If the best camera is the one you have with you, the same goes for the best phone photography accessories — which is why you need all of these. From lenses to tripods to lights, these portable camera phone accessories are must-haves for anyone who wants to up their Instagram game.
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A few nights ago I was out with my Charlotte Food Bloggers group at one of my favorite restaurants, Mama Ricotta’s. They served us gorgeous, spring cocktails, a giant caprese cheese board and beautifully-plated desserts.
It was Instagram gold.
One thing you should know about food bloggers (if you don’t already) is that we looooove to take photos. When we’re at one of our monthly eat-ups, every single dish will be accosted by a fleet of phones firing away photos and videos.
At events like this, it’s always nice to be with like-minded people who also wish, after a dish is served, to spend the next two to five minutes taking photos of said dish.
(My fiancé feels differently and wishes we could just hurry up and eat already.)
For the first hour, the natural light on Mama Ricotta’s patio was perfect. But after a while, the sun began to set, and with it our images’ quality.
Not to be let down, I whipped out my latest toy: a selfie light to fill in the shadows.
My friends marveled at this little LED lamp that clips onto my iPhone. “I need one of these!” was remarked several times. (Side note: I don’t think I have ever used the selfie light to take a selfie!)
As I let my friends try it out in their photos, it got me thinking that I have tried a number of the best phone photography accessories out there, and I have quite the list to share!
Read on to see my list of must-haves (including that coveted selfie light!) — and comment to let me know if you agree, and what you would add!
Here are my top picks for the best phone photography accessories:
Portable Charger
My phone camera seems to use up my battery like no other app. I never leave home without a fully-charged, portable charger like this one. Having an extra charge or two in my purse is so handy!
I love Anker products, especially this one. This portable charger can charge two devices at once, which is handy when both my phone AND my rechargeable selfie light (below) are waning in crucial battery life.
Wide Angle / Macro Phone Camera Lens
Sometimes the built-in lens just doesn’t cut it. The option to have a wider angle and a more close-up angle is pivotal!
When I ordered this lens, I was surprised at its bulk, but it is so sturdy! It comes in a little carry pouch with a microfiber cloth for cleaning it.
I have tried other iPhone lenses in the past, and what I love about this one is it clips onto your phone. I don’t even have to remove my case! Others sometimes require a stick-on magnet or only work on certain phone models, but not this one.The wide angle is great for landscapes or even a wider tablescape. The macro is great for zooming in on flowers or getting a tighter angle on a dish.
Telephoto Zoom Lens
If you fancy a close-up of something far away, a zoom lens is the answer! Great for travel shots or close-ups of wildlife.
I love that this lens clips onto your phone! And it’s universal, so it doesn’t even matter what kind of phone you have.
GorillaPod Phone Tripod
Tripods are a must for any cameraperson, so having a phone-sized model is a no-brainer. I have used this GorillaPod for years.
I love how it grips on to just about any surface. The GorillaPod is super lightweight and folds up nicely, which is great for throwing in any travel bag.
It has come in handy for hard-to-reach shots or even setting up a group photo on a self-timer so I can run and be in the shot before the shutter goes off!
PopSockets
If you haven’t seen someone with one of these on the back of their phone yet, let me explain.
A PopSocket is a piece of plastic that adheres to the back of your phone or phone case, and allows you to use it as a kickstand when propped up on a table.
My favorite way to use mine is to slide it between my index and middle finger, because otherwise I will wear my pinky out if I rest my phone there too long!You could also use a phone grip strap or a kickstand.
Sturdy Selfie Stick
Okay, okay. Selfie sticks might be lame. And I have probably definitely laughed at them before.
And then I found a $5 one at Target before we went to San Francisco and now I carry it with me in my purse. But I don’t use mine for selfies! (I rarely take selfies.)
Selfie sticks make great portable monopods.Stick your camera phone up in the air, out over a ledge, down low to get a different angle. Just be creative! This one has Bluetooth and a wireless remote — so handy!
Smartphone Gimbal
If you love taking video, you’ll love having a gimbal to stabilize your shots.
While I don’t have any experience with this product itself, it was recommended to me by a trusted friend. Plus, dating a videographer has taught me a lot about video gear, too!
My guy won’t go anywhere without his gimbal for his fancy camera, so if phone video is your thing, one of these would be so fun to have!
Selfie Light
It fits in my purse and has helped me a few times in low-light situations — such as that evening out with my friends.
Having a selfie light on hand is great for dark restaurants, filling in shadows and, well, selfies! If you do live video, you’ll love having one of these to brighten your face, even in daytime.
Light-up Cell Phone Case
When I was picking out my selfie light, I also considered this selfie light phone case by Lumee. If you prefer to carry a smaller purse, this would be perfect for you!
I chose the separate one because I wanted the option to move my light around, but really — why not just get both?
What would you add to my list of Best Phone Photography Accessories?
I hope you enjoyed this list of best phone photography accessories and tips! Phone photography is one of my favorite things and I love sharing how I do things.
Fun fact? I shot alllll my blog photos on my iPhone for the first two years! I used to be so embarrassed about this, but now I embrace it. But I didn’t have all these tools back then!
Want more Instagram tips? These are some of my more popular posts. If you want to know some of my favorite apps for editing photos (or if you have any to add!), check out this post.
Instagram is one of my favorite tools for planning trips. Now they have the “Save” and “Collections” features, which are so handy to me! I love going through my favorited images just to get re-inspired.
Bev says
Love!! Definitely adding most of these to my wishlist ????
Susannah says
Yay! Insta is so fun.
Johnnie says
Hey! Your work, and website are impeccable!!! I have the lume case but obviously since the phone is facing my face instead of the image, this doesn’t work the other way. What is the trick for those of us that are technologically challenged???
Susannah says
Thanks, Johnnie! Hmm, this is tricky. I love my clip-on light because I can swing it both ways. You could always remove the case though and aim it toward your subject. Hope that helps!