I was like you. I never thought that I’d really see the day where a phone was capable of outdoing many DSLRs and mirrorless cameras–but it was proof that what counts the most is the message and content rather than looks. These days, phones are catching up to more serious dedicated cameras. Adobe Lightroom, one of the programs that so many photographers use and care about, is now on your phone. But some phones can now also shoot RAW DNG photos and have pretty much full control over the exposure with the exception of the aperture setting. There are indeed some with aperture control, but those are rare and have extra large sensors too.
Some photographers have made their living and careers simply shooting for Instagram and using social media as their main marketing platform. But with the addition of RAW shooting capabilities and editing of those DNG files, phones and mobile devices are catching up and closing the gap even more. But what about interchangeable lenses? Have you heard of Moment? Their lenses are incredible in the right hands in the same way that an 85mm f1.2 L lens is incredible in the right hands.
See where we’re going here?
It’s all about just getting your creative vision across.
Want to use the latest Sony A7 camera? Go for it. Love Leica lenses? Use them to tell your story.
Does a phone work for you? Cool! Use it! Years ago photographers never took the internet, digital, or social media seriously. Times have changed.
Want to cling to gear still? Then learn lighting–it’s where the phones can’t even begin to touch you in terms of quality.
But keep in mind that what you should sell first and foremost is a vision–even if you’re shooting that with your phone.