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The 15-step process is involves four phases:
> Photographic intention
> Storytelling, narrative and composition
> Photo capture techniques
> Mobile photo editing to enhance the narrative

88 reasons to love and improve your photography (all on your smartphone)

88 reasons to love and improve your photography (all on your smartphone)

Listen to Part 1 - Podcast episode #12 - Link Here

Listen to Part 2 - Podcast episode #13 - Link Here
Learning other reasons for learning photography may help to realise new motivations to get out there and learn a little each day.

You are a photo enthusiast who loves to capture photos and create your favourite images. Taking the step to learn photography brings you so much joy, love for life and transferrable skills to other arts and hobbies, even travel.

Photography is therapy and a distraction for many of us in this busy, crazy world we live. Committing to a little time each day, you will further love the creative process of photography.

'You can learn photography without ever intending to do it professionally.'

The quality of the photos you can capture and images you can create on your existing smartphone is insane. When you learn photography and how to edit your photos, they will begin to have more meaning to you.

The more you learn photography and come to understand the 'why' behind it all, the more you'll enjoy it. Let's get into this massive list.

Make sure to post a comment at the bottom letting us know why you love photography.

reasons to love and learn photography on your smartphone
Anyone can learn photography
Smartphone photography has democratised photography and made it accessible to everyone. Anyone can do it. Smartphones enable people of all diverse backgrounds and abilities to capture photos together.

Few hobbies are as inclusive and allow us to connect with loved ones and strangers around the world.

You can do it anytime, anywhere
Some hobbies are seasonal, location dependant, special equipment or involvement of other people. Smartphone photography is so convenient to capture a photo at any opportunity. You can then enjoy the amazing image editing apps on your phone to capture, edit and share your images.

Capture a memory
With a photo, you can capture a moment, and turn it into a memory. Holiday snaps and photos of our loved ones become more valuable over time to relive and cherish. The audience of your images can also be yourself to relive memories after your memory has long faded.

Document the life of your loved ones
The smartphone has made it so easy for us to reach for a camera, often already with us. The challenge for many of us is to remember to take the photo. Photos do not always have to be a posed, perfect happy family. Recording all moments are precious. Recently, my children were in hysterics watching videos of their younger selves.

Photography preserves memories of lost loved ones
Presenting at camera clubs, I always share my story of my mother passing away. I have worked in photography for over twenty years and had access to the best camera gear available. Regardless, I can count on one hand how many photos I have of my mother with my children. I also have no video at all recording her voice.

I then encouraging attendees to offer their phone to the person seated next to them to take their photo. Those of us over 40 are not so keen on selfies. We need to get over this because our children will appreciate it more than us feeling a little awkward.

Related article: This is My why for starting Smartphone Photography Training

Capture more valuable memories
Learning to photograph people and locations also improves your ability to recall memories. Intentional photography and editing help you become a much better storyteller. Making the story or subject in the photo stand out more makes it clear in years to come what the image was about.

Preserve the big events

Most of life's 'big moments' are not repeated. You cannot go back and re-take those images that are blurry or obscured people in group photos. Although, there is an app for that!

Learning photography will help you to capture important photos the first time. Todays' moments are tomorrow memories.

Create more impactful images
If your goal for learning photography is to create stronger images. The three main elements are lighting, composition and storytelling. Notice these three main ingredients did not mention equipment. A lens attachment can extend the capability of the smartphone camera. Doing so can produce unexpected results, thus being a more impactful image.

Create more engaging images
An impactful image can be engaging. I have this as a separate reason for learning photography. Improving visuals for a business can better communicate and connect with their audience. A relevant, attention-grabbing image holding the viewers' attention is often the goal.

Related article: Three steps to capture a WOW photo

Create aesthetically pleasing images
A beautiful image that is pleasing to the eye does not happen by accident. Imagine an aesthetically pleasing image of a silky smooth water free-flowing around rocks. The opposite would be busy, choppy whitewash water crashing into rocks.

Learning photography helps you to break down elements of a scene to it's simplest form. You then recreate components in a calm way that emphasises the beauty.

