Advice from an award-winning photographer on the secret to taking the best pictures on your iPad or tablet.
The best camera is the one you have with you, and for many of us, that’s a tablet. Not only are these sleek machines excellent for reading the news, communication and doing your daily puzzles, they're also a powerful photography tool.
Yes, you can point and shoot, and hope for the best. But if you just added a few of these tips and tricks to your arsenal for your landscape photography, family selfies, and food pics – then you can be sure you’re getting your best shot.
We’ve got expert tips from one of the UK’s top travel photographers Bella Falk to help you capture the moment perfectly on your tablet. Falk has won countless photography awards. worked for international publications and travelled to more than 70 countries. She's also a travel blogger at Passport and Pixels.
“Switch on the grid in your camera settings", says Falk. "This will help you to apply the rule of thirds for better composition, and will also help you keep your horizon straight.”
This grid works as a composition guideline that helps you to place and frame your subject. You should aim the subject to be on the crosshairs of the grid if you want well composed images that draw the viewer's eye.
Falk says, “The biggest mistake people make when using iPads (and phones too) is not cleaning the lens. Tablets get handled a lot, and smudged lenses mean blurry, hazy photos—so give it a quick wipe before you shoot.”
A soft, lint-free cloth (or your glasses wipe) will work wonders to ensure clear and vibrant imagery.
Play around with the different modes while focusing on the same subject to see the difference each can make.
The best photos are in focus with no unintentional blur. The easiest way to avoid motion blur is to keep the tablet as steady as possible.
If you can, prop it up against something for support. If not, find a way to rest your hands and arms on something to give it time to focus on your subject. It might take a bit longer but one good photo is better than five blurry ones.
If there’s no rest for your arms, then tuck them in tight to your body, rather than extending them out. This makes them steadier.
On most models you can use the volume button on the side of the machine as the shutter release, rather than the white button which can also help.
You can buy accessories to help you keep it stable, including tripods and handles to attach to the case.
GripTight™ GorillaPod® Stand PRO Tablet, Joby, RRP £79.95
TECHGEAR Utility Case with a handle, Amazon, RRP £19.99
Photography is essentially capturing the way the light falls on a subject. Have you heard of the Golden Hour?
This period before sunset is one of the best times to be out with your camera as the light bathes everything in a beautiful golden glow. The best photos utilise good natural light.
Balk has some tried and tested advice for when the light isn’t quite right though.
“If your subject is too dark or too bright, use the exposure slider next to the focus box to adjust the brightness for the subject,” she says.
“Low-light is where tablets struggle and most don’t have the same night mode that phones do, but you can still get decent shots with a few tricks”.
“If possible, position your subject where there is extra light such as a streetlamp or lit up window, or clip on a little portable light. The main thing is to hold the iPad steady and make sure you tap on the subject to focus - don’t just trust the iPad to get it right.”
“If you want to take photos at parties or at night, a small clip-on light can be really handy, and a Bluetooth remote shutter can be handy for selfies or group shots.
That said, iPad photography is about convenience, and lugging around a bunch of accessories defeats the point. If you find yourself needing a whole kit, you might as well bring a proper camera!”
Top tip: “Avoid zooming in digitally - it just boosts any noise or graininess that’s in the image,” says Falk.
“I wouldn’t use an iPad anywhere you need to be discreet,” says Falk. “Waving a giant screen around in a temple or in a concert where you will block other people’s view is disrespectful and may get you into trouble.”
“I wouldn’t recommend them for action shots or for close ups of things that are far away, so if you’re photographing wildlife or sports, you’re better off with a proper camera.
"And while iPads are okay for landscapes, if it’s really bright outside, the screen glare makes it hard to see what you’re doing, so composing a good shot can be tricky.”
We also wouldn’t recommend taking them anywhere near water!
The large screens on tablets are perfect for editing. Some of the best apps include:
It’s instinctive to just aim your camera out in front if you at eye level and click the button, but if you mix up the angles a little you might be surprised at the lift it gives your photography.
Practice with your food. Get high and aim the tablet down to capture the plate and the details on the table all in one photo.
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Now shoot from a little lower to make the food look epic, with a hero shot. Try even lower, so you're looking up at the food.
Then try going in close and tight, with a slight uplift to make the food look even grander, and more appetising. See the difference in the result?
If you're out and about you could try capturing the reflections of buildings and scenes in mirrors and puddles for a more interesting perspective.
There are many reasons why tablets are so favoured among our community.
You don’t need to have the latest model though. Apple iPads may be the most infamous, but there are many more options for lower budgets. Read our guide to the best tablets on the market before you commit.
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