How to Take Better Architectural Photos with Your Smartphone

Architectural photography is a big passion for many people, but it also poses some challenges. Different textures can look strange on smartphones, and it can be difficult to take unique photos around famous landmarks. However, there are some tricks that can be used to take better architectural photos.

1. Take wide angle photos of multiple buildings

When you think of architectural photography, you think primarily of shooting a single building, right? If so, rethink your approach. If you tend to shoot multiple buildings in your smartphone photos, then shooting wide makes perfect sense.

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Smartphone camera lenses are usually wide-angle by default, but if you can, zoom out further than the default. For example, when shooting on an iPhone, detail often looks much better at 0.5x than normal. This is a game-changer when shooting skylines in particular.

You should also think about how buildings fit together. For example, if there is architecture on either side of a street, look for symmetry. Use many of the photography rules to enhance your smartphone photography (including architectural photography), such as straight lines.

2. Include water in photos when possible

Include canals and rivers in your photos, especially if the buildings are reflected in the water. Many people like to photograph harbor areas along the coast for this exact reason; the sea often balances things out beautifully.

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You can approach it in a number of ways. While some people may want to adopt a more Wes Anderson-style minimalist frame, others may go the complete opposite route and include as much as possible. The only thing to remember is to stop and think about the scene before taking the photo.

3. Take pictures of colorful buildings

Certain colors make a big difference. When traveling, try to find beautiful scenery with colorful buildings. Another benefit is that these colors often complement each other, which means you can apply color theory automatically.

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Sometimes, try taking photos of colorful buildings from a wide angle. However, you can also take photos of multiple buildings side by side, get closer, and point your camera up. Another favorite composition is when all the rooftops are the same color.

4. Look for unique angles and patterns

Sticking to one vantage point is one of the biggest mistakes to avoid in urban photography, and this is especially true for architectural photography. Try to explore every possibility. Even if you see the same building multiple times, you will likely find a unique angle that you wouldn't normally notice.

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In addition to looking up, you can photograph buildings from their angles. Another alternative to consider is to photograph just one part of the building – for example, you might photograph just a church spire or a skyscraper's antenna. Some buildings also have tiles and other textures that are worth photographing.

5. Turn on camera grid

You should enable a camera grid for all types of smartphone photography, but it's especially important when shooting architectural photography. Trying to predict what a building will look like on your phone is difficult and often results in suboptimal results because of this.

Turning on a camera grid only takes a few seconds, but the benefits are huge. If you plan on using different compositions, turning on a camera grid will also make things a lot easier. Knowing the best smartphone camera grid will also help you take your photography game to the next level.

6. Shape analysis

Even the most boring buildings have interesting shapes that are worth analyzing. The window patterns vary; many modern structures have fresh layouts, while older buildings often have a charm that cannot be replicated. Balconies are also fun to photograph.

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You should also look at different door shapes and consider how you can make them look more interesting. Roof shapes can also be interesting and you should also look for bold exteriors like stacked cubes.

7. Include people in architectural photos

Although architectural photography is very different from street photography, it is still interesting to sometimes include people in a photo where the building is the main focus. However, reduce their scale in architectural photography. Doing so makes it easier to show how small they are compared to the structure.

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Many photographers like to include people in architectural photos because they help tell a better story. This is especially true in busy cities or popular tourist locations. Doing so automatically gives a unique perspective.

8. Change phone filter depending on architecture type

The photo filters on your smartphone make a big difference depending on the lighting conditions, but they're also good for shooting different types of architecture. For example, if you want to take photos of colorful buildings, use Vivid to make them look more colorful. Meanwhile, architectural photos taken on rainy days will look better with a more dramatic filter.

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On the other hand, it is advisable to experiment with warmer or cooler tones for modern buildings. Depending on the lighting in the photo, along with the color of the building itself. Besides using camera filters, you can also use many mobile apps that offer creative photo effects.

While taking architectural photos with your smartphone can be challenging, there are a few things you can do to make them better. Turning on a camera grid is an easy solution, but you should also consider the different filters available on your phone. And finding unique angles will help you take more interesting photos than everyone else.

Lesley Montoya

Update 20 December 2024