Improve your existing photos
Learning to edit your photos allows you to go back and enhance all those previous amazing photos you have captured. Remember not to save over the originals! As you continue to learn photography, your editing skills will improve. It is always better to return to an original image to re-edit as you develop your own editing style and preferences.

Receive feedback on your images
If you learn photography through a course, be sure to enrol in one that provides feedback on your images. This can be project work or just having the option to contact the course facilitator directly.

There are many photographers who produce quick course as a source income to their business as a 'passive income.' I can tell you my course is anything but passive. I am constantly responding to questions, requests and I love it. That is the best part of transferring my business to online. I get to provide feedback on images and see the progress of the participants.

Related article: My process as a camera club monthly photo competition judge

Help others to recover bad photos
You will become known among your circles of friends for being the photo editing guru. They will likely approach you to edit their photos. I had the honour of editing a few photos of a friend's mother that passed away. Recovering the original images meant the world to them.


Do photoshop edits without the complexity and steep learning curve

One of the reasons to learn photography on your smartphone is to avoid the steep learning curve of desktop photo editing programs. Many are available as a subscription-only requiring payment every month. If you are not deriving an income from your photography it can become difficult to justify that ongoing cost.

There are many free photo editing apps that are very powerful, without having you feel completely overwhelmed by the many options you will never use.

Related article: Six-step photo editing process using Snapseed

See the beauty in everyday
A big part of the learning photography process is practice. That will have you seeking out photographic opportunities in your everyday life. You will start to see the beauty in the most ordinary and unexpected places.

Live in the present
When you are in the 'photographic zone' and concentrating, you are living in the moment. Like the cinema or theatre, all distractions are gone. It helps you to focus on what is in front of you at that time.
 

Have fun on your own
Once you learn the basics of photography, you will see opportunities everywhere. You will notice how light reflects and absorbs on surfaces, shapes, lines and textures. When you capture these images, you will gain satisfaction and enjoyment. Photography will change your everyday experience.


Have fun with family and friends
Was one of your parents passionate about photos or did you discover it on your own? You will love to share photography tips and compare images with loved ones. My youngest son loves to sit me down and show me how he is going to edit images. The smartphone enables us to learn photography and experience our passion with important people.

Photography is accessible for people with physical disabilities

Photography can be practised anywhere at any time. You are not restricted to specific locations requiring access. Some of the best photographs are captured in your everyday life.

People with motor impairments may need to use multiple fingers to hold and touch the screen. Lifting the phone, framing the shot and actuating the shutter can be challenging. Many phones now have voice activation to open the camera app. You can then say the word cheese, smile or capture.

A great resource for wheelchair adaptors for 'big' cameras is the Disabled Photographers' Society.

Photography is accessible for people with mental illness
Smartphone photography can be as simple as point and shoot. If you have a limited capacity for concentration, you can take the photo and appreciate the photo straight away. Unlike photo editing on a desktop computer, the smartphone can be simple, quick and easily saved. The ability to put the phone away without shutting down a computer gives control to the user on how they edit.

Photography is a safe hobby
All my children love taking photos. My daughter takes random snaps without an appreciation for a quality image. Yes, she is one of those that record 'a lot' of her own life! My young boys both love setting up their photos and editing them into WOW images.

Photography is a safe hobby, for those that do not attempt death-defying shots. Tragic incidents have also occurred where people have stepped back into traffic. No hobby is immune from injury, well an exception is scrapbooking!

Photography can be a shared activity with children
You have no doubt taken photos of children and straight away they want to look at the photos of themselves. They love photography. You don't have to teach them photography. Just make it fun. A great first tip for children is reflection photos off puddles of water. Show them how to take a slow-motion video of a Lego creation smashing on the floor.

Bring you closer to your family and loved ones
Taking the time to capture loved ones suggests that you want to remember them. Sometimes as a parent, we get caught up in the difficulties and frustrations. In time, your children will only remember the good stuff. Photos capture a moment frozen in time – of the good stuff! Be sure to capture the difficult times too. You will look back at many of them and laugh.

