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Smartphone Photography

iPhone, Android, Instagram & more!

4.2 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Based on 113 ratings
see reviews
Omid Scheybani

All of us carry around smartphones, but only very few people are truly capable to make good use of the camera. Too often I see people taking pictures on their smartphone that are just boring, uncreative, and at best, meh.

Read more

All of us carry around smartphones, but only very few people are truly capable to make good use of the camera. Too often I see people taking pictures on their smartphone that are just boring, uncreative, and at best, meh.

This is why I have created this smartphone photography class in which I want to share with you the skills that allowed me to build an audience of 30,000+ followers and get to license my photographs to brands like Apple, AirBnB, or UPS, or publish photography books and host photo exhibitions. I want you to truly step up your smartphone photography game, to the point that people won't believe that you took those pictures on a smartphone.

Over the course of this course, which has been recorded in real world settings, I will teach you all you need to know to become an skilled smartphone photographer and take and edit pictures that are not only beautiful to look at, but also tell a story that reaches and touches your audience.

The course consists of the following 6 chapters:

  1. Introduction: I will share some of my philosophies and thoughts on how to think about smartphone photography and how to develop your own style. I want to help you be more thoughtful about what makes your pictures uniquely yours.

  2. Your camera: You won't be able to master your smartphone camera if you don't fully understand it. Let me walk you through some of its most important features. Yes, some of those features are basic, but mastering those is what can help set you apart.

  3. Composition: This is where I will teach you specific techniques on how to make your pictures more visually appealing. Basically how your pictures can stand out creatively. This is what will allow your pictures to move from "oh, nice" to "oh, wow".

  4. Street Photography: Do you always need permission to take pictures of people? I will teach you the ins and outs of street photography and how to capture the hustle and bustle of life on the streets. It takes time to get a handle for this, but I'll share my secrets with you.

  5. Editing: Taking a picture is half the rent. Editing it is the other half. Watch me edit pictures and share my thought process with you as I do. I will walk you through my edits step-by-step. You will see how some digital touches can really elevate a picture.

  6. Audience Engagement: I will share my thoughts and experience on how to engage with your audience and how to be a great visual storyteller. After all, each picture has a story to be told, and you want to be thoughtful of how you share those stories.

Again, I am very excited to welcome you to this class.  

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to replicate professional photography with your iphone or android camera
  • How to take stunning photos by with thoughtful and creative composition techniques
  • How to optimize your phone settings for taking the best photos
  • How to take more impactful photos of people (portrait or street), architecture, landscapes and more
  • How to professionally edit photos with vsco (free) on your phone
  • How to utilize props and surrounding conditions like light and shadows to highlight your subjects
  • How to build an audience and "stoytell" your pictures to them

Syllabus

At the end of this section you will have an understanding of who this course is for, the content it covers, and why it focuses on smartphone cameras only!
Read more

Welcome to my smartphone photography class. My name is Omid and I am a World Culture Storyteller.

Thanks for joining my class where you will learn everything about shooting great photos with your smartphone!

This course has 6 in-depth chapters, each of which is taught in a practical manner. Please visit and review the FAQs to learn more about who this course is for and what the content is that we cover in it.

A brief summary of who I am, where I am from, and how I ended up learning (and now teaching) smartphone photography!

Many topics in this class evolve around the question of "what's your style?" I have worked on my own style over the course of many years, and a lot of what I am teaching in this class is based on the style that I have developed (spoiler alert: it's not fashion photography!).

It does not matter if you just got started or have been doing photography for a while now. This course is for anyone who is looking to take their smartphone photography to the next level.

Curious about what we will cover? Let me give you a broad overview of the topics we will touch on during the course of this smartphone photography class. It's a lot! 

This course has a total of six big chapters. Let me tell you what I want you to learn from this smartphone photography class.

The smartphone camera is a camera you will ALWAYS have with you. So why not learn to master it and make the most out of those 95% of situations when a smartphone camera is actually perfectly fine?

