As a professional photographer with super expensive gear, I have to say that I’ve discovered a surprising love for iPhone photography as a side hobby. I think the delight comes from simplifying the camera, not fussing over complex techniques and creating great results that make me happy.
So today, I’d like to share my top 4 favourite tools for iPhone photography (and videography) to inspire you to take your photography to the next level… not by investing tens of thousands of dollars into professional gear, but by using simple tools to jump into the wonderful world of playing with the iPhone camera.
At under just $200, this two-mic kit has been fantastic for recording reels and videos on my iPhone. The sound is great and the mic is easy to clip on. The whole box is easy to recharge and the mic itself is pretty discreet when clipped on to a shirt. (not an affiliate link)
I create a lot of PDFs, slides, layouts for Instagram and other graphics with my photos, and I find Canva to be the easiest and most versatile program out there. There is a free version, but I upgraded to the pro subscription so that I could have more storage space, add my branding assets and have access to more stock graphics and layouts. (not an affiliate link)
If you are an iPhone photographer, you MUST have the Lightroom app on your phone! It’s the best photo editing app out there, and is great for quickly resizing images. You can create your own presets, copy and paste settings onto other similar photos (to save editing time) and organize your photos into albums. There’s a free version of the app that is great, but the subscription is worth the $16 CAD/month it costs. The pro perks are great (spot removal, masking, bulk editing, etc.)
(affiliate link but I only promote products I personally use and love!)
To learn more about how I use Lightroom Mobile and why I love it, visit my blog post here.
When taking group photos (with you included in the photo!), selfies or talking videos of yourself, using a good tripod with a remote is key. I’ve tried a few over the years, and my favourite is one made by KraftGeek.
It’s super easy to set up, and the phone attaches with a magnet without any bulky grips or clamps in the way. The bluetooth remote lets you start and stop record or press the shutter remotely, so you don’t have to touch the phone or use the self-timer. I love it! It’s $42.99 US but with coupon code GABRIELLE you get 10% off.
(affiliate link but I only promote products I personally use and love!)
And if you’re wondering what I shoot with? It’s an old iPhone 14. It fits in my back pocket, it’s always on me, so I am never without a camera! I love the convenience of photography on the go like this.
Follow me on my iPhone photography Instagram account here.
Get inspired, see what I’ve been up to and learn a few photo tips along the way!
Curious about getting into phone photography?
I have a ton of tips, articles and teaching videos available at:
The warmer season is just around the corner and you might be planning your family’s annual photo session at this point. I’m going to share 5 ways to plan your session for success this year.
NUMBER 1: BOOK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER IN ADVANCE
Good photographers tend to book up fast during the most popular dates of the year, so reserving yours ahead of time means you’ll get the best option. You want to avoid scrambling at the last minute to book a photographer when the season is almost over and photographers have very little availability left.
NUMBER 2: BOOK THE BEST DATE
When is the best date for outdoor family photos in Winnipeg? In the 17 years I’ve been doing this, the most beautiful colours and weather tends to be between September 28 and October 10. And the prettiest hour of light on those days is generally between 5pm and 6pm.
Some people prefer spring photos, or even winter photos, but the vast majority of my clients love fall photos. The weather isn’t too hot or too cold, the colours are spectacular and the beautiful pre-sunset time is at a reasonable time of the day for kiddos who might be going to be early. It’s a win-win for a lot of families.
NUMBER 3: PICK A LOCATION THAT WORKS WELL FOR PHOTOS
Some of my favourite locations are ones that have lots of trees, but also a lot of variety in landscape. This means picking locations that have a mix of forest, water, fields, trails, elevation, etc. I also avoid picking locations that only have wide open spaces because not having any shade to use could be a problem on a very sunny day.
A good location also factors in accessibility (it has to be easy to get to for all family members). However, if your family is up for an adventure, picking a location that includes some hiking or trailblazing to find the best spots could be fun!