Create better family photos than you have
Do you have cringe-worthy images of yourself as a child? Are they blurry and you wish they had of taken another with your eyes open? Learning photography will ensure your children will love their photos. So much so they will soon start taking more photos than you! Albeit it selfies where the exact head tilt is more important than the background.

Bond with other photographers
Sharing a common interest is a very powerful way to connect with people. When you start to discuss how you both see the world differently, you have hours of conversation.

Like gardening, photographic communities are full of passionate, positive people. They appreciate life and see the beauty around them.

Meet new people
There are amazing online and in-person amateur photography communities for people like us. Smartphone Photography Club members have access to an amazing, supportive Facebook group. There are also in-person photography groups at Meetup.com.

Study the great photographers of our past
When you learn photography, you will quickly realise it has little to do with the camera. As you study the greats of photography, you quickly realise their imagery had/has very little to do with their equipment. Yet, they understood lighting and composition. You may find it fascinating to study the greats in the particular field that you find interesting.

The Candid Frame podcast hosted by photographer, writer and educator Ibarionex Perello is a fantastic resource of photographer interviews. Now surpassing 500 episodes, many interviewees discuss photographers of the past that have influenced them.

Experiment with different genres
We all start photography with a particular interest. It may be recording family moments or photos in your garden. You will grow much more as a photography enthusiast if you experiment in different genres. Each genre has transferrable techniques and image considerations that transfer to other genres. This is a great way to avoid a 'creativity rut'.

Related article: Ross Park shares his apps and technique to create stunning black and white photos

See everything you normally overlook in front of you
When you edit and photo and zoom in, you will notice elements you did not even see. The more you take photographs, the more you'll notice little things that might go unnoticed. You will see patterns and repetition that most people do not even notice.

Notice all the detail
Learning to see light, refers to how it reflects, falls off and absorbed by objects. Photography teaches you to notice shapes, textures and details in ordinary subjects.

Achieve macro photography on my smartphone

Creating macro images on your smartphone is a great way to learn the technical and creative side of photography. The smartphone has many limitations in this genre necessitating learning how to overcome these. Macro photography is very rewarding, requiring anticipation, patience and a good understanding of capture and editing techniques.

Related article: Close up macro photography on your smartphone

Capture fleeting moments of expressions in children and pets
Children and some pets can offer you a full range of expressions. Children display extreme joy, love and curiosity that can be missed. Learning photography helps to confidently capture those fleeting moments. Photography teaches you how to expect those moments, prepare and capture with confidence.

Improve other art hobbies
Practising photography helps you develop other art mediums. The visual language principles are just as valid in design and other art forms. Drawing, graphic design all need principles of composition, size, lines, colour, lighting, texture.

Learn photo composition
The first step to transitioning from a snapshot to a more intentional, structured photo is composition. This is how you set up different components in the image and consider how they all interact with each other from the perspective of the viewer looking at your image. The first technique to start composing your image is The Rule of Thirds.

Related article: Rule of thirds - gridlines on the iPhone and Android smartphone explained
Photography is subjective
Photography is a subjective art form that has no right and wrong results. Compositional guidelines that help to structure a photo are just that. They are guidelines. Learning photography helps to understand why these principles have existed for so long. After you learn why and how they work, you can bend or disregard them to create your own images.

You do not need to compete with other photographers. Being inspired by other photographers can help to develop your skills and style.

Camera knowledge ensures you don't miss 'the decisive moment'
You may have heard of the phrase capturing 'The Decisive Moment.' Street photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson is credited with the phrase, meaning to capture an event that is ephemeral and spontaneous, where the image represents the essence of the event itself.

The camera can be quickly launched on your smartphone, even when the screen is still locked. Depending on your phone, it could be a double-tap on the home button or swipe from the edge of the screen. Live Photos on your iPhone is a great way to capture three seconds of images and select the best-timed image.

Bring back the original intention and emotion lost through the camera
Our smartphone cameras can struggle in some scenes to capture the dynamic range and original colours in the scene. At times, the camera edits the images averaging tones producing flat images. Every image benefits from yourself editing them. As you learn photography and become more adept at visual language, you will be able to further enhance sections of the image to direct the viewers' attention.

