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Long gone are the days when I would take my DSLR on holiday with me! Apart from the added weight of my much loved but rather chunky Nikon, the technology in mobile phone cameras has developed so much recently that there simply isn’t a need for anything more to capture my family holiday memories.

Like me, most people want to capture happy travel memories, so I thought I'd give some tips for getting the best results with your phone camera while on holiday.

Firstly, explore your phone settings. Familiarize yourself with your phone’s camera settings to make the most of its capabilities. Explore features like burst mode for action shots, portrait mode (one of my favourite Iphone modes) for shallow depth of field, or night mode for evening/low light scenes.

Before you start shooting - clean your lens! Make sure your phone's camera lens is clean. Fingerprints and smudges can affect the image quality, so use a microfiber cloth or lens cleaning solution to wipe away any dirt.

Make use of natural light whenever possible. Outdoor shots during the golden hours (the first and last hours of sunlight) can result in beautiful, warm tones. If possible, avoid harsh midday sun as it can create deep shadows and overexposed images. If you do find yourself in bright sunlight (which we all want on holiday after all!) then try and place the subjects of your photo in open shade i.e. areas that are shaded from direct sun, but still getting diffused light from the surrounding environment such as under a tree or overhang of a building.

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Capture candid moments; Candid shots often tell a story and can be more engaging than posed photos. Be ready to capture spontaneous moments and genuine emotions (always the favourite images from my professional photography sessions). Keep your phone handy and ready to shoot, especially when you anticipate there may be some great memories about to be created!

Consider composition – take a moment to compose your shots before taking your photo. Use the ‘rule of thirds’ by visualising grid lines like those below over your image and putting your subject along intersecting lines or placing points of interest off centre for a better composition.

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For landscapes, find a strong focal point: Look for a compelling focal point in the scene, such as a prominent tree, mountain, or interesting rock formation. Having a focal point adds depth and interest to your photo

Also include foreground interest to add depth and a sense of scale to your landscape photos. It could be a family member, flower, group of rocks, or any other subject that complements the scene and leads the viewer's eye into the frame

Look at the sky, consider the weather conditions and the type of sky you have; experiment with different exposures to capture the sky’s details and tones.

Use leading lines – natural lines or paths in the landscape that can guide the viewer’s eye through the image for example a road, river or even row of crops in a farmer’s field.

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Experiment with panoramic mode – many phones offer panoramic mode which allows you to capture wide shots. Use this to create sweeping landscapes by panning your phone steadily across the scene you wish to capture.

Consider the lighting conditions: Lighting plays a crucial role in landscape photography. Again, try to shoot during the golden hours of early morning or late afternoon for soft, warm light and long shadows. This lighting often enhances the textures and colours of the landscape.

Experiment with perspectives; get creative with your angles and perspectives. Try shooting from different heights or getting down low for a unique viewpoint. Explore various angles to find the most interesting shots.

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If you have it, use HDR mode (High Dynamic Range) which can help capture more detail in high contrast scenes such as landscapes with a bright sky and dark foreground.

Experiment with editing apps to give a little extra punch to your holiday images, there are a few options available such as Snapseed and Adobe lightroom mobile. You can play with brightness, contrast and saturation levels, but don’t overdo it if you want a natural looking result.

Practice and then practice some more! The more you practice, the better you’ll become at capturing great photos on your phone. Experiment with different techniques, settings and subjects. Learn from your results and keep refining your skills.

Finally, (and speaking from experience), if you love photography it is easy to spend a little too much time watching life through your lens. Yes of course it is great to capture memories, but don't forget that in order to make those memories in the first place you really do need to put your phone away sometimes, join in with the fun and just live in the moment!

Happy shooting and enjoy your holidays!