Urban photography is about capturing the essence of a city and communicating its story through images. Photographers do this by capturing buildings, architecture, and the people of a city, whether candidly or through portrait photography. If you love history and understanding the story of a city through its urban landscape, then urban photography is for you. Here are 7 tips and tricks for capturing urban photography on your iPhone.

Studying the city you are photographing is important so that you know where to go for historical landmarks and scenic spots. The context in which you take photos is crucial, as it helps you tell the story of the city and understand which buildings, streets, or pieces of architecture hold significance.

Adjusting to the time of day and weather will have a significant impact on your images. The time of day matters due to the lighting and the effect it can have on the overall mood. Golden hour, blue hour, or the middle of the day when the sun is harsh will all influence your photos. The weather is also important to consider, as rain, sun, or even snow can add different moods or effects to your images.

A city will naturally tell its story through the buildings that are built and transformed over time. Finding sharp contrasts like these, side by side, can significantly impact the story you are trying to tell and are worth keeping an eye out for.

Even if it isn't buildings, paying attention to contrasting colors in buildings, signs, people's clothes, or plants is a unique way to capture a story.

We recommend using the SANDMARC Wide Lens or Telephoto 2x Lens for urban photography. A wide lens is ideal for capturing vast cityscapes, such as large buildings, parks, or streets. The telephoto 2x lens is perfect for portraits or close-up shots for added framing, allowing you to highlight specific details with clarity.

Long exposure refers to when your camera's shutter speed is slowed down. However, the iPhone camera doesn't create long exposures like a traditional camera. Instead, the iPhone allows users to utilize the Live Photo feature and then blend frames to simulate the long exposure effect.

For urban photography, you can use long exposure techniques to capture the hustle and bustle of a city by applying the effect to moving cars or people.

Adjusting your stance to explore different angles and perspectives can add more depth to your images. Get low or climb high to see how varying heights affect your shots. Take advantage of natural occurrences, like a puddle of water for creating unique reflections or shadows cast on buildings or streets to add creative elements to your composition. A shadow or puddle of water can create different effects depending on the perspective.

Maintain cohesion in your photographs by choosing a specific story to tell and focusing on a point of interest. The story can be conveyed through your subjects, the mood set by the colors you capture, and even the lenses you use, as each can impact the narrative in unique ways.