{"id":58726,"date":"2016-04-22T00:30:08","date_gmt":"2016-04-22T07:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/?p=58726"},"modified":"2021-03-11T02:36:24","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T10:36:24","slug":"iphone-photo-composition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-photo-composition\/","title":{"rendered":"10 iPhone Photo Composition Tips For Creating Striking Images"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Improving your iPhone photo composition is the single best way to make yourself a better photographer. Composition is even more important than the subject that you shoot &#8211; with good composition you can make an ordinary or ugly subject appear interesting and beautiful. In this tutorial you\u2019ll discover ten composition techniques that will dramatically improve your iPhone photos, making you a better and more confident photographer.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58790 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17025\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 13\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>1. Include A Main Subject<\/h2>\n<p>One of the most important rules of composition is that you need to have a main subject for your photo.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m surprised at how many photos I see that don\u2019t follow this simple rule. Unless your goal is to create something abstract, your photo needs to be about something, and that thing should be your main subject.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58782 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17032\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 5\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Having a main subject allows your viewer to easily understand what the photo is about. It brings clarity to your image\u00a0and <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/focal-point\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">creates\u00a0a focal point<\/a> which gives\u00a0the viewer a place to rest their eye.<\/p>\n<p>Take a look at the two images below. Notice how much more powerful the second one is because it has the canoe as a main subject.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58783 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17034\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 6\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58784 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17035\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 7\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A great example of this is when you go somewhere beautiful on a trip (like the mountains or the sea), and you want to record a photo of that beautiful place.<\/p>\n<p>If you just take a picture of the place, you\u2019ll probably be disappointed because the photo doesn\u2019t give you the same feeling that you had when you were there.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58785 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17038\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 8\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But if you give your photo a main subject, such as a person looking at that mountain or sea, your photo will not only be more beautiful, but it will also carry a lot more of the emotion that you had when you were there.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58786 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17041\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 9\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>2. Frame The Subject To Increase Its Importance<\/h2>\n<p>After you\u2019ve decided on your main subject, you can use various tricks to increase the importance of that subject. One of the best ways to do this is by framing your subject.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58822 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17044\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 45\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFraming\u201d simply means using something in the environment to outline your subject, and therefore drawing more attention to it.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58824 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17048\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 47\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Often that framing will be something in the foreground that softens the edge of the photo, like some tree branches and leaves.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58825 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17051\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 48\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Other times the frame might just be an area of light or dark that surrounds your subjects, like in this photo of people standing in a parking garage.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58826 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17054\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 49\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Often a window or doorway is a great way to frame your subject, and again, that opening can be behind or in front of the subject.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58823 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/21726\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 46\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once you start looking for ways to frame your subject, you\u2019ll find that\u00a0you can use all sorts of things as a framing object.\u00a0Be creative!<\/p>\n<h2>3. Use Leading Lines To Draw\u00a0The Eye Into The Photo<\/h2>\n<p>Another great trick you can use in composition is to look for <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/leading-lines-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">leading lines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Leading lines are a great way to direct the viewer\u2019s attention where you want it to go, usually right toward your main subject.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58787 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17132\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 10\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Look for lines in your scene, such as a road, path, fence, railway tracks, a long hallway, floorboards, or any other architectural or natural element that creates a leading line.<\/p>\n<p>Then compose your shot so that the lines lead from the foreground of the scene into the distance.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58788 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17145\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 11\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Having a subject at the end of the line, or somewhere along it, is even more powerful because\u00a0the line leads the eye directly to the subject.<\/p>\n<p>The great thing about leading lines is that they don\u2019t even have to be lines! In the photo below, the bridge itself has many leading lines in it, but the <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/shadows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">shadows<\/a> of the people are also leading lines in this composition.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58789 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17148\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 12\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s one of the great reasons to <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/golden-hour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">shoot at golden hour<\/a>. Not only do you get beautiful light, but you can also get great leading lines from the long shadows!