In this first chapter of my smartphone photography class we sit down in one of my favorite Shanghai Cafés to talk about my overall approach towards photography. I want to give you a guideline for developing your own philosophy, I answer some questions about my general approach to photography, and share with you how I shape my own vision.

In this lecture we talk about:

  • What is photography?

  • Who do YOU follow?

  • How to find good photographers?

  • What is your style?

  • How to envision a picture.

  • The idea of being rather sorry than safe!

Before going out to shoot great pictures – no matter what camera you have – you need to know your gear and how to handle its strengths and weaknesses. Let me guide you through my technical tips on how to get the most out of your smartphone camera and warn you of those common mistakes that can ruin a great shot.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Lens, smears, and the number one reason why pictures get ruined

  • Learning how to use manual and automatic focus

  • Adjusting and correcting exposure

  • How to use HDR for high contrast pictures

  • "Portrait Mode" and how to use it best

  • and so much more

Composition is one of the most important things when it comes to making a good photograph. So let's talk about all the aspects that you need to think about when taking great smartphone pictures. I will discuss and explain a lot of different ideas and concepts that will help you create more appealing and interesting photographs.

Follow me onto the streets of Shanghai to see how I approach people and do street photography. Do I ask for permission or not? And what are the best techniques to capture that one perfect moment? Watch me wander through the streets, engaging with my surroundings and even get pulled into a card game with complete strangers. I want to help you become more comfortable with the idea of taking pictures of people on the street. That's where photography is the most authentic and rawest.

Taking great pictures is only one side of being a great smartphone photographer. In the post-production we can elevate your pictures to the next level. In this chapter I will walk you through how I edit pictures and explain my steps to you one-by-one. You can follow along since I capture and share every step detailed on the screen.

Taking great photos is not enough to build an audience. You also have to engage your audience. Here I'd like to share with you some of my thoughts on how to build an audience over time.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches techniques to capture visually appealing photos, which can help learners create more engaging content for social media or personal projects
Explores composition techniques, which are essential for creating visually appealing photographs that stand out from the crowd
Examines street photography, which may require learners to be mindful of local laws and regulations regarding photographing people in public spaces
Covers editing techniques using VSCO, which is a popular mobile app that may require a subscription for advanced features
Develops skills in audience engagement, which are useful for building a following and sharing visual stories effectively
Explores camera settings and features, which can help learners understand how to optimize their smartphone's capabilities for photography

