Shake The Shake
While your smartphone camera is a powerful tool…
...it does have shortcomings that you need to work around.
Recently, I posed a question in the Shoot It Yourself Facebook group asking everyone about their biggest challenges with regard to taking self-portraits.
One member responded, “blurriness of the shot.”
Hey, sometimes it’s challenging to have a steady hand.
On several occasions, I’ve had to delete self-portraits I otherwise loved, but couldn’t post, because my face was slightly out-of-focus.
While the camera that you have in your possession 24/7 is a powerful tool, it does come with it’s shortcomings. And one of them is the lack of an anti-shake function that exists on many professional lenses.
This helps photographers shoot in challenging conditions where they’re pushing the boundaries of the camera and lens’ abilities to capture a high-quality photo.
Although self-portrait photographers don’t have that kind of technological aid at their disposal, they do have something that could help minimize the shake.
And that’s through alternative ways to hit the shutter button and fire off a picture.
On my IPhone in Camera mode, there is the big button at the bottom of the screen, and by default, it is the most popular way to snap a picture.
But, depending on the way you’re holding the phone, hitting that button can prove to be problematic, and the act of pushing that button on the screen can shake the camera to the point that it sabotages the final product.
But, did you know that you can also use the volume buttons, too?
Truth be told, I found out by accident one day when the Camera mode just popped up randomly. I’m glad I know now as this option has been a lifesaver on many occasions.
By using the volume buttons, you can easily trigger the camera for a shot with one hand only.
Now, there still is a little shake involved as you’re still forced to touch the smartphone camera, but it's considerably less than pressing the button on the screen. When you lessen the shake, the more likely the photo will be in sharp focus.
If you don’t use an IPhone, check with your phone manufacturer and see if your volume buttons have the same functionality, or if you can program another physical button on the phone to act as a smartphone camera shutter button.
While the alternative shutter buttons are a step in the right direction, the BEST solution to minimizing camera shake is to take self-portraits without the camera in your hands at all.
When you’re hands-free, a whole world of opportunities open up to you.
And, I talk about these options in my online course:
Shoot It Yourself: Develop A Portrait Photographers’ Eye With Your Phone
In addition to stabilizing your camera, this 9-module course will teach you how to shoot a well-composed photo wherever and whenever the moment strikes you.
And if you’re a business owner who is on-the-go and magical moments happen throughout your day, this is an invaluable skill set t have that will greatly benefit your marketing efforts.