<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<h2>4. Use The Rule Of Thirds<\/h2>\n<p>You might have heard of the <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/rule-of-thirds-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">rule of thirds<\/a> before, because it\u2019s one of the very first things that you learn as a photographer.\u00a0<span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">In fact, it\u2019s so useful that your iPhone has the ability to show you the rule of thirds as you\u2019re shooting!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you go to <strong>Settings<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Camera<\/strong>, then turn on the <strong>Grid<\/strong> option, you&#8217;ll see the rule of thirds grid in the camera app.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/28258\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The rule of thirds simply says that if you divide the screen into equal thirds both vertically and horizontally, you should place your main subject at one of the four points where the lines intersect.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58791 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17152\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 14\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I did that in the photo above by making sure the little house was right on\u00a0one of those interactions.<\/p>\n<p>The rule of thirds also suggests that you place your horizon line along\u00a0either the top or bottom gridline\u00a0for the most beautiful and balanced composition.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58790 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17025\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 13\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The rule of thirds is a pretty reliable rule, and if you follow it, your photo should feel balanced.\u00a0However, there is some flexibility to the rule.<\/p>\n<p>Note that in the photo below, my main subject sits on one of the intersecting points, but the horizon line doesn\u2019t fall on either of the horizontal gridlines.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58793 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17159\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 16\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, the dark mass at the bottom of the frame roughly lines up with the bottom gridline, so I would still call this a good example of using the rule of thirds to create good composition.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58792 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17161\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 15\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Try looking at the world through your iPhone with the grid turned on, and lining up your main subject using the rule of thirds.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll be surprised at how easy it is to make good photos simply by following this one rule.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Ignore The Rule Of Thirds!<\/h2>\n<p>Now that you\u2019ve learned the rule of thirds, I\u2019m giving you permission to break that rule sometimes!<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/finding-symmetry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">shooting a photo with symmetry<\/a>, you will often find that it looks better to put your subject in the very middle of the photo.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58796 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17164\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 19\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Symmetrical photos are a special case, where maintaining a mirror image between the two sides is so important that you have to keep your subject centered otherwise\u00a0it will just feel wrong.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58795 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17168\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 18\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Square photos are\u00a0particularly well suited to symmetrical shots that break the rule of thirds.<\/p>\n<p>This is because the four sides of the image are equal lengths, and this\u00a0suits symmetry really well.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58798 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17171\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 21\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So even though it\u2019s great to be aware of the classic rules of composition such as the rule of thirds, sometimes it\u2019s okay to break those rules if you have a compelling reason to do so.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58797 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17175\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 20\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>6. Use Symmetry &amp;\u00a0Patterns To Your Advantage<\/h2>\n<p>Shooting photos that have symmetry or <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/pattern-and-repetition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">patterns<\/a> is a great way to bring more visual interest to your photography.<\/p>\n<p>The human brain is naturally attracted to symmetry. In fact, we\u2019re symmetrical creatures ourselves, with a left and right side.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58799 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17180\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 22\" width=\"560\" height=\"561\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Symmetry can make for a very pleasing photo that will catch the\u00a0viewer\u2019s eye right away.<\/p>\n<p>Building facades are a great place to look for symmetry as they&#8217;re often inherently designed to be symmetrical.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58800 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/21735\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 23\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Patterns are often found with symmetry, but the two shouldn\u2019t be confused.<\/p>\n<p>In the photo below, you\u2019ll notice that the composition\u00a0is symmetrical because the left and right sides match, but you can also see that there\u2019s a pattern of three red books that repeat throughout the photo.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58801 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17252\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 24\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When you use symmetry along with patterns, you can create a visually striking photo.<\/p>\n<p>In nature you can often find symmetry by looking for <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/water-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">water<\/a>, and getting your phone down low so that the water reflects the upper part of the image.<\/p>\n<p>In the city it\u2019s usually pretty easy to find a symmetrical building to shoot, or you can make your own symmetrical shots by pressing the edge of your iPhone up to a piece of glass.<\/p>\n<p>This allows you to capture your main subject reflected in the shiny surface, immediately creating a symmetrical shot.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58802 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17257\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 25\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once you start looking for symmetry and patterns, you\u2019ll be surprised at how they appear all around you.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Shoot From An Unusual Angle<\/h2>\n<p>We\u2019re very accustomed to seeing the world from\u00a0eye level, so you can easily surprise and delight your viewers by <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/perspective\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">shooting from other more unusual angles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58803 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17260\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 26\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Simply moving your phone to a different vantage point will give your photos a fresh and unexpected point of view.