Choosing a Camera versus a Phone App, What My Camera Gives Me That My Phone Doesn’t
Choosing Process, Intention, and Presence Over Convenience
Originally Published on Medium.com, 10-Nov-2025.
Edited for website posting. All images © Jeff Goetz.
Okay, I admit it. My iPhone 17Pro’s cameras are pretty darn good. The phone app’s algorithms usually create great photos.
You can look on Instagram and quickly find folks sharing photos made on their phones that can rival the results from a full-function stand-alone camera.
Use the camera app’s advanced functions or third-party camera apps, and you can do so much with your phone camera that one may question why you would get your full camera gear out of the bag — or even take it on your trip.
There’s a time and place for both tools, and here are my reasons why I find my ‘big camera’ is my first choice for photography.
I love taking photos. In both my photography and my writing, I find a common underlying theme or pattern: process. Hey, I’m an engineer at heart; we like processes and controls.
When I think about the process to achieve something, I have a mental checklist:
- Goals — What am I trying to achieve? In photography, why am I taking this photo? What am I trying to convey? How am I helping the viewer feel like they were there?
- Be intentional and focused; stay on point and don’t get distracted. In photography, I’m thinking about composing the photo frame and the feeling you want to capture.
- Think fundamentals. It’s amazing how many tips and ‘hacks’ show you a shortcut, but what you often need is to focus on the fundamentals. When you start with photography fundamentals, it helps you compose the photo to achieve your intentions and goals. Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO all play primary roles. But the thought process can extend out to the use of accessories to capture the best possible photo: lens choice, tripod, remote shutter release, lens filters, pano-head attachment, star tracker, lighting (natural and artificial), etc. Addressing fundamentals helps keep me grounded, versus chasing the latest Lightroom preset or other ‘hack’.
- Perform the task. Press the shutter button, check your work (exposure, highlights, focus, histogram, etc.), then revise and repeat, as necessary.
- Look for the next goal.
Stepping through the process to set up for your photo is much like ‘mise en place’ when cooking. With preparation, the activity goes smoothly and will be more satisfying. You’ll get more right in camera, instead of ‘just fixing it in post.’
This process helps me slow down. That’s a huge benefit for me. When I’ve been in a rush, I’ve had my share of photo mistakes that I find when I get home. When I slow down, I don’t forget key points (like ensuring my camera settings are not the ‘leftovers’ from the last shot or location).
Another added benefit is that I find I take fewer photos; I plan the shot, take the shot, take a few variations, and then move on. That’s a huge plus in my mind, as it’s too easy to just keep shooting with digital cameras. Coming home with 20–40 photos taken with intention is much better than coming home with 400–600 photos that seem to blur together.
More than mitigation against technical errors and managing disc storage, using the process above and taking my time helps me be more present in the moment to appreciate the photography environment and think about the result I’d like to achieve. I can achieve a state of ‘flow’ where I’m in the zone and time is not on my mind.
Thankfully, my wife is patient and supportive of my photography. I feel guilty when she’s waiting on me while I’m taking photos, but she has never rushed me and has always said to take my time. I’m a very lucky man.
In a world where folks can be constantly trying to do more, be more, get more, etc., I think looking selectively for quality over quantity can be more satisfying.
Yes, there is a time and place to pull out your phone and take photos. I still do my share of phone snaps. But for me, getting out my real camera helps slow me down, be in the moment, walk through a process, and be intentional and deliberate to obtain photographs that can have a larger purpose than just posting online or being left on the cloud storage.
And, I often still pull out my phone to grab a photo of the scene I’m capturing with my camera. It can help visualize your goals with the main camera.
In a way, I equate this to my fishing experience; I may not always catch a fish, but I sure enjoy being out there and soaking up the environment! Sometimes, I come home with a trophy. Regardless, I enjoy the experience.
Enjoy Life and Thanks for Reading,
-Jeff
Copyright © 2025 Jeff Goetz. All Rights Reserved.
Originally Published on Medium in the Full Frame publication. To read more of my writing on medium, click here.
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