Color Correction: Achieving the Right Tones with Shooting Phones

Hello! Nowadays, we’re constantly taking photos with our smartphones, aren’t we? But have you ever noticed that the colors in a photo you took aren’t quite what you wanted? For example, did the colors in that beautiful sunset landscape photo come out dull? Or maybe you took an amazing portrait of a friend, but their face looks a bit pale? This is where "color correction" comes into play.

Color correction can bring your photos to life, making them more natural and vibrant. In this article, we'll explore the secrets to capturing the right tones in the photos you take with your shooting phones. We'll look at how to perform color correction, which apps can help you, and tips to keep in mind during the shoot. If you're ready, let's step into this colorful world together!

Common Color Issues in Shooting Phones Photography

We all know that sometimes the colors in the photos we take with our shooting phones don't come out as we want. The white balance is off, the colors are strange, or the photo is either too dark or too bright. All of this can be quite frustrating. But don't worry! Let's talk about how you can solve these common issues.

White Balance and Color Tone Issues with Shooting Phones

Imagine you wanted to take a perfect landscape photo with your shooting phones, but the result was nothing like you expected. Did the colors shift to warm oranges or cool blues? This happens due to white balance and color tone issues.

What is white balance?

Have you ever taken a photo of a white T-shirt with your shooting phones only to see it appear blue or yellow in the picture? This is a sign of white balance issues. White balance adjusts the color temperature of the light to make your photo look like what you see in real life. However, when shooting phones adjust this setting automatically, it can sometimes lead to undesirable results. So how can we fix these issues? Here's the answer 👇🏻

Tips to Solve White Balance Issues with Shooting Phones:

• Manual Settings: Many shooting phones camera apps allow you to adjust the white balance manually. Take a look at the settings and experiment to capture realistic colors. For example, indoors, you can change the white balance setting to reduce the yellow light effect. You'll really see the difference. We'd love for you to share the results with us.

• Editing Apps: There are great apps for correcting the color tones of your photos taken with shooting phones. With apps like Snapseed or Lightroom, you can easily adjust the white balance of your photo. Find the white balance in the app and make your photo look more natural. For more detailed information, you can check out our blog.

• Using the Right Light: The type of light affects the white balance. If you're shooting in daylight with your shooting phones, you'll get more accurate colors. But if you're using artificial light, consider how these lights affect the white balance. You're closer to a true image now.

Hopefully, you now have an idea of how to make your photos look more realistic with shooting phones. Don't hesitate to try these steps to make your photos look better! Remember, the key to better photos is often a lot of trial and error.

Over or Under Exposure in Shooting Phones

Exposure issues are another common frustration for anyone interested in shooting phones photography. Your photo may either be blown out in sunlight or lost in a dark environment. This can be very annoying at times. Let's explore how we can overcome these problems!

Tips to Solve Exposure Issues with Shooting Phones:

• Exposure Compensation: Most shooting phones allow you to manually adjust the exposure level in the camera settings. When taking a photo, you can control the exposure by swiping up or down on the screen to get the desired result. If you have trouble with exposure and positioning, you can also use the grid.

• HDR Mode: HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode in shooting phones can help you capture more details in your photos. By taking multiple shots at different exposure levels, this mode can better show both bright and dark areas.

• Correct ISO Setting: ISO adjusts the camera's sensitivity to light. When shooting in low light with your shooting phones, increasing the ISO can result in brighter photos, but be careful; high ISO values can cause noise in your photos.

• Using Extra Light: If the light is insufficient, you can use an external light source or a flash with your shooting phones. However, the flash can make your photo look unnatural. Instead, you can use other light sources to illuminate the photo.

Now that we've discussed these, let's move on to how to edit a photo step by step. Let's take a look at the steps together.

Step-by-Step Color Correction in Shooting Phones Photo Editing Apps

Step 1: Choosing the Right App for Shooting Phones

First, start by choosing the most suitable photo editing app for your shooting phones. There are many options available, but I recommend the most popular ones: Snapseed, Adobe Lightroom, and VSCO. How can you choose between these apps? Based on my experience, each has different advantages.

• Snapseed: If you're looking for an easy yet comprehensive experience for your shooting phones, Snapseed can be a great start. Developed by Google, this app is free and has a user-friendly interface. Snapseed is an excellent choice, especially for beginners.

• Adobe Lightroom: If you want to make more advanced edits, Adobe Lightroom might be the right choice for your shooting phones. It's often preferred by professional photographers, but some features may require a paid subscription.

• VSCO: If you want both aesthetics and practicality, consider VSCO for your shooting phones. This app offers great filters to give your photos a professional touch. Plus, it also functions as a social platform.