Here are some of my favourite locations in Winnipeg for fall photos:
Henteleff ParkLagimodière-Gaboury ParkKings ParkThe English Garden at Assiniboine ParkUpper Fort Garry ParkAssiniboine ForestHarbourView ParkSt. Boniface CathedralCrescent Drive ParkBois-des-EspritsBirds Hill ParkWhittier Park
NUMBER 4: DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR
One of the most common questions asked is what should the family wear for their photos. My go to answer is always this:
For colours, I recommend a light & neutral colour palette. For example, greys, beige, cream mixed in with pastels of pinks, greens and/or blues is good. You can add one or two patterns (a floral or a low contrast stripe in the same colour palette). Things to avoid: bright saturated colours, high contrast, logos, graphics or lettering. I also recommend avoiding wearing black (if possible) as black cotton tends to show white lint a lot more on camera than when we see it in real life.
I have a Pinterest board with photo examples of what works well. Click here to see it:
Click here to view my Pinterest board with ideas for how to pick outfits for your family photo shoot.
NUMBER 5: TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
One of the hardest things is to trust the photographer to lead you, if you haven’t had much experience with a professional photo shoot before. I know how much work and energy it takes to plan a photo shoot for your family, and when you finally do show up, the stakes feel high. I often have moms arrive at a session worried their kids won’t cooperate, or that their outfits don’t work, or that everyone will look awkward posing for photos.
All I can say is – trust your photographer.
I’m the professional and my job is to take all the personality dynamics, the energy, the colours, backgrounds, sunlight, angles and MAKE SURE your photos turn out amazing.
I’m just as invested in the outcome of the photos as my families are. I want my families to be happy with their photos, but I also want the photos to look amazing for my own portfolio! Taking photos of families especially with younger kids is my specialty, and I’m more than prepared for the challenge.
I also know that kids can move quickly, and making sure to catch action shots, or shallow depth of field photos can be hard. I often use the auto-eye-tracker on my mirrorless cameras to nail the focus, even in fast moving subjects (hello toddlers!). Combined with my beautiful Sigma Art Lens, I’m all about catching those gorgeous moments that I’m seeing moving quickly before me.
So remember, trust your photographer and give yourself permission to let loose to enjoy the process. The family photo session is a place for you to play, to enjoy the company of your family and to spend time bonding with your spouse and kids. When that is your only focus, the rest will fall into place. I promise.
Idunnu was looking to get professional headshots for her real estate work and I had the pleasure of meeting her up at a friend’s beautiful modern house to take the photos.
We took some with natural light and some with studio lights in front of a white backdrop. I also made sure to include the natural environment of the home in the background to include more context and warmth for her headshots. And to add to the variety of photos, we had 3 outfits to keep things more interesting!
Here are some of the photos she picked for her website:
The last trimester: that time when the last few weeks are counting down, and soon you’re going from two to three. There’s a certain excitement, anticipation and wonder that comes with this time. It’s such a joy to capture!
With Kim and Nic, there’s no hiding their absolute love for each other. They are so connected to each other and it’s so beautiful to see their love growing into a new chapter in their life. Their story is building and being there to preserve the feelings and memories for them is such a delight.
We met up at The Leaf at Assiniboine Park, and it is my absolute favourite location to visit in Winnipeg in the middle of the winter! Not only for the warmth, the live plants, and all the lush greenery, but also for the gorgeous backdrops for photo shoots.
We started off in the Tropical Biome then we went to the Mediterranean Biome and Babs Asper Display House. I was so happy to see the sunlight poke through the overcast skies to get that warm, humid glowing light that only a tropical setting can give you. My lenses were fogging up – and for a few shots, I intentionally left the fog on my lens for that extra “mood”. Why not? 🙂
The team at DBT Winnipeg, a mental health collective, needed updated photos for their website so I came in for an afternoon to do their headshots and interior office photography.
DBT Winnipeg’s Home Page
I was instantly greeted by some of the kindest and warmest people and walked into a beautiful space in the heart of Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District. Beautifully designed and decorated, their spaces were as warm and inviting as their clinicians.
It was a joy to take their photos and provide high-quality photos for them to update their website.
In late fall, natural window light can be tricky to work with so I came in with three off-camera lights to help light the photos. Here are a few highlights from the session including some behind the scenes photos.
DBT Winnipeg’s Website
Need new photos that showcase your team and space with professionalism?
