5 genres of smartphone photography that outperform DSLR cameras

However, there are some genres of photography that smartphones actually handle better than DSLR cameras.

1. Take portrait photos

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Portrait photography is not as simple as pointing a camera at someone and taking a photo. Instead, you need to capture the essence of a person in a moment. Whether through capturing genuine emotions evident on their faces or some other innate quality that reveals their soul to the outside world.

Smartphones allow you to do that by removing the barrier between you and your audience. Taking a portrait of someone with a DSLR feels very formal, while using the same equipment your subject uses every day will make them feel more familiar. They can then express genuine emotions, helping to improve your portrait photography skills.

2. Take travel photos

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Travel photography is all about showing off the place you are visiting and documenting your trip. That means documenting the people, places, and cultures you encounter on that trip. When trying to take great travel photos, you should aim to capture the spirit of the place you're visiting in some way.

Similar to portrait photography, travel photography benefits from eliminating a bulky camera. Either way, you'll always have your phone with you, meaning it's always ready whenever you get a chance to record something on your trip. Although the quality may not be very good, the ability to take photos anytime, anywhere is hard to beat.

3. Street photography

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Street photography depends on the photographer and the space. That's the only way to capture realistic photos, which is the essence of street photography. Although people are key to street photography, they are not necessarily the center of the image; instead, their movement through the street scene you are photographing can create the mood you are trying to capture.

To truly capture a street scene as it happens, the photographer needs to blend into the background. The more present and visible you are, the less likely you are to capture the hustle and bustle of city life unfolding before your eyes. No one will even realize you are holding a smartphone, while people will often turn to look when someone is taking a photo with a DSLR camera.

4. Take photos of the food

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Food photography has exploded along with the use of social media, with more people than ever wanting to show off what they are enjoying. Therefore, this is the most suitable genre for shooting on smartphones. After all, while most people don't carry a DSLR camera with them everywhere, a smartphone is almost always in their pocket.

The best camera to use in every situation is the one you always have with you. And when you go out to eat a great meal and post it on Instagram, the camera you're most likely to have with you is the one attached to your smartphone. While you can take your DSLR camera out to dinner and take it out to take photos of your food, using a smartphone is much more appropriate.

5. Abstract photography

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Abstract photography is often considered the province of serious photographers, as the average point-and-shoot photographer is unlikely to have the creative eye needed to capture a more unusual perspective on the world. However, owning a smartphone with a good camera will open up opportunities for everyone.

With this particular category, the small size and stature of smartphones will make it superior to DSLR cameras. And, like the other genres discussed here, the fact that you'll probably have your smartphone camera at hand when an interesting photo comes along is the point.

Marvin Fry

Update 03 August 2024