My advice is to start with Snapseed and then move on to other apps for your shooting phones. If you want you can look at our editing apps blog. Let's choose Snapseed and start with color correction step by step!

Step 2: Open Your Photo in Shooting Phones App

Open the app you selected and load the photo you want to edit from your shooting phones. In Snapseed, you can select your photo using the "Open" option. Here, the important thing is to decide which photo to work on. For example, I'll choose a beautiful landscape photo I took in nature last week. This photo might have a bit of an orange sky or slightly blue-toned clouds. Let's start with the white balance.

Step 3: Adjust White Balance in Shooting Phones Photo

White balance is usually the first thing we need to adjust because it directly affects the overall color tone and mood of the photo taken with shooting phones. In Snapseed, you can find the "White Balance" option under the "Tools" section. Here, you can adjust the color temperature and tint to get a more natural look.

• Temperature: This adjusts whether the colors look warmer or cooler. Landscapes typically require warmer tones, while portraits need natural colors. For example, in winter photos taken with your shooting phones, you can move the temperature slider slightly to the left to make the snowflakes appear more blue.

• Tint: This helps correct unwanted green or pink tones. If the grass looks too green, you can use this setting to make it look more realistic.

My photo has a bit of a cold atmosphere, so I'm moving the temperature setting slightly to the right to warm up the sky. Let's move on to the next step!

Step 4: Adjust Saturation and Brightness in Shooting Phones Photo

If the colors aren't vibrant enough, the saturation setting is what you need for your shooting phones. Brightness controls the overall light level of the photo. In Snapseed, you can use the "Saturation" and "Brightness" options under "Tune Image" to make these adjustments.

• Saturation: If your photo's colors look dull, you can increase the saturation to make the colors more vibrant. However, be careful not to overdo it, as the photo can look artificial. For example, if you want to enhance the vibrancy of flowers in photos taken with your shooting phones, you can move the saturation slider slightly to the right.

• Brightness: This makes the photo look brighter or darker. If you took the photo in low light with your shooting phones, increasing the brightness can be helpful.

I want the grass and sky in my nature photo to look more vibrant. So, I'm increasing the saturation a bit. But be cautious, as too much saturation can blow out the colors!

Step 5: Adjust Contrast and Shadows in Shooting Phones Photo

Contrast and shadow adjustments can help add depth and detail to your photo taken with shooting phones. You can access these settings in Snapseed under "Tune Image."

• Contrast: This helps balance the light and shadow in your photos. High contrast creates dramatic effects, while low contrast provides a softer look. If you want to make the clouds and sky more distinct in your shooting phones photo, try increasing the contrast slightly.

• Shadows: This makes the dark areas more pronounced. Increasing the shadow setting can create a deeper effect in your photo.

In my nature photo taken with shooting phones, I want to make the clouds more prominent. I can achieve this by increasing the contrast a bit. Now let's move on to the final touches!

Step 6: Final Touches in Shooting Phones Photo

Once the colors and light balance of your photo are as you want them, it's time for final touches. At this stage, you may want to play with extra settings like sharpness, AI filters, or special effects. You can find these options in the "Tools" section of Snapseed for your shooting phones.

• Sharpness: This makes your photo look clearer. However, too much sharpness can cause noise in your photo. So it's important to make a balanced adjustment.

• Filters: You can use various filters to give your photo a special atmosphere. These filters allow you to combine your photo with a specific style or emotion. In Snapseed, you can use many filters for free for your shooting phones.

I want to give my photo a warm summer feel. Therefore, I'm applying a slight sharpness adjustment and adding a warm-toned filter. My photo looks much more vivid and colorful now!

Conclusion and Sharing Tips for Shooting Phones Photography

Now that we've explored how to edit photos taken with shooting phones, you can share your final results on social media or print them to keep forever. Your beautifully colored and vibrant photos will stand out even more with shooting phones.

When sharing, try using creative and engaging captions. For example, describe the moment you captured or the emotions you felt. This can make your photos more interesting for your audience.

Feel free to share your photos and experiences with us. Let's meet in the comments to share your experiences or get more tips!

Now, take your shooting phones and capture the beauties you see. Get enchanted by the colors and lights, experiment, and express yourself! Photography is not just about capturing a frame, but also about telling a story. I hope you tell your own story in every frame... 📸

Also, if you want to take your mobile photography experience to the next level, don't forget to check out Phoneq's website. Phoneq is full of equipment and accessories that will allow you to use your shooting phones like a professional camera. Start exploring here to add a new dimension to your photography!

Happy photographing with your shooting phones! 🌟