Live in the moment! Well some moments are best captured as they happen. Most of the time we have our iphones on hand not our DSLR camera’s.

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I love to use my DSLR for special occasions and planned events. So how do you capture the best shot you can with your iphone?

The below image was taken with an iphone 5s and then uploaded into my app then I placed the copy on to it and then a canvas was delivered to my door, all from the tap of my iphone.

I stood behind a screen which was backlit at a gallery to create the silhouette of my kids and I. As a graphic designer, I like to use my design fundamentals when taking shots.

Here are some of my top tips to taking great photos:

1) Minimise your background noise

What does this mean? Try and position the phone zoomed in if you have a busy background or move yourself to a position where you have less happening in the background so it focuses on the child/children. Keeping it minimal gives it so much more impact!

2) Composition

When taking the photo, it’s always important to frame the shot. Make things more interesting by not always centering things. Mix it up a bit and have your subject to the left or right giving the shot lots of clear space around it. The rule of two thirds usually helps too. You can position the shot within two thirds of the frame.

3) Time of day

If you are out and it’s close to sunset, this is when you want to grab your iphone and start shooting, as even mundane shots can look far more impressive. When images are shot with the sun behind your subject, is creates a silhouette form and makes it more dramatic.

4) Filters

Instagram filters can really create a photo that looks for more interesting. Try adjusting the contrast and brightness, this alone can create a much better image. I find with skin tones Crema and Valencia look good and Gingham looks great with the slightly faded image. Highlights and shadows are always handy to improve photos taken with bad lighting.

5) Natural smiles

I find the best way to get a great photo of kids is to not ask them to look at you or smile! Isn’t it always the way when you say those two things that they give you the wackiest smile! Try and just shoot a number of shots of the moment and capture their natural and true feelings expressed on their faces. These are always so much better than those fake smiles.

Do you have any tips to add to this list? Please SHARE in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com