Holy Week is the perfect opportunity to escape the heat, take a well-deserved break, and spend quality time with family. It’s too easy to get swept away by last-minute packing and rush projects at work. However, you mustn’t lose sight of the reason behind these trips: making memories with loved ones. 

Luckily, capturing these once-in-a-lifetime moments is easy with smartphones. These light, pocket-sized cameras may not come with the same bells and whistles as today’s mirrorless options and DSLRs. But, they have everything you need to record your kid’s first dip in the ocean or your grandparents’ slow dance in an old church. Here are six easy tricks to ensure you don’t miss a shot during your vacation.

READ: Why are the statues in church covered during Lent?

Tip 1: Adjust your smartphone’s zoom settings based on your subject

Zooming in on your smartphone is simple. Just pinch the screen with your thumb and index finger. However, this method isn’t the best way to zoom. Manually zooming could result in lower-resolution and grainy images, especially in areas with low light. Using your smartphone’s default zoom settings, which are often displayed at the bottom of the screen, would result in higher-quality images. For iPhones, the default zoom settings are 0.5x, 1x, and 2x. 

Each zoom setting has a unique purpose beyond just getting a close-up of a subject. They were based on different camera lens focal lengths—all with different functions. Here’s a list to help you select the best zoom setting for different subjects:

• 0.5x – This zoom setting is most similar to wide-angle lenses. These are best for landscapes, travel photos, and large group shots because they have a larger field of vision. In other words, they accommodate more of the scene into a photograph. The lens distortion along the edges makes this focal length unideal for portraits. 
• 1x – This setting simulates the human field of vision the most. This setting is great for small group shots, selfies, and moving subjects. 
• 2x – This setting has minimal to no lens distortion, perfect for taking portraits and food photos. It also manages to handle minute details exceptionally well. If you want to go even closer to your subject, walk closer rather than manually zooming.

Tip 2: Change exposure and focus manually

You often need to take photos in imperfect conditions. Too much light washes out details in a photo; too little light darkens the composition. The best way to respond to these environments is to manually change your exposure. While in the camera app for both Apple and Android, tap and hold the screen of your smartphone until a small box pops up. Then slide your finger up or down to increase or decrease the exposure, respectively.

The small box also controls your camera’s focus. If you want to prioritize a subject in your composition, then tap on the subject until the box pops up. Some smartphones also allow you to lock your focus on this subject. If the subject moves, the focus point moves along with it. 

Tip 3: Use live photos

Vacations involve countless moving parts with little time to pause and compose the perfect shot. This is where live photos come in handy. 

The live photo setting takes a 1.5s-3s video clip. After taking the live photo, you can select the best frame. Live Photos make it infinitely easier to capture skittish subjects, like young children and pets. It also makes taking group photos more efficient because you can select the most flattering frame. Gone are the days when one person is blinking while the other adjusts their shirt! 

Tip 4: Reconsider portrait mode

Portrait mode took the world by storm when Apple first released it in 2016 and other smartphone manufacturers followed suit. It lets you take photos that simulate a shallow depth of field by blurring the background. It’s great for getting polished close-ups, especially for profile pictures and food shots. However, portrait mode removes information from the background that could make for interesting compositions.

One fun challenge would be to take photos without using portrait mode. Play with using objects in the background, such as a tree or building, to frame your subject. Apply the rule of thirds, which involves splitting your photo’s composition into nine sections by two horizontal and two vertical lines. Position your subject along the intersections of these lines to create dynamic compositions. 

Tip 5: Don’t forget flash

Flash got a bad rep for making photos look quite harsh in low-light conditions. Yet, a recent resurgence of 2000s digital cameras among Gen Z is changing that. Now, flash creates a lo-fi, intimate vibe perfect for capturing nighttime get-togethers. 

Turn on your smartphone’s flash in the camera settings. If you still feel flash photography is too hard on your eyes, you can always soften photos during the editing process. 

Tip 6: Embrace editing

Nearly all professional digital photographers edit their photos before showing them to clients or on social media. Editing involves adjusting color, texture, and lighting to make a good photo great. 

You can edit on your smartphone’s default photos app or Instagram before uploading. For more advanced editing, you can try Adobe Lightroom, which is available on mobile and desktop. If you want the charm of film without waiting for your photos to develop, try DazzCam or VSCO. These apps feature filters that resemble effects from film cameras. 

By playing around with different editing settings—like contrast, saturation, tint, sharpness, and grain—you can create photos that reflect the atmosphere of your trip. While photography can perfectly capture someone’s likeness, its beauty lies in instantly preserving emotions that would otherwise get lost.