Related article: Snapseed Curves tool enhances colour and tones - makes your photos pop

Enjoy people admiring your images
We all like to be liked. It's the same with our images. We like to have our images liked. One of the reasons that Facebook became so popular was that little Like button. It is everywhere now on other visual social media platforms. We actually get a little dopamine (feel good) surge when someone likes our image.

I need to learn photography as I am not a creative type
If like me, you do not feel like you got the creative gene. I have great news, it is in all of us. As the world-famous photographer Chase Jarvis says, it is a muscle that should be exercised in a daily routine. Learn more in his new book 'Creative Calling'. Did you know Chase is actually an advocate for smartphone photography and trademarked the term 'The Best Camera Is The One That's With You.'

You have photography envy
All of us photo enthusiasts follow other photographers for inspiration and aspire to replicate exceptional images. Often, that leads to photography envy and disappointment when our images are far less impactful and engaging. This is often the turning point for many of us to take the step to learn photography through either a structured course or attending an in-person workshop.

Related article: Photography envy? It is all about strategic mobile editing
Improve your life-skills
Newly acquired photography skills can improve so many aspects of your life. An example is searching for different angles and perspectives in a photo. Imagine a conversation where you have a differing opinion than someone else. Photography teaches you that sometimes different perspectives can both produce amazing results. Photography helps you to keep an open mind and seek opportunities to learn.

Identify different perspectives
One transformational tip to better photos is capturing a different perspective. If you are capturing flowers, shoot inside the flower to see the stamen and pollen. Other options are from the side and even underneath.

Cerebral benefits
Both sides of the brain work together in photography. The left side is the logical thinking and the right side creativity. Applying photography guidelines on photo composition uses the logical techniques learned. Experimenting with different techniques, such as a low angle can produce creative images.

Analytical skills
As you edit an image, whether consciously or not, we are making decisions about what we are depicting. This improves decision-making skills and helps with problem-solving. If an image isn't improving the way we expect, then we make rational decisions to fix it. We step back and determine what is and isn't working in an image, what step to take next, and what it is we like about it.

Build confidence
Learning an art or any new skill builds confidence. Be mindful of not falling into the trap of seeking approval of your photos online. Visual medium platforms like Facebook and Instagram display your photos through an algorithm. Not everyone you expect to 'like' and comment on your photos may have seen your images. That little dopamine hit from a Like is not self-confidence. Confidence comes from enjoying your own art and the ongoing learning photography process.

Related article: Carole Walker shares the therapeutic benefits of smartphone photography

Self-expression
This is one that I did not before link to photography. I thought drawing was more about self-expression. Yet, how you photograph your subject choice and how you edit the final image is an act of self-expression. It reveals your interests and how you prefer to interact with the world. Me, I am an introvert. I would much rather photograph flowers than interacting with and posing people. I am a positive person and a perfectionist. This is possibly why I edit my photos to make the colours really pop and remove any imperfections in the petals!

Photography inspires imagination
If like me, creativity and imagination do not come easily. The great news is that creativity is like a muscle. It can be practised and developed! There is no such thing as not being a creative type. We all start out in life playing as children and having an imagination. Among the many genres of photography is compositing, combining many images. These blended images can be very creative, combining photography with surrealistic art.
Increased mental focus
Photography teaches us to pay attention to details, colour, shadow, light, lines, structure. Editing an image develops your ability to focus on a single task over a period of time. As we make adjustments we are continually making decisions during the entire process.

Related article: Frances Jack explains how therapeutic iPhone photography brings her joy and distraction

Develop patience
You are no doubt like the rest of us, distracted by all types of different stimuli, busy and in a hurry.

Photography forces you to slow down, prepare and even expect a photo opportunity. In street photography, I like to find a location, then wait for a person entering the scene. Having patience and waiting is better than walking around taking happy snaps.

Relieve stress
Focusing on a photographing a subject is a great way to 'let go' of your other worries. Becoming so immersed provides a temporary reprieve from your daily stresses. It will all be there when you are done! Then it's time to edit your photos and have another break from the stress!

