The Right Equipment: Apps and Accessories for AEC Smartphone Photography

The convenience of smartphone photography means that some of the best shots and videos out there are captured from a mere phone. There is always the risk of smartphone photography looking and feeling unrefined and unprofessional, however. Luckily, there are many tools that maintain the medium’s spur-of-the-moment accessibility while elevating the end result.

Here are some popular options and their purposes:

Camera Apps:

ProCamera/Halide: These paid apps offer manual controls over exposure, focus, and other settings, unlocking professional-level capabilities on your phone's camera.

Snapseed/Lightroom Mobile: Free and powerful editing apps for adjusting lighting, color, and adding creative effects.

VSCO/HUJI: Popular apps offering film-inspired filters and presets for a unique aesthetic.

Composition & Exposure Tools:

Grid Overlay: Built-in on most phones, this grid helps compose balanced and visually appealing shots using the rule of thirds.

Live Histogram: Shows the distribution of light and shadows in your photo, helping you achieve proper exposure.

Point Metering: Allows you to set the exposure based on a specific area of your frame, ideal for high-contrast scenes.

Specialized Tools:

You can search for various recommendation lists for all of the below and choose the one best suited for your work.

Long Exposure Apps: Achieve long shutter speed effects like silky smooth water or light trails, adding a dramatic touch.

Panoramic Apps: Capture stunning panoramic shots with seamless stitching for breathtaking landscapes.

Focus Stacking Apps: Combine multiple images with different focus points for increased depth of field, especially useful for macro photography.

Hardware Add-Ons:

Tripods: Enhance stability for clear, sharp photos, especially in low light or for long exposures.

Mobile Lenses: Expand your creative possibilities with wide-angle, telephoto, macro, or fisheye lenses that attach to your phone.

External Flash: Provides additional lighting for dark environments or fill-in light for portraits.

Reflectors: Bounce light and reduce harsh shadows for more flattering and balanced shots.

Smartphones are increasingly powerful photography tools, but sometimes they need a little help to truly shine. Make sure to take advantage of the vast array of available apps and accessories to elevate your mobile photography game.