One of the greatest aspects of photography is that you’re never done learning. Whether you’ve just started exploring smartphone photography or have years of experience, there’s always something new to discover.
However, unlike traditional photography, you may find it difficult to find credible resources from which to learn. Thankfully, there are smartphone photographers around the world who are eager to share their expertise and experience with like-minded people.
These are just a few of the best Android and iPhone photography books on the market. Within their pages, you’ll learn the right tools and techniques to take your mobile phone photography game to the next level.
5 Best Smartphone Photography Books
Learning from a mobile phone photography book can feel like you’re getting a more comprehensive understanding of the topic. After all, there are books on the subject on this list with over 35 chapters!
We’ve included camera phone photography books, but also options on the topic of:
- creating alter-reality scenes with an iPhone
- low light photography on a smartphone
- smartphone videography
- smartphone photography and videography terminology
Best Smartphone Photography Book #1 – Smart Phone Smart Photography by Jo Bradford
This book is an excellent resource for all mobile phone photographers, but beginners will find it especially helpful. It covers nearly every aspect of smartphone photography and contains hacks, tips, and tricks to help you make the most out of your cell phone’s camera.
The first section of the book focuses on the basics of photography. You’ll learn about focus, composition, exposure, and light. Once you’ve mastered these essential skills, you’ll move on to learning how to photograph specific subjects such as people and places.
The final section of the book discusses editing with apps. Here you’ll learn what it takes to take your already great photos and make them even better.
Not only does this book give you specific advice on what settings to use within your phone’s camera app, but it also provides plenty of examples. Each tip or technique mentioned in the book is accompanied by a photo, giving you a visual reference to remember.
Smart Phone Smart Photography is available as both a paperback and Kindle ebook.
Best Smartphone Photography Book #2 – Art with an iPhone: A Photographer’s Guide to Creating Altered Realities by Kat Sloma
Although this book specifically targets photographers that work with iPhones, it’s a valuable source of information. From understanding your phone’s hardware to which apps are best for smartphone photography, you’re sure to learn something new.
If you decide you need an iPhone, check out our full guide on 2020s best here.
Sloma’s book functions as a step-by-step guide to creating art with your iPhone. Every aspect of mobile phone photography is covered in the 36 chapters.
The first few chapters will help you to understand your phone and its capabilities better. You’ll learn which apps are ideal for photography and how to use them.
The rest of the book discusses photography basics such as point of view, aspect ratio, and how to deal with lens flare.
Once you’ve mastered these skills, you can move on to the chapters about editing. Whether you’re interested in subtle retouches or creating an altered reality, you’ll learn the skills you need to create your ideal look.
You can buy Art with an iPhone as either a paperback or Kindle ebook.
Best Smartphone Photography Book #3 – Art of a Small Camera: Low Light Photography for Compact Cameras and Smartphones by GS Tyler
One of the biggest challenges faced by smartphone photographers is taking high-quality photos in low light environments. Unlike DSLRs, most cell phones don’t offer the range of manual settings needed for low light photography. But don’t worry, you can still capture great images with your smartphone with very little light.
This book guides you through the challenges of low light mobile phone photography and teaches you how to conquer them. This book contains valuable information that is sure to make you a better smartphone photographer.
If you don’t know much about cameras or photography in general, be sure to read the first few chapters thoroughly. They’ll teach you everything you need to know to get started. However, if you’re an experienced photographer, this may be more of a review for you.
From there, the author takes you through the different levels of natural light. You’ll learn how to capture great pictures at the golden hour and beyond. You’ll also learn how to handle bright background lights and how to set your exposure on the fly.
The last section of the book is dedicated to specific low light situations. If you’ve always dreamed of capturing a cityscape at night, you’ll learn how to accomplish your goals here. The book also offers advice on shooting in nightclubs and at parties, as well as photographing kids and pets in low light environments.
Art of a Small Camera is only available as a Kindle ebook.
Best Smartphone Photography Book #4 – The Smartphone Filmmaking Handbook: Revealing the Secrets of Smartphone Movie Making by Neil Philip Sheppard
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at smartphone filmmaking, this is the book for you. Whether you intend to educate or vlog, this book will teach you how to choose the right equipment and use the proper techniques to produce high-quality smartphone videography.
Not only will you learn which smartphones are best for filmmaking, but you’ll also learn which settings you’ll need to adjust to produce your video. The author discusses different apps, as well as what additional equipment you may need to accomplish your goals.
Once you’ve filmed enough footage for your video, you’ll also need to edit it. The last section of the book goes into detail about which apps are best for editing videos and how you can edit videos on your computer if you choose to do so.
The book’s advice doesn’t end there, however, as the author will also teach you about filming for television, cinema, and the web. The Smartphone Filmmaking Handbook contains everything you need to produce your next great video.
You can buy this book as either a paperback or Kindle ebook.
Best Smartphone Photography Book #5 – The Smartphone Photography Guide by Peter Cope
This guidebook is an in-depth overview of smartphone photography designed for beginners and experienced photographers alike. Think of the book as an encyclopedia of smartphone photography information written by an expert.
The first chapter covers the very basics of getting to know your smartphone camera and how to get the best image quality. You’ll learn what apps and which settings will help you improve your photography.
From there, you’ll learn about photography essentials like composition and lighting. After learning how to take the perfect picture, you’ll read about editing, both on your phone and your computer.
The guidebook also has a chapter dedicated to the various genres of photography. It covers portraits, travel photography, urban landscapes, and more. The author also covers which apps are best and how to use them to create incredible images.
Finally, the book discusses which tools and accessories are ideal for both Android and iPhone photography, as well as how to share your photos on social media. There’s even a section on how to turn your mobile phone photography hobby into a money-making venture.
The Smartphone Photography Guide is available only in paperback.