<\/p>\n<p>A classic tactic for this is to look up above you. There are all kinds of interesting things happening right over your head every day!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58804 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/21744\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 27\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Conversely, you can also try shooting from above so that you&#8217;re looking down on your subject. You can easily do this from a high story of a building or a bridge.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58805 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17330\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 28\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Lastly, you can also look for unexpected angles by positioning your phone in an unusual way.<\/p>\n<p>In the photo below I was boarding a plane, and I noticed how funny the world looked as it was\u00a0reflected in the plane\u2019s shiny surface.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58806 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17337\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 29\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>To add to the disorientation, I purposely tilted my phone so that the horizon line wouldn\u2019t be instantly recognizable. To me, this canted angle makes the image feel surprising in a good way.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">So whenever you&#8217;re out shooting with your iPhone, don&#8217;t just take pictures from standing height. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58778 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17340\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 1\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">Try to look for places where you can shoot the world from an angle that you don\u2019t normally see it from.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>8. Include Foreground &amp;\u00a0Background Elements To Increase Depth<\/h2>\n<p>A photo is a two dimensional representation of three dimensional space, which means that it can be difficult to convey the sense of depth that you saw with your own eyes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58807 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17343\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 30\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>To make your photos more engaging, you need to carefully\u00a0compose your shot\u00a0to\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/depth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">increase the sense of depth<\/a> and make it\u00a0seem more three dimensional.<\/p>\n<p>Creating photos with depth is easy. You simply need to have something in the foreground and something in the background. It\u2019s that simple!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58808 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17345\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 31\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The photo above has some depth to it. The water is in the foreground, and the grasses and trees are in the background.<\/p>\n<p>But notice how much more depth the photo has when there\u2019s something in the foreground as shown below.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58809 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17347\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 32\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Not only does this photo feel deeper, but it now has a main subject which also helps make it a stronger photo.<\/p>\n<p>Photos with a lot of depth are appealing to us because they help us understand the three dimensional space that the photo is representing.<\/p>\n<p>You can also increase depth by paying attention to patterns and lines, aligning yourself so that they recede into the distance.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58810 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17348\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 33\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The next time you\u2019re out shooting, trying composing your photo so that there\u2019s something in both the foreground and the background.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58811 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17349\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 34\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once you start doing this you\u2019ll find that your images will start to feel a lot more three dimensional.<\/p>\n<h2>9. Leave Active Space For Moving Subjects<\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes your main <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/moving-subjects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">subject will be\u00a0moving<\/a>, and in these situations you need to be aware of another rule of composition, which is to leave space for the moving subject.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58812 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/21755\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 35\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Unless you have a really good reason for doing otherwise, it\u2019s usually best to leave more space in front of your subject than behind.\u00a0This creates the feeling that they have plenty of space to &#8220;move into.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58813 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17414\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 36\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to leave plenty of <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/negative-space\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">negative (empty) space<\/a> so that the person doesn\u2019t feel crowded in the frame.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t want it to look like they\u2019re about to run into anything. Well, maybe you do, but that\u2019s a different type of photo!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58814 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17421\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 37\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll find that if you frame your moving subjects this way, your photos will feel very natural and real.\u00a0This is because we\u2019re so accustomed to seeing images this way.<\/p>\n<p>If you practice shooting a moving subject using this rule, it will soon become second nature.<\/p>\n<h2>10. Isolate Your Subject<\/h2>\n<p>One of the best things you can do to improve your iPhone photos is to make sure your subject is isolated from the background.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58815 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17377\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition-38.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 38\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important that there are no obstructions that overlap with your main subject. Any distractions can weaken your image and make it confusing for your viewers.<\/p>\n<p>One easy way to make your subject \u201cpop\u201d is to make sure that the background behind your main subject is very light (assuming your subject is dark).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58818 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17422\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 41\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the photo above, I got my shot lined up, and then waited for someone in dark clothing to walk by.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, you can do the opposite too. Just use a dark background with a light-colored subject to make your subject stand out.