Not everyone has access to a quality DSLR camera and a zoom lens. If you do, your action shots will make great cards. But we can still make great cards with photos taken from a phone camera.

There are a few things to understand, that will help you take better photos, and in turn, help us make you better cards.

If you only have a phone camera but want action shots, take them in the warm up or at training with the players in their playing gear. Just stand close to them on the field and let them run, kick, pass, throw etc and capture as many frames as you can, then pick the best one.

Here are some tips to avoid making their heads look disproportionately large and their bodies small:

1. Avoid Close-Up Shots with Wide-Angle Lens

• Issue: iPhones typically have wide-angle lenses, which can cause distortion when taking close-up photos. This distortion makes objects closer to the camera appear larger than those further away.
• Solution: Step back and use the zoom feature instead of moving closer to your subject. This helps maintain natural proportions.

2. Use Portrait Mode

• Benefit: Portrait mode on iPhones is designed to mimic the effect of a longer focal length, reducing distortion and creating a more flattering image by blurring the background.
• How to Use: Open the Camera app, swipe to Portrait mode, and ensure the subject is within the specified distance range. Follow the on-screen prompts to position your subject correctly.

3. Maintain Eye Level or Slightly Above

• Issue: Shooting from a low angle can exaggerate the size of the head and upper body while diminishing the lower body.
• Solution: Hold the camera at the child’s eye level or slightly above to keep proportions balanced.

4. Use the Telephoto Lens (iPhone Models with Dual or Triple Cameras)

• Benefit: The telephoto lens on certain iPhone models provides a narrower field of view and less distortion compared to the wide-angle lens.
• How to Use: Open the Camera app and switch to the 2x or 3x zoom option, depending on your iPhone model, to use the telephoto lens.

5. Pay Attention to Background and Edges

• Issue: Distortion is more pronounced at the edges of the frame with wide-angle lenses.
• Solution: Center your subject in the frame and avoid placing them too close to the edges.

6. Edit Photos to Correct Distortion

• Benefit: Post-processing can help reduce any remaining distortion.
• How to Use: Use photo editing apps like Lightroom or the built-in editing tools in the Photos app to adjust perspective and correct any distortion.

Summary of Tips

1. Step Back and Zoom In: Avoid close-ups by stepping back and using the zoom feature to maintain natural proportions.
2. Use Portrait Mode: Utilize Portrait mode to reduce distortion and achieve a more professional look.
3. Shoot at Eye Level or Slightly Above: Keep the camera at the child’s eye level to maintain balanced proportions.
4. Utilize the Telephoto Lens: If your iPhone has a telephoto lens, use it for a more flattering perspective.
5. Center Your Subject: Keep your subject in the center of the frame to avoid edge distortion.
6. Edit Photos: Use editing tools to correct any minor distortions.

By following these guidelines, you can take charming, well-proportioned photos of small children with your iPhone camera.