Get the most out of that camera in your pocket
You may simply want to learn photography to get the most out of that existing camera in your handbag or pocket. The standard in-built camera is incredible. Did you know there are many camera replacement apps for your smartphone? They use the hardware and change the interface and software to create another camera. My little mind was blown away the first I discovered this. My favourite camera replacement app the Moment Pro Camera App. The Moment app allows manual control over the camera and integration to use the Moment lens accessories.

Photography can be a side business
Learning photography does not need to be a full-time career. If you choose to make some money from your hobby, there are opportunities. Your goal may be to fund a new smartphone each year!

One of my favourite recommendations is stock photo agencies. You can upload images using their app on your smartphone – foap, stockimo, eyeem and bylined.

Improve the photos in your business
Visuals for social media is very important for many small businesses. Customers expect you to be where they are searching. Google also rewards websites that have links to active social media accounts. You know your own behaviour on social media. We all scroll through and pause when someone of interest or relevance grabs our attention.

Learning photography on the smartphone is the most convenient and affordable way to consistently create these images. Creating a narrative to an image of relevance, evoke an emotional response and action of the customer is a very difficult task.

Photography helps you capture better video
Learning photography teaches you skills directly transferable to video. Recording loved ones. is incredibly valuable for years to come. Composition, lighting, focus and holding the camera steady all still apply.

Become a storyteller
One of the main elements you need in an engaging image is a strong subject. Other elements in the image provide supporting context to the scene. As you begin to deconstruct scenes and put them together, you start to view your images as a story. Learning photography has you questioning if the content in your scene 'adds to the story'. Does that distracting leaf in the flower photo add to the vibrant colours that caught your eye? Does the rubbish bin in that urban streetscape add to the story of the beautiful colours of the shop fronts?

Related article: Storytelling and photographic intention in smartphone photography

Be a mysterious storyteller
Creating mystery in your images is super fun and an easier way to evoke that inner creativity. The best stories are already in the mind of the viewer. Add just enough context for the viewer to use their experience and memories to 'fill in the blanks'. This creates their own unique interpretation and story.

Enhance your travel experience
When I travel, I am still amazed by the lack of 'big' cameras. Everyone is using their smartphone and for good reason. It is small, convenient and performs incredibly well for recording scenes in front of you.

Learning photography is so important to document your valuable travel photos. The smartphone is also unobtrusive to others travelling with you.

Become a more confident street photographer
The smartphone has done wonders for amateur street photographers. We can now get ourselves into locations in a way that is unobtrusive and discreet. Street photography is a fantastic genre to learn photography collectively. Great images require planning, equipment knowledge, accessories, etc.

Related article: Street art photography tips using your smartphone

Shoot amazing photos in difficult conditions
When travelling with family, it can be difficult to get out at optimal shooting times at dawn and sunrise.

You do not need to be disappointed in your travel photos. Instead, learning to embrace that middle of the day harsh sunlight. Learn black and white images to capture stunning images of people walking in and out of shadows.

Create better panoramic photos
The Pano mode on your smartphone is fantastic. The algorithms involved to avoid most optical distortions. Instinctively we have our arms outstretched and move our hands along the scene. Learning capture techniques will improve these images. The best quick tip is to hold your smartphone close to your body and pivot it on the single spot. Make sure you keep that arrow aligned with the line on the screen.

Blur the background like professional photographers
One of the reasons you want to learn photography on your smartphone is to replicate some of your favourite 'big' camera photos. One of the biggest advancements of the iPhone and Android smartphone was the ability to create a blurred background. This replicates the shallow depth of field that a 'big' camera can create through lens aperture.

Features called Portrait mode, Live Focus mode and others are now not only limited to multiple lens phones. The technology even allows you to adjust the amount of blur at the time of capture and when editing. If you do not have one of these smartphones, I have an article that will help here.

Related article: Blur the background on your Android & iPhone photos

Visual communication
Photography is a visual language. Graphic designers and visual merchandisers understand the power of visual communication. A well selected and placed colour, line in a scene moves our eye through a scene. Images have the power to evoke an emotional and even a physiological reaction! Photography like music has no language or cultural barriers.

