Fun With Cell Phone Camera Portrait Mode

It's no secret how cell phone cameras have changed the way we take photos, yes, even those of us who photograph for a living love the convenience of having a camera on us at all times, without "lugging" a DSLR around 24/7.  

About a year ago I had to "upgrade" my cell phone because I could see a slow death occurring with my current phone.  My phone wasn't very old, about 3 years, but I had these pink lines going through the screen and was told by several folks it was time to "get a new phone".

My requirements in a cell phone are easy.  I wanted "the best camera"

I don't run my business from my "smart" phone, I have a laptop and work hours for that...but if I'm going to carry my phone with me everywhere I go, then I wanted the camera in it to be good enough to take the place of my digital camera for my personal life, for my everyday moment capturing...and I do a lot of that.

This post isn't about the best smart phone camera, this post is about helping you take better photos with your smartphone camera...because I believe there is a saying out there that goes something like this...the best camera for you is the one you have with you...

So when I decided I needed to get a new phone, I started researching those with the "best cameras" as the feature that was most important to me.  Nowadays with technology racing so quickly, what is "the best" today, certainly will no longer be the best a year from now.  I should also add, for Joanne the "best camera" is also limited to what I am willing to spend...which will never be "unlimited"

For me, I chose the Google Pixel 3A XL.  I purchased this phone for less than $500, and it has the exact same camera as the Google Pixel 3 which (at that time) was double the price.  

In the next few weeks I want to share with you all some photo taking tips with your cell phone.  Most of us have one, most of us use it, and even if our phones are different, many of them are set up with similar features that it might be fun for you all to experiment with your features and get some great results.  No I am not an expert, but I do know a thing or two and am happy to share and learn along side many of you.

I am also an avid scrapbooker and see some of the questions about photos, especially phone photos that come up in that community...so sharing with you all here will help me delve into some areas of my cell phone camera that I know very little about...here's to learning new things!!

The first subject I am talking about is the "portrait" mode on your cell phone camera.  The portrait mode is an "auto" mode which tells your camera you are taking a "portrait" and to keep the subject clear and focused and blur out the background.  The dictionary defines a portrait as "a painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving of a person, especially one depicting only the face or head and shoulders" ...

With that said, please note the "one" person...again...auto mode is a particular set of calculations the computer in your camera uses to determine what your "one" is...and it focuses on that and blurs out the rest.

And for the majority of the time, it does everything perfectly!!

So, give it a try!!  Put your camera on portrait mode and have some fun, and please please share your photos with me...either here or on my facebook page!!  Minor Moments Photography on Facebook

My cellphone, when placed on portrait mode, takes two photos, one "regular" and one on portrait mode.  Here are my two samples...left side is regular, right side is portrait mode, which "automatically" blurs out the background putting all of the "focus" on the subject matter that is star of the show.  In this case, this is not a portrait of a person but it works incredibly well to give you a very pleasing image and eliminating other "distractions"   I'm guessing I know which one you like best!  (pretty incredible right?!  YES these photos I am sharing today are all taken with my cell phone and no fussing...just change the mode to portrait!)

Here's another example

  But I do want to share with you another image where the camera on an auto mode can get confused...and lucky for me...will allow me to keep working as a professional photographer where I do not work in auto mode.  This next set of photos shows you the auto portrait mode first.  The portrait mode couldn't separate my dogs hat from the background and you can see it kept a clump of grass sharply focused behind her head and blurred out the rest...which makes for a funny photo.  When I photograph in portrait mode on my phone, I actually get two photos, one in portrait and one "regular" or "not in portrait" whereas in this case the regular photo is actually better.

So please, let me see yours!!  Try it and share with all of us please!!

footnote:  I took both my DSLR and my phone with me to Randall's Apple Orchard in Standish yesterday, and I took photos with both, but I have yet to even look at my DSLR photos...let alone put them on my computer because I love the quality and convenience of sharing my cell phone pics!!

May 2020 Stay at Home Covid Lockdown

Hello Everyone!!

I'm back!

Father forgive me it's been two years since my last blog post...

I'm going to give this another try...it's a new year...for me two new years :)

I put together this 7 minute video for a networking presentation with a group I'm in called Collaborative Connections (it's an open group...so message me if your interested!!)

This is my personal photo diary for the past 8 weeks...a few of them I copied from Facebook, but that should be extremely evident when you see them...think Jake...

I am one of the blessed ones, all is good here.

