reasons are why this mother and wife travels solo.

SOLO TRAVEL RESOURCES

BreatheDreamGo – http://breathedreamgo.com/2013/02/ode-to-the-lady-traveller-wegosolo/

Mariellen Ward has travelled solo to India for a total of 17 months of the last 7 years. Find out about why she started the WeGoSolo movement. Mariellen is a great resource for solo travel in India. As well, you will find countless posts, tips and resources by other woman solo travellers.

Journeywoman – http://www.journeywoman.com/

Evelyn Hannon of Journeywoman has been travelling solo for more than 30 years and has inspired women from around the world to do the same. Her site is a fantastic resource for woman travellers.

Solo Traveler – http://solotravelerblog.com

Janice Waugh began travelling solo after a loss and hasn’t looked back. Her site is another great resource for solo travellers.

I Dreamed of Africa

January 9, 2013

My stomach began to flutter as I walked to the jeep. The feeling grew as I climbed into the open game drive vehicle for the first time. I was both excited and nervous going for a 3-hour drive in the Greater Kruger National Park. The times in front of the TV watching Wild Kingdom with my dad and Gran and the hours spent leafing through National Geographic magazines as a child came to mind at that moment.

Was this real?

I wondered what animals we’d see on our drive. Though I would be happy to see any animal that was allowed to roam free, I secretly wished for a giraffe sighting. Suddenly we came upon a lone giraffe walking gracefully in front of us; I was ecstatic. It was too far away to get a decent photo, and we were moving slowly behind it.

It turned left and disappeared into the bush. We caught up to where it was, but the thick bush separated us. We watched for a moment and continued driving. Unexpectedly our jeep turned left; I smiled as I knew our guide would get us closer. The giraffe was eating off to the side of the dirt road, but the area had a lot of trees and thick bush. You’d be surprised at how quickly giraffes and even a herd of elephants can hide in it.

The giraffe moved, and the bush gave way a little, but still, I waited.

I soon noticed that the sun was beginning to set and the scene unfolding before me. The beauty of the sky and the road in front would add to the photo I thought. The light was disappearing, but I continued to wait. I enjoyed watching the slow manner in which it ate and moved, but I wondered if I would lose my chance.

Before I travelled to South Africa, I envisioned scenes I wanted to capture. This view was one of them. I wondered if the giraffe would ever come out of the bush so I could see it silhouetted against the sky, just as I had imagined. Someone asked why I wasn’t taking any photos, as she knew that I was a photographer.

“I’m waiting for the giraffe to walk out in front of us so I can take a photo of it against the sun and sky.”

“Spoken like a true photographer”.

Little did she know that I had been waiting my whole life for this, what was another minute or two? The giraffe stopped eating and moved away from the bush. It appeared in front of us.

I dreamed of Africa, and I dreamed of being able to capture this very scene… a giraffe photographed against a sunset sky. Dreams do come true.

Travel, travel tips

My top 10 Travel Apps for the iPhone

August 8, 2012

When I travel internationally there are a number of apps I use for anything from finding a restaurant or my way around to video calling my family. I prefer to do so without the high roaming charges associated. See my post on data plans and travel here.

Please keep in mind that a good data plan is best in order to use some of these apps, especially for calls, video calls or maps. Having said that, you could still make good use of this list with wifi only. I am speaking as a Canadian user though I’m certain most of these would apply to our friends north of the border and International users as well.

Top10Travel — Top 10 Travel Apps for iPhone

Updated for relevancy in 2015.

1. FaceTime, included with your Apple product — I love video calling my family and close friends back home and sharing some of my experiences while travelling. FaceTime is my number one choice for video calling both for clarity in video and sound. Of course to use FaceTime the other person needs an Apple product such as the iPhone, iPod, iPad or Mac computer. You also need a good data plan so if your data plan is not 1gb or more or I would wait until you find wifi. If your internet connection is not as great, you can still use FaceTime without video.

2. Skype, a free app – A fantastic alternative to FaceTime for video calling and calling. It is also available for android phones. I have the Unlimited US and Canada plan for $2.99 per month which allows me to call landlines and mobiles anywhere in those countries from anywhere. If the other party has skype on their mobile device or computer then skype is always free. Again be mindful of your data plan when travelling.

3. WhatsApp, a free instant messaging app that allows you to share photos and your location as well. While I do use iMessage a lot within my family, not everyone I communicates with has an iOS device. This is a fantastic app regardless of the operating system your phone uses. — iOS, blackberry, android and windows.

4. Vonage, free to download works with credit. When I first mentioned this app, it was free to call any phone number in Canada or the USA. Now you need to purchase credits. Vonage works well and the clarity of the call is wonderful. Vonage to Vonage calls are always free anywhere in the world.

5. Google Maps, a free app. I use this app often, even at home. The map will find where you are (blue dot) and get you where you want to go. As you move, the iPhone updates your location automatically. If you have a favourite location, drop a pin to mark it and bookmark it to find it again. You can also search along the way. You can type in something like “cafe or coffee” to find places associated with the keyword and it works with addresses and business names. When you find what you’re looking for, tap the pin and touch the blue arrow to bring up more information, such as phone numbers and web or location addresses. If you see a circle icon with a person inside then that location has street view. I love to use street view to see where my hotel is and to get an idea of what is around it. Tip: Bookmark your hotel/hostel as soon as you know the information so that wherever you are in a new city/town, you can always find your way there. It’s a great idea to keep the map open when you’re in a cab as to keep tabs on your cabbie as there are many cities that are notorious for ripping off tourists. Hello Prague, I’m talking to you. Saved some money by doing this there. If you’re driving, it has the GPS function with turn by turn information. Also be mindful of your data plan before using it.

6. Yelp, a free app – a great app to find recommendations for restaurants, entertainment, services, shopping and more. You can sign up to give reviews and check in as some places have check in offers. It also has the “nearby” feature which locates restaurants or everything close to you.

7. TripAdvisor, a free app – it is my go-to resource for accomodation reviews and activities as there are plenty of reviews to be found.

8. XE Currency, a free app – a great app for converting Canadian dollars to whatever currency you’ll be using. Came in really handy when I recently travelled to 6 countries but needed 4 different currencies.

9. iTranslate, a free app – a fantastic app that you can type into that translates in 50 different languages. Works well if you’re typing in a word or phrase. For an additional fee you can have the option of talking into the phone with voice recognition. I haven’t used that part of the app so cannot say whether the voice recognition is good or bad.

10. TripIt, free app. Admittedly, I was late to jump on the bandwagon. Many of my travel friends have mentioned this app, but for some reason I didn’t look into it. Now that I have, I can’t travel without it. It organizes your travel plans so beautifully, so seamlessly. Flights, accommodations, car rentals. It’s all there for you and it can be accessed offline.