Learn how to remove unwanted objects from the photo
Have you wanted to remove someone from a photo? A passer-by. Not suggesting you want to remove a known person from your photo! There is an app for that. There are many practical reasons for learning photography. You can remove unwanted objects using an app called TouchRetouch by Adva-Soft. The other option is to blur the image using one of these techniques.

Improve your understanding of the subject
Taking photographs allows us to better understand our subject matter. Knowing why we are photographing the subject helps us to better understand it. How we feel and respond to the subject also helps to deepen our understanding.

Photography can open doors to your other passions
Imagine someone (yourself?) who loves food and eating at Cafés. I used to train Café owners and staff to capture mouth-watering food images for their social media. You have no doubt heard of User Generated Content. Now, it is their customer who is providing images and social proof. Many are micro social media influencers who trade photos for a meal!

Learn how to take better photos at a distance
One of the struggles that I regularly hear when comparing the smartphone camera to the 'big' camera is the ability to capture images at a distance. You have likely pinched and zoomed on the screen to capture subjects at a distance and been disappointed. Learning photography techniques, you will realise this is just cropping the image at capture. The best option is to attach and smartphone lens attachment to extend the capability of your iPhone or Android smartphone camera.
Developing a photographic "eye"
Have you heard the terms 'chasing the light' or 'see the world photographically'? Learning photography helps to become acquainted with how light reflects and absorbs. A photographic eye also looks for tonal contrasts, proportions, relationships, and compositions.

I have had people tell me now they cannot enjoy a movie anymore! This is because they begin to analyse the directors choice of angles and shot contexts!

Learn how to take better night photos
One of the struggles that I regularly hear when comparing the smartphone camera to the 'big' camera is the low light capability. The latest smartphones are becoming exceptional as technology continues to advance at a fast pace. Not all of us are fortunate enough to have the latest and greatest equipment. Learning how to take better low light night photos involves some techniques that can be applied on any smartphone old or new. There are also image editing apps available to help remove noise and enhance your low light images.

Add a new skill to your CV
Almost every business now has an online presence, a website or social media. These all requiring quality visuals. It's a fair assumption that photography would be a desirable interest. As we all take photos, chances are your interviewer will enjoy photography too. Learning photography may be the difference to score that job!

Further enjoy your other hobbies
As you learn photography, you can pair photography seamlessly with your hobbies. Capture and share images of yourself or others enjoying other hobbies or sports.
Travel is another perfect hobby that perfectly matches photography.

Related article: 40 tips to take great travel photos using your smartphone

Make other people happy
Learning photography is not just about you. Sorry! Simply sharing your images you can evoke an emotion in someone else. Your photos can increase the enjoyment of activities for others. I quite often ask people in Cafes if I can take their photo for them on their phone. We often do not think or want to ask people to take photos of us. This also makes you feel good for doing something nice.

Notice the emotion and mood in people and scenes around you
I still remember feeling confused the first time someone said to me my photo needed more emotion. To explain what emotion means, let's look at an example. Recently at a wedding, I could see and feel that the new bride and groom surrounded by so much love. So, I searched for photo opportunities to capture love in peoples' interactions.
Capturing emotion in people in a frozen moment can be body language, hand gesture or eyes. The intensity of lighting or colours can even create emotion in your images.

See things that your eye cannot
One of my favourite genres is a long exposure. I love to create those moody silky smooth water and light trail shots. The smartphone can achieve these cool effects without extra filters and calculations. Other reality-bending opportunities are time lapses, super-slow motion, 360-degree images and HDR.

Surprise yourself with a new genre

Learning photography will encourage you to explore new techniques, new subjects and genres. Your challenge will likely be a creative rut. It happens to us all. This is because we become more self-critical of our own photos. One secret to getting breaking through the rut is to try new challenges. You may find yourself enjoying a new genre or editing style that you would not have considered. One that I found enjoyable was capturing black and white images of wilted flowers. That new subject gave me permission to try new moody editing styles.

