THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO...Smartphone photography

Who needs a bulky camera to take great shots? High-end smartphones put the power in your pocket - so long as you know how to get the best out of them

- Amy Davies

A t long last, the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. There's never been a better time to get out and about and elevate your photography to the next level.

In days gone by, you'd probably have needed an expensive dedicated camera, set of lenses and all manner of other accessories if you wanted to get some fantastic snaps, but these days, nearly everybody is carrying around a decent - possibly even pro-level-camera in their pocket.

Utilising your smartphone to take award-worthy pictures has never been easier. Almost every high-end smartphone has been designed to appeal to those who favour the quality of the onboard camera. They come locked and loaded with all you need to transform ordinary scenes into prize-winning vistas and are more advanced than ever.

Multiple lenses, an array of different shooting modes, AI technology to help sort out any pesky photo problems, advanced video-capability and more besides mean that it's no longer always necessary to lug around a big bag of kit with you.

With travel and days out on the horizon, figuring out how to master the camera you always have with you is a great way to ensure your precious memories are captured in the best way possible. And it also frees you from the burden of a heavy bag that threatens to tip you over your carry-on limit.

HOW DO SMARTPHONES COMPARE?

Gone are the days of fuzzy, lowresolution pictures that only really come out well in the most favourable of lighting conditions. Thanks to a plethora of advancements in recent years, it's becoming increasingly difficult to spot the differences between images taken on a smartphone and on more complex (and usually more expensive) dedicated cameras.