Top Tips for Mastering Lighting with Your Phone Camera

Have you ever snapped a photo with your phone and thought, “Why does this look nothing like what I saw with my eyes?” Yep—been there, done that!

Lighting is one of the biggest game-changers in photography. It's the difference between a ‘meh’ shot and a ‘WOW, did you take that on your phone?!’ moment. The good news? You don’t need fancy gear to get it right. Whether you’re chasing sunsets, capturing moody night scenes, or just trying to take a decent selfie indoors, understanding light is your secret weapon.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the ins and outs of working with natural light, nailing night photography, and using artificial lighting like a pro—no expensive kit required. These are real, practical tips you can start using straight away. Let’s dive in.

🌞 Natural Light: Your Best (and Easiest) Friend

Natural light is free, flattering, and always available—well, mostly. But it changes throughout the day, and knowing how to work with it is key.

✨ Golden Hour = Magic Hour

If there’s one trick to instantly elevating your phone photos, it’s this: shoot during golden hour. That’s the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. The light is soft, warm, and oh-so-dreamy.

• Try shooting portraits or landscapes when the sun is low.

• Position your subject with the light hitting from the side or slightly behind for depth and glow.

• Tap on your subject and slide the brightness up or down on your phone screen to control exposure.

☁️ Overcast Days Are Underrated

Cloudy skies = soft, even lighting. No harsh shadows or squinty faces. Great for portraits, food photography, or anything that needs gentle light.

• Use the natural light from a window when indoors—just turn off overhead lights to avoid weird colour mixes.

• Shoot from different angles to see where the light looks best (sometimes just turning your body makes all the difference).

🚫 Midday Light: Proceed with Caution

Bright overhead sun can be a nightmare—think blown-out highlights and dark shadows under the eyes. But if you must shoot at midday:

• Find some open shade (like under a tree or awning).

• Use your hand or a hat to diffuse light when shooting portraits.

• Consider using a reflector or even a white piece of card to bounce light gently onto your subject.

This photo was taken on my phone at golden hour, can you see how the light is soft and golden?

🌙 Night Photography: Yes, You Can Do It

Shooting in low light used to be a phone photographer’s worst nightmare. But today’s smartphones are way better at it—especially if you know what you’re doing.

📱 Use Night Mode (and Stay Still)

Most modern phones have a Night Mode—use it! It usually captures multiple images and blends them together.

Tips for night mode magic:

• Hold your phone as still as possible. Lean against a wall or rest it on something solid.

• Use a mini tripod or even a stack of books if you're at home.

• Tap to focus and adjust brightness manually.

💡 Look for Existing Light Sources

Street lamps, neon signs, candles, fairy lights—embrace them! These lights add mood and character.

• Place your subject next to the light source, not in front of it (unless you want a silhouette).

• Experiment with angles to avoid lens flare or weird shadows.

😬 Watch Your Colours

Night scenes can turn weirdly yellow or green depending on the light source. A little editing can fix this—apps like Lightroom Mobile let you adjust white balance easily. I’ve written a full post on the best editing apps and how to use them here.

This image of a snake eating a bat was taken late at night, I used a combination of street lights and the flash on my phone to light the snake, there is also a range of different lights in the background from the hotel.

💡 Artificial Light: Make It Work for You

We don’t always have the luxury of perfect sunlight. Enter: artificial light. From lamps to LED panels, there are ways to work it—without it looking, well… artificial.

💁‍♀️ Quick Tips for Better Indoor Lighting:

• Turn off overhead lights and use lamps instead. Overhead lights cast shadows under the eyes and create harsh tones.

• Use lamps with warm bulbs for a cosy, natural look.

• Bounce light off a wall to soften it. (Yes, it’s a thing. Try it!)

• Ring lights are amazing for selfies and flat lays—they’re cheap and easy to use.

🔦 Don’t Be Afraid of Accessories

A small, portable LED light can totally change your photo game. They're great for travel, especially if you're trying to shoot indoors or at night.

Whether you’re lighting a subject for a close-up or adding a bit of drama to a portrait, having a little extra control over light makes a big difference. Try experimenting with different light sources you already have at home—lamps, fairy lights, or even your phone torch with a bit of tissue over it to soften the light!

This photo was actually light by the light from my laptop screen, I placed a mirror on the laptop keyboard and placed the necklace on top of the mirror. On the laptop screen I had an image of a blue sky.

📸 Real Talk: Lighting Tips I Share on My Tours

Here in Port Douglas, I run Sunset Photography Tours where we chase the best light in town. My guests often show up thinking they just want pretty photos—but by the end, they’ve learned how to see light differently.

Here’s what I always say:

• Light tells the story of your photo. Always ask yourself: what’s the light doing?

• If it’s not working, move. Sometimes shifting a few steps makes all the difference.

• Look for reflections—on water, windows, or even your sunglasses!

• Don’t rely on filters to “fix” bad lighting. Start with good light and you’ll need fewer edits.

👏 Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This!

Learning to master lighting with your phone might sound intimidating, but it’s honestly about looking differently. The more you practice, the more you’ll start noticing the good light—and knowing what to do with it.

So next time you pull out your phone to take a photo, pause and ask:

• Where’s the light coming from?

• Is it soft or harsh?

• Can I move to make it better?

Before you know it, you’ll be spotting golden hour like a pro and wowing your mates with scroll-stopping shots.

Ready to take your skills to the next level?

If you’re ever in Port Douglas, join me for a Sunset Photography Tour—they’re beginner-friendly, camera optional (yes, phone photographers are totally welcome!), and full of hands-on guidance to help you fall in love with photography.

Or check out my Comprehensive Guide to Phone Photography for more tips and inspiration!