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive smartphone photography

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in smartphone photography, particularly excelling in teaching composition techniques and offering practical, real-world examples. Many students found the instructor's approach inspiring and passionate, making the learning experience enjoyable. While the course is widely seen as great for beginners looking to elevate their phone photos beyond simple snapshots, some learners noted that the technical and editing sections could be more in-depth or cover a wider range of tools beyond the primarily featured VSCO app. The focus on storytelling and audience engagement was mentioned as a unique and valuable addition by some.
Editing section is helpful but limited.
"The step-by-step VSCO editing demos were very useful for learning that app."
"While the VSCO editing was helpful, I wish other editing apps were covered too."
"I appreciated learning how to edit on mobile, though focusing on just one app felt limiting."
"The editing part was clear, but maybe too basic if you already use mobile editing apps."
"Good for those who use VSCO or want to learn it, but not comprehensive for editing generally."
Excellent starting point for novices.
"This course is perfect for anyone just starting out with smartphone photography."
"It covers all the basics you need to know in an easy-to-understand way."
"As a beginner, I found this course incredibly helpful and not at all intimidating."
"Great introduction to key concepts for someone with no prior photo experience."
"Provides a strong fundamental understanding for newcomers."
Practical examples are highly useful.
"Seeing the instructor shoot and edit in real-world settings was fantastic."
"The street photography examples and commentary were very practical and inspiring."
"I loved the demos where he showed exactly how he takes a shot in different situations."
"Applying the concepts through practical demos made them much easier to grasp."
"The course benefits greatly from being filmed on location."
Instructor is inspiring and passionate.
"Omid is a very passionate and talented photographer and makes it very easy to follow along"
"He was super passionate about photography, it was interesting to hear about his journey."
"I was impressed by Omid's passion and real-life examples; his teaching style is very engaging."
"The instructor's enthusiasm is contagious and genuinely motivating."
"His passion really comes through and makes you want to go out and shoot."
Composition section is highly valuable.
"The course's strength lies in its clear explanations of composition rules and techniques."
"Learning about composition alone was worth taking this class for me."
"I learned so much about how to compose a shot better; it made a huge difference."
"The composition module provided actionable tips that immediately improved my photos."
"The chapter on composition is particularly strong and well-explained."
May be too basic for experienced photographers.
"If you're already an experienced photographer, this course might feel a bit introductory."
"I was hoping for more advanced techniques, but it primarily covered fundamentals."
"Good for refreshers, but didn't offer much new for someone with prior knowledge."
"Could use more in-depth coverage on advanced camera settings or complex editing workflows."
"Better suited for beginners than those looking to refine existing skills."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Smartphone Photography | iPhone, Android, Instagram & more! with these activities:
Review Basic Photography Principles
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental photography concepts before diving into smartphone-specific techniques. This will provide a solid foundation for understanding how to apply these principles using a smartphone camera.
Browse courses on Aperture
Show steps
  • Read articles or watch videos explaining aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
  • Practice adjusting these settings (if your phone allows) in different lighting conditions.
  • Review composition techniques like the rule of thirds and leading lines.
Read 'National Geographic Complete Guide to Photography'
Gain a broader understanding of photography principles that apply to all cameras, including smartphones. This will enhance your ability to apply the course's teachings effectively.
View National Geographic Traveler Scotland 4th... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read chapters on composition, lighting, and exposure.
  • Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
  • Try applying these techniques with your smartphone camera.
Experiment with Composition Techniques
Solidify your understanding of composition by actively practicing different techniques. This will improve your ability to create visually appealing and engaging smartphone photos.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific composition technique (e.g., rule of thirds, leading lines).
  • Take at least 10 photos using that technique in different settings.
  • Review your photos and identify what worked well and what could be improved.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Photo Series on a Theme
Apply your knowledge of smartphone photography techniques to create a cohesive photo series. This will challenge you to think creatively and develop your own visual storytelling style.
Show steps
  • Choose a theme for your photo series (e.g., 'Urban Life,' 'Nature's Beauty').
  • Plan and take at least 5 photos that relate to your chosen theme.
  • Edit your photos to create a consistent look and feel.
  • Share your photo series on social media or a photography platform.
Build a Photography Portfolio
Showcase your best smartphone photography work in a professional portfolio. This will help you build your brand and attract potential clients or collaborators.
Show steps
  • Select your best 10-15 smartphone photos.
  • Create a website or use a portfolio platform (e.g., Behance, Adobe Portfolio).
  • Write a brief artist statement about your photography style and goals.
  • Share your portfolio with your network and solicit feedback.
Read 'The Photographer's Eye' by Michael Freeman
Deepen your understanding of composition and design to create more impactful smartphone photos. This book provides valuable insights into how to arrange elements within your frame to create visually appealing images.
View The Photographer's Eye Digitally Remastered... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read chapters on different compositional techniques (e.g., balance, perspective, rhythm).
  • Analyze the composition of your favorite photos and identify the techniques used.
  • Experiment with different compositional techniques when taking photos with your smartphone.
Help Others with Smartphone Photography
Reinforce your knowledge by teaching others about smartphone photography. Explaining concepts to others will solidify your understanding and identify any gaps in your knowledge.
Show steps
  • Offer to help friends or family members improve their smartphone photography skills.
  • Share tips and techniques you've learned from the course.
  • Answer questions and provide feedback on their photos.

