Besides the question, “what smartphone do you use?” ( both an iphone and a Samsung) I’m often asked what’s in my smartphone photography kit. Now the whole point of being a smartphone photographer is that you shouldn’t need a lot of “equipment”. In reality though, once you move past the occasional point and shoot photo, you’ll find that you require a few accessories to give your images to a more professional looking level.
Note: this post contains affiliate links. There is no extra charge for you but I make a (tiny) commission if you purchase through my link.
Tripod
The first thing I recommend buying is a tripod and a tripod phone adapter. If you are photographing an interior (hello interior designers) you will need to have a tripod in order to capture clear, sharp images. Even shooting outside on a windy day or doing some landscape photography might warrant using a tripod.
When you shop for a tripod, don’t get one that is too short. I see a lot on Amazon that are very affordable but they only reach a height of 45″ or 50″. If you’re going to invest in a tripod then look for one that is between 60″- 65″.
For my most of my interior shoots I use my existing tripod that I’ve had for about thirty years. It’s super sturdy, but also, super heavy and cost hundreds of dollars. You do not need such a high end one.
This one below is a good option and extends to 67″ tall. It is sturdy enough for even a DSLR camera as well as your smartphone. Link is HERE.
Smartphone to tripod adapter
To use a tripod with the smartphone you will need an adapter to attach the phone to the tripod. The one below is the one I own. It is solid steel and although a little more expensive than many others, I like the mobility of it and the quality is top rate. You can check it out HERE
If you want something more budget friendly, check out the one below. It even comes with a bluetooth shutter release. You can find it HERE.
Bluetooth Remote
I also recommend purchasing a bluetooth remote shutter release. You won’t have to worry about any camera shake when you touch the shutter button to take a photo. Plus, If you are shooting a scene with a mirror (and don’t want a reflection of yourself in the mirror) you can hide around the corner while you expose for the photo.
They are usually sold in pairs and work with Android, iphone and DSLR cameras. See it HERE
All in one kit
I recently purchased this very inexpensive all in one kit. It’s actually a selfie stick but it can’t be beat for portability. It comes with a tripod, a tripod phone adapter and a bluetooth remote; everything one needs for an interior shot.
I like it because it’s lightweight and I can throw it in the back of my car or in my large tote bag. I will caution you though, the kit is somewhat flimsy. It’s fine for the occasional interior shot but if you plan on shooting interiors on a regular basis then you will want something more sturdy.
It’s made by UBeesize and you can view it HERE
Supplemental lights in my smartphone photography kit
If you are a designer, stager or realtor, shooting your own interior projects, then eventually you will want to invest in some supplemental lights. Now let me preface this by saying I shoot 95% of my interiors WITHOUT any additional lights. However, there will be cases such as interior bathrooms or basements with zero natural light that will be impossible to shoot without lights.
As Smart as the smartphone is, it can’t work miracles and magically make a pitch dark space appear bright and well lite…not yet anyway!
If have not used lights before and want to learn how to use them, then check out my online course. “Smartphone Photography For Interior Designers”. One of the modules in my course is on interior photography and I fully cover supplemental lighting, composition and editing.
This is the setup I own and use.This Promaster kit comes with two light stands, and two soft boxes. In a small space you will only need to use one light. In a larger room it’s nice to have the option of a second light.
The stands and lights are lightweight and very easy to set up. Each light has a long cord so there is plenty of flexibility to move them around the room. Find them HERE
The LED bulb(s) that’s in my smartphone photography kit
The promaster set comes with everything except the light bulbs. The bulb below is the one you’ll want to order. As I write this post they are sold out on Amazon (they are very popular) but they will not be out of stock check back in a few days if they are sold out. You can find it HERE
These are daylight balanced bulbs so there will be no color shift as there is when you turn on an artificial room light.
So that’s everything in my Smartphone photography kit. Again, I want to stress that 95% of the time I use my smartphone without any accessories. Shooting a subject in low light, or when shooting a sunrise or sunset, that’s when I bring out the tripod. When I am photographing an interior, especially a dark interior, that’s when the lights come along with me as well.
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