Related article: Business Event Photography – on your Smartphone!

Give voice to movements and start conversations
If you have a passion for a cause, you can create and share more impactful images. Photos can be a powerful medium to start a conversation or promote a cause. We all remember images of the devastating fires in Australia. Learning photography helps to communicate the emotion of a story and encourage action.

Help others take better photos
Inspiring others to pick up a camera and shoot is wonderful!
Have you handed your phone over to a stranger to take your group photo? You can set up your camera for them to make it as simple as tap and capture. Learning photo editing means you know you can correct many things in editing!

Finally, a hobby introverts and extroverts can both enjoy!

Some of us deal with people every day and prefer to take photos of landscapes, nature. Well, anything that does not neede interacting with people. You know who you are! Others love meeting new people or observing human behaviour and enjoy street photography.

Become a life-long photography learner
As we get older, our interests can change. Personally, I travel more and now enjoy a newfound genre of street photography. This has required new skills to expect movement and handling difficult midday lighting.

Save time and money
Learning how to better capture and edit photos on your smartphone saves you time and money. Learning photography prevents going back to take more photos. You will save time better editing and sharing images directly on your phone. You will also dramatically improve your photography without needing to update your gear!

No need for expensive equipment
The biggest expense used to be the camera. Now, you already own one in your smartphone. Creative vision and basic technical knowledge are more important than buying a camera. You can find tutorials online. Yet, a structured course will explain not only how to use a tool, but it will also teach when and why you would use it. A great course facilitator requires a qualification in training design and adult education.

Related product: New wide-angle lens & circular polarising filter | Struman Optics Cinematic range

Avoid over-editing images
One of the mistakes many photo enthusiasts make when editing their images is over-editing. Of course, there is no right and wrong when it comes to photography. Your preference may not be to create natural-looking colours. You may prefer to 'over-cook' colours to make them more vibrant and stand out.

My quick tip is to apply an edit to your liking, then reduce the adjustment. You can always add more adjustment later if you need it. As you learn photo editing, you will discover some editing apps will degrade image quality with an incorrect editing sequence.

Create your own filters and editing style
A filter is a saved set of edits that can be applied to your photo in one tap. Learning how to strategically edit your images helps to identify which filters work best with which image. Filters also known as Presets are a great way to quicken your photo editing workflow. Some photo editing apps that offer filters are Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile, Pixelmator, Filmborn, RNI Films, Afterlight, PhotoToaster, and Mextures to name just a few!

Improve your editing workflow
Learning how to edit iPhone and Android smartphone photos on your device itself already speed up the editing workflow. My six-step photo editing process using Snapseed is super fast editing workflow that can be applied to almost any image. I typically start my edits this way before moving into more image specific editing.

Stop taking blurry images
Taking the step to learn photography often is a result of frustration in your images. One such frustration is blurry images. There are shooting techniques that help, such as holding the phone steady, remote shutter and sufficient lighting.

Related article: How to sharpen your images in Adobe Lightroom mobile app.

Remove the steep learning curve on your own
Are you learning photography through trial and error or watching YouTube tutorials? A structured course will accelerate your learning by providing relevant content in a systematic sequence. The lessons build on skills developed in previous lessons.

Edit images quickly with strategy
Learning how to take photos on your smartphone or 'big' camera is only the first step. The most important step is image editing. This is where you enhance the image to correct camera shortcomings and become creative. Learning how to strategically edit your image.

Identify the best photography apps
Both the Google Play store and Apple App store have thousands of photography apps. That said, I have less than a dozen that I use on a regular basis. Learning which apps to use saves a lot of wasted time downloading many free apps that are not worth the 'free' cost. You can learn my top-six photo editing apps for both iPhone and Android smartphone by signing up to my mailing list here.

Last, but not least: Develop a love for life
That is quite a large list to encourage you to further your passion by learning photography. The biggest one of all that I saved for last was developing a love for life. As a therapeutic experience, photography brings you fun, a deeper understanding of the beauty around you in your own world.

Passionate - Creative - Curious

- Mike
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