Smartphones — no matter the price range — drastically improved in the last couple of years in terms of camera prowess.

One of the midrange powerhouses, the OPPO Reno8 Series 5G, houses an insane set of cameras. With an exceptional, accessible tool in your hands, how can you maximize it?

Fret not, here are tricks that help you take better smartphone portraits using your OPPO Reno8 5G and OPPO Reno8 Z 5G.

Practice the rule of thirds

One of my favorite compositions when taking portraits is the rule of thirds. With an amazing set of cameras, you’ll be certain to take vivid and sharp portraits especially if you follow this rule.

In case you didn’t know, the rule of thirds is a composition guideline. Using a grid, which you can activate on your OPPO Reno 8 5G or Reno 8 Z 5G camera’s settings, you can place your subject either on the left or right third of an image.

Commonly, people will put their subjects in the middle but practicing the rule of thirds gives off a pleasing, compelling shot. In a way, it gives emotional depth.

In photo: Screenshot of OPPO Reno 8 5G’s camera interface

To activate the grid, simply click the Settings icon. Under the “General” tab, you can find “Grid and Guides” where you can choose Grid, along with two other options: Diagonal Lines, and Golden Spiral.

Direct your subject

Even if you have a good set of cameras at your disposal, you won’t be able to take excellent portraits if you, as a photographer, don’t know how to communicate well with your subject.

Taking someone’s portrait also entails directing what they’re going to do and/or pose. Are they going to look up? Which angle looks better on them? Do they feel comfortable in front of the camera?

Establishing a connection helps relieve the anxiety of having your portrait taken. A good photographer knows how to calm the nerves of their subjects.

Don’t forget to assure them that their photos will come out beautifully. The OPPO Reno 8 5G, for instance, has a dual sensor  — Sony IMX766 and IMX709 — that works together for a crisp and vibrant image. It can deliver an ultra-clear 108-megapixel image, together with the OPPO Reno 8 Z 5G.

Take multiple shots, use different modes

Whatever you do, don’t take just one or two shots. Take multiple images, even if you reach 50 photographs of the same pose. Chances are there will be candid changes that happen in between taking those shots.

Maybe the smile is better, or the lighting changed because of a slight movement and that teeny bit made the subject look more gorgeous. You’ll never know what’s going to surprise you, and that’s the beauty of portrait photography.

If you already know this trick, then it’s also a good time to test your smartphone camera’s unique features. In this scenario, activating Ultra Night Portrait can do wonders in a place that isn’t really well-lit, but full of colors.

The feature helps make the photos punch with colors to make them look vibrant, while still looking crisp and less noisy.

Take note of where the light is coming from

Knowing where the light comes from is a skill that takes a while to master. Lighting is one of the foundations of portrait photography since it illuminates a person’s features and helps the photographer achieve their vision.

For beginners, natural light will always be your best friend. Go somewhere with a shade and notice where light comes in. That’s your cue.

In places with plenty of artificial lights, take your time to experiment. Sometimes, a backlit shot can do wonders if done correctly. However, this can only be done appropriately if your smartphone camera has a large sensor to take all the light in.

For instance, the OPPO Reno8 5G has a dual Sony sensor for both its front and rear cameras that come with wider and bigger sensors. On its rear, it uses a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor with a 1/1.56″ sensor size and a wide f/1.8 aperture. Meanwhile, its front houses a 32-megapixel Sony IMX709 sensor. Portraits or selfies, it’s guaranteed to be clear

Find different perspectives

You don’t always have to take photographs at eye level. Sometimes, you have to look around and see things from a different perspective. You can do a top shot, an angled one, or even a worm’s eye view to tell a story.

Don’t use in-app cameras

In-app cameras don’t fully utilize your built-in camera’s prowess. Resolutions are also dampened when you use cameras within an app such as Snow, Snapchat, or Instagram.

The Reno 8 Z 5G can produce an exceptionally high-definition photo with an Ultra-Clear 108-megapixel image. It also has a 64-megapixel AI Portrait Camera and a 16-megapixel Selfie Camera.

The same goes with the Reno 8 5G with its Sony IMX766 and IMX709 sensors that assure you of having detailed, quality photos.

The best course of action is to take a photo using your smartphone’s camera and learn how to post-process the photos on legitimate editing apps such as Adobe Lightroom, VSCO, and Snapseed. It’s guaranteed that using such apps won’t lower the resolution of your favorite portraits.

There’s also a set of presets built inside your cameras. Just go to your Gallery, select the photos you want to edit, and choose from a selection of filters.

Use the right settings when using Portrait Mode

What we don’t like about a smartphone’s portrait mode is having a solid bokeh that makes the subject look like a cutout from a magazine pasted somewhere.

Portrait mode, when done right, produces a shot that has depth and story. To make sure your vision is well-executed, adjust the settings to adjust the depth of field, and always frame your shot with a foreground or a background to help create meaning in your portraits.

Portrait mode, when done right, produces a shot that has depth and story. To make sure your vision is well-executed, adjust the settings to adjust the depth of field, and always frame your shot with a foreground or a background to help create meaning in your portraits.

On that note, the OPPO Reno8 Series 5G can produce soft, bokeh effects akin to captures from a wide-aperture mirrorless camera. If you have a whimsical background, take advantage of the setting to let your subject stand out.

For the Reno 8 Z 5G, you can ensure that your portraits will come out fresh and fabulous. With AI Portrait Retouching available on its rear and front cameras, the feature uses an AI blemish removal algorithm that removes blemishes, pimples, acne scars, and sun spots. It accurately identifies visible flaws without removing your beauty spots like moles.

Depending on the situation, the feature can enhance the skin tone and makeup without any artificial brightening. It just looks natural!

Keep yourself steady

Regardless of your shooting modes, you need to keep yourself steady. One way to do this is to try to hold your breath when taking a photo, especially if you don’t have a tripod. This keeps your phone steady, ensuring that the photo produced is sharp and crisp.

Bonus: Clean your lens

Professional and seasoned photographers know when a photograph was taken with a dirty lens. Don’t be that person. Make sure you wipe the lens of your phone with soft fabrics to steer clear of specks of dust and smudges.

The OPPO Reno8 5G retails for PhP 27,999 while the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G is priced at PhP 19,999. Order your OPPO Reno8 5G now at OPPO Brand Stores, partner dealers, and e-commerce sites.

• Shopee
• Lazada
• TikTok Shop

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This feature was produced in collaboration between GadgetMatch and OPPO Philippines.