Ayup! Your mobile is designed to perpetually rob you of your time, attention and sanity. If you plan to use it for photography, pings, bings and dings will instantly hinder your workflow.
From emails and reminders to updates and notifications. It can get pretty full-on. Before you know it, your mind is well and truly off course. Yep, you’ve just missed a perfectly good photo opportunity.
The worst thing is, you won’t even know you missed it. The screen, our overlord, won’t let you look away for long enough to realise.
And that’s before we even consider the watch that’s going apeshit on your wrist. Lob that in the nearest canal. Let’s regain some much-needed consciousness and purpose.
Smartphone photography involves more than grabbing that iPhone or Google Pixel, turning on the camera, and pointing it in the right direction. To take great photos with a smartphone, you’ll need to think about a variety of elements, including composition, lighting, and exposure settings.
Just Get a Camera
You could certainly argue that to shoot with purpose, you need a real camera. A fair and valid point, which I’d partially agree with. But those who take photography seriously, even on mobile, can still tap into the mindful state that focus and purpose bring.
Some folks prefer the convenience of an iPhone (me). Some can’t really afford the camera gear they’d like (also me). Others enjoy seeing what these tiny little sensors are capable of (also, also me). Whatever your reason for shooting with a mobile, here’s how I get it done: silence, intention, mindfulness and transformation.
Silence
In more ways than one, I like to invite silence into my time spent taking photos. First and foremost, you’ll need to find a way to reduce, or even completely disable, any distractions on your phone.
This will look different for everyone depending on your circumstances. Most people need to be available by phone and text, at the very least. That said, you could consider setting up a focus mode. This allows you to control what comes through, and more importantly, what doesn’t.
For me, removing all social media apps from my phone was the most important progression. Even with notifications disabled, you’re always tempted to mindlessly scroll. It won’t be for everyone, but trust me when I say: life is better without constant access to these platforms.
Secondly, I love to use my photography trips as quiet time away from anyone I know. Probably more of an introvert thing, but I find it really helps clear my head. This way, I’m free to focus on one thing, and one thing only: taking photos.
By minimising external distractions, we can focus more effectively on the tasks that are important to us, fostering creativity and facilitating problem-solving. This mental clarity not only aids in decision-making but also contributes to a greater sense of personal fulfillment.
Intention
Two forms of intention are also required when it comes to mobile photography. Initially, the intent to head out with the sole purpose of taking photos. Then, at your location, a direct focus on subjects, light, and composition. The intention to create something that you connect with as a photographer.
In fact, I’d go as far as saying this is the most important step. If you shoot with intention, you’re shooting with purpose. It’s a simple mindset shift that transforms a simple walk into a photo mission.
It’s important that you treat your phone like a camera in the moments you’re either trying to improve your photography or capture more meaningful photos. Take your time, slow down, and put thought into the images you’re composing.
Mindfulness
Next up, let’s take a moment to talk about mindfulness. Some photographers consider it a vital part of their practice; others not so much. The truth is, as soon as you devote all of your attention to a single task, you’re exploring mindfulness.
Personally, I’ve never been able to stick to a meditation routine for very long. I’ve witnessed and recognised the benefits, though. Leaning into mindfulness with photography is about the next best thing for me.
This all ties in perfectly with purpose. Yes, it’s far from being exclusive to mobile photography, but it certainly helps when you channel your concentration. Being mindful of both your surroundings and what you want to capture will directly feed your purpose.
Check out Still, by Paul Sanders for more on mindful photography. Fun fact: most of the photos in the book were taken on a mobile.
Contemplative photography brings contentment not only with your photography but also in the broader sense. This is because the better you become at observing the world around you, the more you will appreciate how rich life is.
Paul Sanders – From the book, Still
Transformation
Lastly, purposeful mobile photography doesn’t stop once you’ve captured a few shots you’re happy with. Oh no. The journey has only just begun. For an image to really mean something and express your vision, the edit is where the magic happens.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. Depending on how you work, a shot taken on a mobile won’t usually be your finished image. It needs your creative direction to come to life. This is the fundamental difference between an average photo and something you can be truly proud of.
Again, this will be a completely different process and approach for everyone. But experimenting with techniques and refining your style will only ever lead to better work. It’s all about the edit!
Photography is a form of artistic expression. Man Ray, Annie Leibovitz, Cindy Sherman, pick any famous photographer – including your favorite Instagram photographer – and they will have their own style. Now, style involves a lot more than just editing, but taking back control of how your images look, by not relying on AI algorithms, is a good start.
Mindset = Purpose
Shooting with purpose on a mobile is easily achievable with the right mindset. If we start treating our phones more like a dedicated camera, many of the distractions and disadvantages can be removed. The formula that I’ve tweaked over the years focuses on:
- Silence
- Intention
- Mindfulness
- Transformation
It’s not perfect. I still get sidetracked and lose concentration, but it’s a solid foundation. Anyone on a mission to capture worthy photos with their mobile already works with purpose. I guess sometimes we just need to channel it towards our photography goals. Come to think of it, having something to work towards probably should have been on this list. Ah well, save that one for another post.