So often, we do things intuitively without any thought. Taking photos on your smartphone is no different. This was an interesting exercise to pause and start noting the different observations and decisions pre-photo. It is kind of a photo checklist that I did not realise that I was doing. I have compiled the list and included related articles and videos that expand on each tip.

The list…

1. Clean the lens

The first thing you check is when your images are starting to become blurry!

Check out this YouTube video on the best way to clean the lens

2. What is my subject or photo intention?

Taking the time to stop and think about your motivation for taking the photo will help you to make it clearer in the image. It will also encourage you to think about how to best make it clear to the viewer.

3. Am I close enough to emphasise the subject and still capture the context?

Keeping the surrounding area in the image contributes to the story being told in the scene. If you are cropped closer, it becomes all about the finer details.

4. Should I hold the phone vertically or horizontally?

If, like me, you view your photos on a TV screen, then vertical images are going to have extra blank sections on the side. Some images definitely should be vertical.

5. Is the background clutter-free and distant enough to provide depth?

Isolating the subject against a busy background will minimise the chance of the viewers' attention wandering, looking at everything else in the image. If you are using the portrait mode or another app to artificially blur the background, they are much more effective when there is a distance between the subject and the background.

6. What is the light quality, direction and intensity?

You may not notice images that have beautiful lighting. You sure notice the bad lighting images. This could be a strong overhead light that casts a shadow over a face.

7. Does an alternative height or angle create a more interesting perspective?

We all experience life at eye level! Sometimes, even the most common scene can become instantly more interesting and intriguing by simply capturing it from an alternative angle. Low angles of children and pets become much more intimate. It is also fun getting down to their level and looking at the world from their perspective.

8. How does this scene make me feel? Create mood through light, colour and composition?

Bright sunshine can contradict a scene that has a more dramatic and gloomy subject matter. Conversely, an overcast day can make it more difficult to evoke a fun, energetic sun-loving activity.

Do you have a style in your photography - preference for a particular scene, subject, equipment choice, capture or editing process?

9. Where is the subject positioned, and how do they interact with other elements in the frame?

If there is movement in the image, do I have enough active space? This is space ahead of the subject.

10. Should I use the rule of thirds or an alternative compositional technique?

The rule of thirds is a basic compositional technique to place the main subject off-centre vertically, horizontally or both. This is one of the most commonly applied techniques in my photography checklist.

11 Are there available leading lines existing in the photo opportunity?

Scenes can have naturally occurring or introduced lines to attract and direct the attention of the viewer.

12. How does my eye flow through the scene? Are there distractions pulling my attention the wrong way?

Controlling their attention is a great way of directing them through the scene to help communicate the story. Any leading lines that are not recognised in the scene could potentially lead the viewer straight out of the photo onto the next, more interesting image!

13. Do I need to override the auto mode and use a camera replacement app to access manual control?

Low light, long exposure or macro photography can all benefit from using a camera replacement app to override the standard camera on your phone. These apps use the existing hardware and use different software to provide manual control or automatically blend multiple images. These can produce stunning computational photography results.

14. Would this be a great opportunity to use the portrait, live focus or another mode available on my smartphone?

These modes create an artificially blurred background and, in some cases, a bokeh effect that is typically found in the 'big' cameras.

Sometimes we do not have the luxury of time to consider all the tips raised in this photography checklist. Luckily, many can be applied after the photo was captured in mobile photo editing.

15. Is a tack-sharp focus critical in the photo?

One of the most common issues smartphone photo enthusiasts face is blurry images. This could be the first step, cleaning the lens or taking the step of tapping the screen to focus. Some smartphones will allow you to digitally zoom in, long-press the screen to lock the focus and zoom out again.

16. Do I need to shoot in RAW for extensive editing or printing, or is JPEG file format sufficient (95% of the time)

If you want to capture images in the RAW DNG file format, my recommendation is to use the Adobe Lightroom CC app. It is available for free on the Google Play and App Store.

17. Is this intended to be a black and white image?

If so, set the phone to display black and white as you capture the image. This will help you tremendously to identify which scenes have the lines, texture and dynamic range to look stunning as a black and white image before you take the photo.

18. Do I need to use a tripod or a lens attachment?

A tripod offers stability to avoid camera movement and image blur. Some can be quite small, compact and perfect for travel. Lens attachments can extend the capability, versatility and creativity of your images. These include macro, wide, fisheye and fixed zoom lenses.

19. Do I need this photo?

Are you like me and have a massive, growing library of images that I am never going to look at again? As part of the pre-shoot checklist, we have already identified the photographic intention. That is great, do you need the photo though? Sometimes, it is better to just put your phone away and enjoy the moment.

20. You check the photo and are not initially satisfied. Do you need to check the list of questions again?

As you become more experienced and shoot regularly, you start to implement many of these tips instinctively. When the photo does not look as great as you imagined, it may then be time to take a moment and think through the steps again.

The above photography checklist does look extensive. You most likely have already noticed a couple of points that you instinctively consider. I know, there are so many more for specific genres.

20-Question Pre-Photo Photography Mental Checklist

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20-Question Pre-Photo Photography Mental Checklist

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