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4 Reasons Why You Need a Tripod for Smartphone Photography
While you can take many types of smartphone photos handheld, some circumstances will require a tripod. I’ll discuss four scenarios where you need a tripod for your smartphone photography. A flat surface may suffice, but a tripod will help you get a better photo.
Windy or Cold Weather
I know all about how difficult it can be to capture photos when the wind is howling or the temperature plummets below freezing. For example, it was 17.6ºF during my trip to Norway in February 2018, which made it impossible to capture shots without my hands quickly becoming cold, and taking photos on a smartphone is very difficult with gloves.
When you’re cold or when it’s windy, your body moves more—especially if you aren’t dressed for the weather. This introduces camera shake, which can make your photos look worse. Putting your smartphone on a tripod will nullify this problem.
Another benefit of using a tripod when it’s cold is that you don’t need to use your hands as much and can keep your gloves on. Consider buying a camera remote trigger, and have a look at my interesting winter photography ideas before you head out.
: Tips To Improve Your iPhone Travel Photos (unbranded - Lifestyle)
Self-Portraits
If you fancy trying some creative self-portrait photoshoots, you’ll need a tripod to take pictures of yourself. You will also need a camera remote and put your smartphone on a timer.
You can use a tripod for self-portraits inside and outdoors, and it’s a great travel companion, too. If you need a tripod for outdoor self-portraits, consider durability and practicality. To get you started, we’ve compiled some of the best phone tripods for capturing the perfect moment.
Low-Light Situations
Considering that light is the essence of photography, capturing images in low-light situations is challenging, to say the least. Most smartphone cameras aren’t on the same level as full cameras, they need several features before they can beat DSLR and mirrorless device. For this reason, taking good photos in low-light conditions is harder on a smartphone.
A tripod will make it much easier to capture great photos at night or indoors when you have little natural light. Your phone will remain stable as a result, reducing the chances of a blurry image through camera shake. This is especially important as some mobile devices default to longer shutter speeds.
If you’re going to snap photos in a low-light setting, see my guide on how to take good photos in low lighting with your smartphone.
Long-Exposure Photography
Regardless of whether you use a smartphone or camera, long-exposure photography is one of the hardest art forms to master. Because your camera needs to capture light for extended periods, a tripod is non-negotiable.
Many modern smartphones will let you set a two-second shutter speed, and the iPhone 15 will even let you take images from your back camera with a five-second speed. After tapping the capture button (again, a remote is useful here), step away from your device and let it do the rest.
If long-exposure photography is something you want to get into, I’d still recommend buying a proper camera for more flexibility. If you do that, you may need a separate tripod— check out these things to consider before buying a tripod.
Don’t worry if your idea of tripods is lugging around huge camera bags and heavy equipment. Most modern tripods, especially ones designed for smartphones, are lightweight and compact. If you’re going to take photos in any of the above scenarios, you should strongly consider purchasing one.
