Phone photos are perfect for quick snaps. They freeze a moment, but often lack the feeling that a real camera captures. When I photograph my families, one of the first things I tell them is to avoid what I like to call “the phone smile and the hip pop”. You know the one standing in a line, arms around each other, a little tilt, and that practiced smile we’ve all perfected the moment a phone comes out.

Whether you're a photographer wondering how others do it or a family preparing for your own session, understanding the key elements of light