Career center

Learners who complete Smartphone Photography | iPhone, Android, Instagram & more! will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Social Media Content Creator
A social media content creator develops engaging posts, and this course will help you create high-quality visual content using only a smartphone. This role involves producing content that attracts and retains followers, and the course's focus on composition, editing, and audience engagement is exceptionally helpful. Learning to take and edit compelling images using a smartphone can provide a competitive edge, as well as the technical skills to use your smartphone camera and editing suite. The course places an emphasis how to share those stories and reach a large audience.
See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Content Creator
Freelance Photographer
As a freelance photographer, you need a deep understanding of how to capture stunning images in various settings, skills that this course helps you develop using only a smartphone. This role requires the ability to meet client needs, whether for portraits, street photography or even product shots. This course can help aspiring freelance photographers master composition, editing, and working in different environments. The course includes instruction on engaging an audience to improve your professional brand, while providing the skills to take impactful photographs.
See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Photographer
Marketing Specialist
A marketing specialist develops campaigns and materials, and this coursework could improve their ability to produce eye-catching visuals on a budget using only a smartphone. This role involves creating content that resonates with target demographics, and the course provides a solid foundation in visual storytelling, composition, and editing. Using a smartphone for image capture offers flexibility and cost savings, and this course focuses on how to create high-quality visuals using just a smartphone. Learning to use a smartphone to create compelling photos can be a real advantage.
See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Specialist
Blog Content Creator
A blog content creator produces engaging material on a variety of topics, and this course provides skills to create accompanying images. This role requires the ability to craft visually appealing content that captures the attention of readers, and the course's emphasis on composition, editing and visual storytelling is extremely helpful. Having the ability to create your own striking photographs for your blog can help it stand out. This course offers a practical approach to smartphone photography, that can expand your blog's appeal.
See salaries and explore the career path for Blog Content Creator
Visual Merchandiser
A visual merchandiser creates displays that attract customers, and this course can improve their ability to document and analyze those displays using phone-based photography. This role involves knowing how to make products look appealing, and this course on composition and editing may be useful. The ability to capture high-quality photographs is important for visual merchandising, and the course's focus on how to use your smartphone camera may be useful for someone in this position. The course can add a new dimension to a visual merchandiser's approach.
See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Merchandiser
Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent markets properties, and this course will help you learn to take photographs for listings using your smartphone. This role benefits from the ability to create compelling images of properties, and the course's focus on composition, lighting, and editing is very useful. Knowing how to use your smartphone to capture a space's best features can help attract buyers and differentiate your listings. This smartphone photography course can be a great way to improve your property photography on a budget.
See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Agent
Travel Blogger
A travel blogger documents their experiences, and this kind of course can provide the ability to capture high-quality images with your smartphone. This role involves presenting your travels in an engaging visual manner, and the course’s emphasis on composition, street photography, and editing is extremely helpful. Learning to tell visual stories with your smartphone can greatly enhance your blog's appeal. By teaching you how to take and edit photos in real world settings, where travel bloggers typically find themselves, and this course can help you start your career.
See salaries and explore the career path for Travel Blogger
Restaurant Reviewer
A restaurant reviewer evaluates and shares their dining experiences, and this kind of course will help them capture compelling photos with their smartphone. This role requires the ability to take visually appealing photos of food and restaurant environments, and the course's instruction of composition, lighting, and editing is relevant. Learning to take captivating photos using your smartphone can enhance the impact of restaurant reviews. This course helps you create images that speak to your audience.
See salaries and explore the career path for Restaurant Reviewer
Event Planner
An event planner manages and organizes events, and this course can help you capture photos of events for promotion. This role involves the ability to take and edit event photographs, and the course's instruction on composition, lighting, and editing can be very useful. Learning smartphone photography can improve your ability to document events and share visual experiences, as well as the ability to create professional-looking photography with your smartphone. The course on audience engagement is useful for promoting future events.
See salaries and explore the career path for Event Planner
E-commerce Store Owner
An e-commerce store owner manages an online retail business, and can benefit from this course by creating high-quality product photos with your smartphone. This role involves visually presenting products, and the course provides instruction on composition, lighting, and editing. Knowing how to use smartphone photography to create product photos will help reduce expenses and allow for more control over your product's online image. The course provides a practical way to photograph your products.
See salaries and explore the career path for E-commerce Store Owner
Photo Editor
A photo editor reviews and edits photos for publications, and this course can help them understand the challenges of smartphone photography. This role involves understanding composition, lighting, and editing techniques, and this course walks the learner through these processes. Having a practical understanding of phone-based photography can be beneficial for a photo editor, especially when reviewing work from those who have used a smartphone. This course has a strong focus on editing step-by-step.
See salaries and explore the career path for Photo Editor
Digital Marketing Assistant
A digital marketing assistant supports marketing efforts, and this course can help them produce visual content with a smartphone. This role involves supporting marketing campaigns, and learning about composition, editing, and audience engagement can be helpful. With phone-based photography, it is easier to quickly capture content in a fast-paced environment. The course can be a valuable tool for quickly creating visual content. This course includes real-world examples of smartphone photography, that are useful for a digital marketing assistant.
See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Assistant
Graphic Designer
A graphic designer creates visual concepts, and this course can help them gain a new perspective on visual content creation via smartphone. This role involves an understanding of composition, lighting, and editing, and this course works with those key ingredients. While not directly related to design, it may be helpful for a graphic designer to gain experience in smartphone-based photography as a way to capture quick references and on-the-go content. This course may help expand their creative toolkit.
See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer
Journalist
A journalist reports and produces news stories, and this course may be useful for learning to capture photojournalistic content with a smartphone. This role might involve taking photos on location, and the course covers street photography and general composition. Smartphone photography is an increasingly valuable skill for a journalist and the course addresses how to capture and edit images. This course may help you as a journalist to document events.
See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist
Archivist
An archivist preserves and manages historical records, and this course may help them document the condition of items using a smartphone. This role requires an ability to catalog and organize information, and the course may offer a way to take clear and detailed photos of items. While not directly related to the technical aspects of archiving, this course may provide an additional skill for those who work with physical collections, as it may be useful for cataloging and documentation. The course covers basic technical components of smartphone cameras.
See salaries and explore the career path for Archivist

