Take your mobile photography & videography to the next level with this gear

Smartphones and their ever-evolving cameras have redefined the way we share things with people. Point, snap, and share – it can’t get any simpler than that! Few people realize that behind this straightforward process lies camera hardware with great potential – potential that's not always tapped into.

Today's smartphone cameras offer full manual controls, advanced image stabilization, 4K HDR video recording, and much more. Those who strive to take advantage of such capabilities can be classified as enthusiasts – they're the ones who experiment and take the plunge, attempting to up their content capturing game by using all camera tools at their disposal. 

If you find yourself in this boat, then you’ll want to pay extra attention to what we’re going to be recommending below. We’re going to talk about some gear you’ll want to get in order to take your mobile photography and videography to the next level. 

Selfie sticks, while tremendously popular, offer incredible versatility that you’re probably not aware of. Not only are they great when you’re trying to capture more people into your selfies, but they can offer different perspectives for both photos and videos – whether they’re positioned high up to give people a “looking down” view or low for action shots like when you’re skateboarding or something. Even better, some selfie sticks act as monopods as well, like the Polar Pro Trippler, where the handle comes apart to allow it to stay stationary in place. You can find simple selfie sticks for cheap at about $10, but the more complex ones can easily go upwards of $50.

 

Optical and digital stabilization helped improve the way smartphone videos turn out, but when it comes to keeping something steady in one place or offering smooth pans and tilts, there’s nothing like a good ‘ol tripod for the occasion. There many models to choose from, ranging from simple ones to others that offer more articulation, like the handful of Joby GorillaPod copycats that have articulating legs. Regardless, they’re relatively affordable and should be on your must-have list! Most smartphone tripods can be purchased for under $50, making them one of the first things you should invest in if you’re serious about photography or videography!

 

Smartphone dollies are geared towards videographers, mainly because they help to add dynamic movements to a scene. Sure, there are pans and tilts that you could do when recording stuff, but dollies provide more consistency. Most basic ones that are hand-operated can be picked up on the cheap, but there are mechanical, motor-driven ones too that produce finer movements – albeit, they generally cost more. Regardless of what option you end up choosing, dollies can be adjusted to run through a variety of paths.

Adding new perspectives to your shots can easily be accomplished using add-on smartphone camera lenses – like the kind from Moment or Olloclip. These lenses are typically placed over the camera on your phone, whether that’s done by a clip that holds the lens in place or by placing the phone in a case to which the lens is mounted. Regardless, you can fasten on telephoto, super wide-angle, and even fish eye lenses, which can be used on both front and rear cameras. If you don’t have a fancy triple camera system on your phone – like the ones the LG V40 or Huawei Mate 20 have – then these add-on lenses are great solutions to enhance your photos and videos. Off-brand names can be picked up for dirt cheap, but name brand ones like the ones we mentioned can easily fetch for around $50 to $100.

 

Most high-end smartphones offer the convenience of optical stabilization, reducing the potential of blurry photos and keeping your video footage nice and steady. However, if you really want that “walking on air” look, then you’ll want to invest in a smartphone gimbal. Models like the Smove gimbal helps to keep your phone level while you move, which can make for some cinematic shots when shooting video once you’ve mastered some techniques. Not only do they offer smooth and steady footage, you can even use them for time-lapse photography wherein the gimbal rotates very slowly to offer a more dynamic time-lapse. Typically, the average smartphone gimbal costs between $100 to $200.

Smartphones have taken convenience to a higher level by allowing us to instantly share the photos we capture. If you’re looking for something a bit more personable, then printing out some of your best shots would be it. There are several portable printers that offer the convenience of quickly printing shots taken by your phone, like the Kodak Photo Printer Mini, which prints out these fun bite-sized photos. Seeing a photo you’ve captured with your smartphone is one thing, but to see a collage of them put into a scrapbook definitely gives them a more personable touch! These printers obviously require more of an investment, mainly because of the paper and ink cartridges you’ll need to keep a healthy supply of when using them.