How to get better smartphone photos: RAW shooting and editing tips
Smartphone cameras can rival dedicated cameras if users shoot in RAW and edit with third-party apps. The guide highlights specific tools and techniques for better image quality.
Modern smartphones feature larger sensors and better light-gathering capabilities, yet the image quality from default camera apps has not improved much. In some ways, photos have become aesthetically worse, because manufacturers optimize cameras for information transfer — capturing menus, signs and faces with maximum clarity. This results in flat, washed-out images with over-sharpening and noise reduction artifacts.
According to a detailed guide, the solution involves using third-party camera apps and editing software. Apps like Dazzcam and Hujicam emulate film aesthetics, while Moment Pro Camera II and Halide offer "Natural" or "Process Zero" modes with lighter processing. For the highest quality, the guide recommends shooting in RAW or DNG, which captures almost all sensor data with minimal processing.
Recommended RAW-shooting apps include Moment Pro Camera II and Halide on iOS, and VWFNDR and Zerocam on Android. However, RAW is not for every shot. It works best for landscapes, city scenes and artistic portraits, while low-light situations often benefit from the phone's computational photography, which stacks multiple frames to reduce noise.
When shooting RAW, the guide advises tapping the subject for exposure and sticking to the phone's native focal lengths, since cropping applies processing. The main sensor usually delivers the best quality, though the telephoto lens can be useful for extra reach when traveling.
Editing is essential because RAW files appear flat. The guide suggests Snapseed, a free app recently overhauled, or Lightroom Mobile for Adobe subscribers. Import RAW files directly from the share sheet, then use auto mode as a starting point. Auto adjustments pull down highlights and raise shadows, but users should refine contrast, saturation and white balance manually. A natural amount of contrast with detail in shadows and highlights is generally preferred, but tastes vary.
Selective color tools allow adjusting brightness, contrast, saturation and structure in specific areas, while geometry tools fix distortion and straighten lines. The choice of tools depends on the subject: architectural photos need perspective correction, landscapes benefit from tone and color tweaks. Finally, adding a border or matte can enhance presentation. The guide concludes that while this workflow takes more effort than point-and-shoot, the results can approach dedicated cameras. It also points to a video comparing RAW photos from the iPhone 17 Pro with the Leica M11.