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Smartphone Photography | iPhone, Android, Instagram & more!.
Cover image
The Photographer's Eye Digitally Remastered 10th...
Save
Focuses specifically on composition and design principles in photography. It provides a detailed analysis of how different compositional elements can be used to create visually compelling images. While it covers digital photography in general, the principles discussed are highly relevant to smartphone photography and can help you improve the impact of your photos. This book adds more depth to the existing course.
The Photographer's Eye Digitally Remastered 10th...
Paperback
Check
The Photographer's Eye Digitally Remastered 10th...
Kindle Edition
Check
National Geographic Traveler Scotland 4th Edition
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of photography principles, techniques, and equipment. While not specific to smartphones, it offers a strong foundation in photographic concepts that are applicable to any camera. It is particularly useful for understanding composition, lighting, and exposure, which are crucial for taking compelling photos with your phone. This book is more valuable as additional reading to provide breadth to the course.
National Geographic Traveler Scotland 4th Edition
Paperback
$$
Scotland
Kindle Edition
$$

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Course image
Rating
4.2 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Effort
1.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Omid Scheybani
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches techniques to capture visually appealing photos, which can help learners create more engaging content for social media or personal projects
Explores composition techniques, which are essential for creating visually appealing photographs that stand out from the crowd
Examines street photography, which may require learners to be mindful of local laws and regulations regarding photographing people in public spaces
Covers editing techniques using VSCO, which is a popular mobile app that may require a subscription for advanced features
Develops skills in audience engagement, which are useful for building a following and sharing visual stories effectively
Explores camera settings and features, which can help learners understand how to optimize their smartphone's capabilities for photography
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