Please feel free to let me know what you think...hopefully my photos leave you with a smile. 

The Targaryen Litter, born October 27, 2017 a Maine Photographer

First let me apologize for the year long absence.  No excuses.  Life is busy.

Six months ago my English Cream golden retriever baby had 4 puppies.  Violet went the same route as her mother, through artificial insemination.  Thank you so much to my BFF Kathy who accompanied me to Cape Cod for the day for the adventure of introducing Violet to her stud male Theo.  When I posted a facebook photo of Theo and Violet, a friend commented that we would have a Targaryen litter.  If you are a Game of Thrones fan you would immediately understand the comment to mean "white hair" and since both my husband and I are fans of the show we thought the litter name was appropriate.  Today the puppies turn 6 months old.  Although I have been missing from this blog, I did post regular photos on facebook during the 2 months that this litter blessed our family.  Here is a little catch up.

I had a little maternity shoot with my girls :)

October 27th, the puppies arrive!!

 ...and begin to grow quickly!!

and, then came the visitors.  Much puppy therapy was provided November and December at the Minor house!!

 and kids always find a creative way to play...

Celebrating Nana Chloe's birthday!!!!

 YES, we visited Santa.  Yes, I need to provide a behind the scenes look ;)  HUGE thank you to my friend Darlene who accompanied us to help keep everyone safe on our outing!!

And possibly my favorite photo shoot of all time.  My husbands idea to bundle the puppies up and take advantage of the time of year and do an LLBean photoshoot.  Yes, we left at the crack of dawn.  Yes, it was zero degrees outside.  Yes, it was once in a lifetime!

So, today the Targarey Litter is 6 months old!!

I am super lucky that 2 of the puppies in this litter are living local, right here in my city, and both of them have remained a big part of my life!!  Brady and Cody, 3rd and 4th born pay a weekly visit to the Minor house.  Their personalities differ slightly, but Matt and I love them unconditionally.  

Brady is part of the Knight family, and he actually lives on my road.  Lucky Lucky me!!  Lucky Brady.  He is a joy!  Definitely a puppy!  He loves to visit with his Mom and Nana!  He looks so very much like his Mama, upon a quick glance it can be tough to tell them apart...and he is SUPER fast!!

He learned to pee outside, in the snow, and last I knew would travel clear across the yard to find it!!

and his human Mom Suzanne brings him by for quick visits, sometimes when his brother Cody is visiting, and she always carries treats!!

This is Cody.  (#4...Orange)  He was the last born.  First at everything.  First to jump out of the whelping box, first to drink from the water dish, first to pee on the pee pad.  He also visits weekly.  He is super sweet and very gentle, but he's sneaky too.  Found the bedtime treats we give to the girls and helped himself.  Both Mom and Nana were horrified of his braizeness and were looking at me in disbelief that I was letting him get away with it!!  Super funny!  Super smart!  He's a puppy for sure!

Since Cody visits often, Josh and I recreated one of our favorite poses!

 Nana Chloebutt is always in charge.  Violet behaves like her offspring and loves to play with Cody and Brady.

 Missy, the only girl of the litter lives in Bangor with David and his family.  David tells me "She is the sweetest!" She loves to ride in the car and goes everywhere with her human Mom.  She is an absolute joy and we thank you for choosing us as her family.  She has more toys than we had as a kid.  Spoiled!!

Joanne talking here...love letters from home always make us smile!!  Happy 6 month birthday baby girl!!

 And another love letter from Ricky Baker, the future STUD of the litter.  Ricky Baker lives in Brewster MA and he is the chosen one to continue our family pedigree.  First we called him "Two" because he was the second born, then we called him "Blue" once I received the colored collars.  He wanted to be claimed by all who met him.  He truly is every definition of a stud.  His human Mom Diane writes "Ricky Baker is so good natured!  He's happy, smart, friendly, gentle with all animals and people, and very well-behaved.  He loves to romp with other dogs, hike, swim, and gnaw on sticks.  Sending you sincere gratitude for your part in getting him started in life!!"

Oh Diane, my family sends so much love and hugs right back at you and Ricky Baker!!  I cannot wait to watch him grow!!

 Thank you everyone who stopped by to read this, it's been a long time coming.  What a blessing for Matt and I to get the opportunity to experience an English Cream Golden Retriever litter from conception to homeward bound!!  Thank you Rushell of Snowypaws golden retrievers, we look forward to doing it all again in 2019!!