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58819 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17423\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 42\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In addition to using light and dark to make your subject pop, you can also use <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/color-composition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">color<\/a> to help make your main subject stand out.<\/p>\n<p>Our eyes will usually go to the brightest or most colorful part of an image. So if you keep the background color to a minimum, a bright color on your main subject will help draw attention to it, like the red hat on this man.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58820 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/21764\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 43\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Conversely, you can make your background quite colorful, but have your main subject mostly colorless.<\/p>\n<p>This is a great strategy if you\u2019ve got a colorful wall, or if you\u2019re at a time of day when there\u2019s generally a lot of color, like sunset.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58821 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17482\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 44\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In this\u00a0photo, the main subject stands out because he&#8217;s dark and the background behind him is light, but also because he&#8217;s in a colorful environment, but he remains mostly colorless.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes you might find there\u2019s a branch or a tree that&#8217;s distracting, but there&#8217;s no way to exclude it from your composition.<\/p>\n<p>Below is an example of this. The dark branch just behind my subject is distracting and interferes with the outline of the person.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58816 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17496\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 39\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In such cases, just take the photo, then use an app like <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/touchretouch\/id373311252?mt=8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TouchRetouch<\/a> to <a href=\"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/removing-objects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">remove the unwanted objects\u00a0from the image<\/a>. Below is the same image but with the branch removed.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58817 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17503\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 40\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The person now has a much clearer outline which creates a cleaner and more pleasing composition.<\/p>\n<h2>iPhone Photo Composition: Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>While every scene is different, making use of these composition techniques will allow you to create more beautiful and powerful iPhone photos.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58779 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17508\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 2\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here are the ten iPhone photo composition techniques that will dramatically improve your images:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Include a main subject<\/li>\n<li>Frame the subject to increase its importance<\/li>\n<li>Use leading lines to draw the eye into the photo<\/li>\n<li>Use the rule of thirds<\/li>\n<li>Ignore the rule of thirds!<\/li>\n<li>Use symmetry &amp; patterns to your advantage<\/li>\n<li>Shoot from an unusual angle<\/li>\n<li>Include foreground &amp; background elements to increase depth<\/li>\n<li>Leave active space for moving subjects<\/li>\n<li>Isolate your subject<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Of course, you won&#8217;t use every technique on every photo. It&#8217;s up to you as the photographer to work out which composition guidelines would best suit a particular scene.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58794 ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/17379\/1120\/iPhone-Photo-Composition-17.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone Photo Composition 17\" width=\"560\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you try using these techniques on a daily basis, you\u2019ll soon find that you&#8217;ll become a better and more confident photographer. And your images are bound to start\u00a0getting more \u201clikes\u201d when you share them!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Improving your iPhone photo composition is the single best way to make yourself a better photographer. Composition is even more important than the subject that you shoot &#8211; with good composition you can make an ordinary or ugly subject appear interesting and beautiful. In this tutorial you\u2019ll discover ten composition techniques that will dramatically improve [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[303,298],"tags":[31,203,94],"class_list":{"0":"post-58726","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-taking-photos","7":"category-tutorials","8":"tag-composition","9":"tag-lines","10":"tag-rule-of-thirds","11":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n<title>10 iPhone Photo Composition Tips For Creating Striking Images<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover 10 iPhone photo composition techniques that will dramatically improve your iPhone photos and make you a better photographer.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-photo-composition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 iPhone Photo Composition Tips For Creating Striking Images\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover 10 iPhone photo composition techniques that will dramatically improve your iPhone photos and make you a better photographer.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-photo-composition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"iPhone Photography School\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/iPhonePS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-04-22T07:30:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-03-11T10:36:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eric Mueller\" \/>\n<meta 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photographer.","og_url":"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-photo-composition\/","og_site_name":"iPhone Photography School","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/iPhonePS","article_published_time":"2016-04-22T07:30:08+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-03-11T10:36:24+00:00","author":"Eric Mueller","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Eric Mueller","Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-photo-composition\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-photo-composition\/"},"author":{"name":"Eric Mueller","@id":"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/#\/schema\/person\/c22eb92e718eb5145de6115f9d36a3cb"},"headline":"10 iPhone Photo Composition Tips For Creating Striking 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Mueller","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/30b897470d25b8cedf497c3647da0e0560a7bf54be11b366a8376cd08563a87c?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/30b897470d25b8cedf497c3647da0e0560a7bf54be11b366a8376cd08563a87c?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","caption":"Eric Mueller"},"description":"I\u2019m a Minneapolis-based photographer who comes from the world of design, having worked as an advertising producer for most of my career. 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