16 SEPTEMBER 2026 | SEND TO A FRIEND
How to take better travel photos with your phone
Today, shooting a high-definition image only requires a tap of a digital button and takes less than a second. This accessibility and ease of use are the major benefits of phone photography. While they can’t fully match the image quality and control level offered by DSLRs or mirrorless systems, cutting-edge advancements have significantly improved the capabilities of smartphone cameras. Manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Google and Xiaomi are churning out new options with ever-enhanced features all the time, quickly narrowing the limitations that once defined the medium.
There are still some practical functions and considerations to keep in mind that will help you in the process, writes our associate picture editor Aisha Nazar.
AISHA’S PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
Follow the natural lines
Consider using composition techniques in your mobile photography to create more engaging visuals. Techniques such as leading lines (see left-hand image) can draw attention towards the main subject, while framing (right) uses available resources or elements in the scene to create a border surrounding the subject.
Play around with lighting
When photographing neon signs in low-light conditions, adjust your exposure to avoid blowing out the bright colours and details in the lights. Tap on the brightest part of the scene and play around with the slider to adjust the exposure to retain detail, while allowing the surrounding darkness to add atmosphere and contrast.
Turn the camera
In a world that’s driven by content for social media, it can feel a bit awkward to rotate your phone when taking a photo. Doing this will enable you to capture more of the scene and give your photo a stronger sense of place, which is especially useful for landscapes or cityscapes.
Get up close
Where you can, explore your phone’s photography features such as the Portrait mode. Enabling this mode creates a more intentional portrait by separating your subject from the background. Choose a clean background to draw attention to the person and utilise bokeh, or background blur. Considering the available light to highlight the features of your subject in focus can also make the image feel more polished.
SEE AISHA’S AWARD-WINNING PHOTOGRAPHY
How this 800-year-old Chinese village is using the power of song
In a remote valley in southern China’s Guizhou province lies Huanggang, an 800-year-old village known for its wooden buildings. Here, the Dong people keep their unique culture alive through traditional songs.
Aisha’s photostory on these keepers of song was awarded first place in the Professional Editorial – Tourism category at the International Photography Awards 2026.
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Do you want your questions answered by our picture editors?
Submit your photography questions for a chance to have them answered in the upcoming edition of ‘Coffee with a photographer’, featuring our associate picture editor Aisha Nazar and senior picture editor Ben Rowe.
📧 photography@natgeotraveller.co.uk
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