disclosure:  this post is sponsored by Skillshare.

I take pictures like this every day for the blog.

Normally, I drag out the camera and the camera bag and my lens and the tripod and take 10 minutes to set it all up.

And another hour to take all the pictures and adjust all the settings on the DSLR and twist the tripod this way and that way and try to remember to charge the battery on the camera so it’s ready and I don’t have to wait.

I love it all.

But truth?

It can be a little exhausting.

So yesterday I thought I would try something different.

Something I wasn’t sure would work.

Something I’d tried before and it didn’t really turn out.

But today?

IT DID.

Guess how I took this picture and all the rest of the pictures on the post and saved myself TWO HOURS.

Instead of my big, fancy, camera…

…I spent five minutes and took them with my phone.

It all started with this class over on Skillshare.  You’ve heard me talk about Skillshare before. 

I am the president of its fan club.  

Seriously.

Skillshare is an awesome learning community full of more than 20,000 online classes on skills that are just waiting to be learned.  Classes on photography and crafting and creating and designing and blogging and so much more.

I just logged into my Skillshare account and searched for classes on taking pictures with your phone.

And I watched them and took notes and got some tips from experts.

And now?

It took my phone pictures to the next level.

Truly.

Taking pictures with my phone was so much easier.

There are so many things my phone can do that I never even knew.

For example, I learned how to adjust my angles so I could take flat-lays like this one.

And create a bokeh effect with the phone to take a picture like this one.

(total photography aside: bokeh is all that fuzz at the bottom of the picture).

I learned about the camera grid on the phone that helps with composition so I could take pictures like this one.

I learned about layers and frames and creating silhouettes and backlighting.

All with your phone.

There are still things I love about my camera, but to have the phone as a back-up for last-minute shots and overhead shots for the blog?

Seriously.

Priceless.

And now—in super exciting news–you can take this class and hundreds of others just like it when you try Skillshare for two months for FREE by clicking here or by entering the promo code THISTLE3 at checkout.

Here are a few others I found that I want to try:

Mobile Photography: Creating Consistent Look and Feel

Mobile Photography Basics for Instagram Success

Mastering Mobile Photography: A Practical Guide

Mobile Photography: How I Earn A Secondary Income

This is just a sampling of some of the classes on mobile photography.

I’m not done yet.  I’m going to take a few more.  I want to try to get better and learn to adjust the white balance a little more in photos like these.

Like Buddy.

I want him to be a little more golden.

Good thing there’s Skillshare.  Good thing there are classes that can help me with that.  There are over 20,000 classes in every possible area you can think of–from photography to building your social media platform to learning how to blog.

You can check them all out here and design and create and dream and learn to your heart’s content….

….for FREE. 🙂

To try out Skillshare for two months for FREE, simply click here or enter the promo code THISTLE3 at checkout.

There are thousands of classes waiting with a seat with your name on it…

….just waiting to help you learn something new. 🙂

disclosure:  This post was sponsored by Skillshare.

All opinions are my own and I would shout them from the rooftops if I could.

Please see my advertising page for more information.

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Posted On: April 27, 2018

Written By: KariAnne Wood

Comments

  3. Image for Sharon H Sharon H

    I don't think even Skillshare can help much with my iPhone 5c....I seriously need to update my phone. But this is awesome information, Miz karianne and I thank you! Have a great day!

    Reply
  5. Image for Peg Peg

    When phones first came out with a camera, I said to myself "Now who would ever need that?!!" My how times have changed!! xoxo

    Reply
  7. Image for Margaret Mills Margaret Mills

    I want that wooden world map with the white “salt” or glass pieces. Please show more of it and tell me where you got it. Your brother probably made it for you—but I hope not!

    Reply
      1. Image for Ann Baird Ann Baird

        Margaret Mills is my sister, and I'm sure she's already gone to get it. If she can't find it where she lives, she'll send me to look where I live. That's the way we roll! 😂😂

        Reply
    1. Image for KariAnne KariAnne

      Laurilyn, Thank you so much for asking! We changed his diet and took him off sugar and gluten and he totally turned around. His cough was getting worse just this week and we are monitoring it. He is part of our family. ❤️ karianne

      Reply
  11. Image for Julie Briones Julie Briones

    This is interesting... Beth Bryan just did a post on this, too (taking photos for the blog with a phone)... Which do you like better? Do you notice the quality difference? Inquiring minds want to know! ;-)

    Reply
    1. Image for KariAnne Wood KariAnne Wood

      Julie, That's a great question! I like the flexibility and ease of the phone. It literally took five minutes. It's good in a pinch---but I really like the quality of a DSLR better---less grainy. Your photography is so pretty! I can tell how hard you've been working! You are amazing! karianne

      Reply
  12. Image for Mary in VA Mary in VA

    Wow, my pictures are 100% better already! Thanks for telling us about this and for participating in the two-month free trial.

    Reply
    1. Image for KariAnne Wood KariAnne Wood

      Thanks friend! Here are some other fun classes: Mobile Photography: Creating Consistent Look and Feel Mobile Photography Basics for Instagram Success Mastering Mobile Photography: A Practical Guide Mobile Photography: How I Earn A Secondary Income

      Reply
  15. Image for Audrey Johnson Audrey Johnson

    Wow. I would never have thought that those photos were taken with your phone. They are wonderful. I never realized that you could do so much with a phone. My phone has a great camera for everyday shots. I wonder how it would be if I really learned how to use it. Thank you for sharing the photos and the info.

    Reply
  16. Image for Deborah Deborah

    Karianne, would you be willing to share the name of the paint you used in the room with the desk and white chairs? It’s a perfect shade!

    Reply

Comments are closed.