Tired of your boyfriend taking bad photos? Here’s how to train him

We’ve all been there. You love your partner, you trust him with your heart, your Netflix password and, occasionally, your phone, but handing him the camera can feel like handing over a very important creative project to someone who has absolutely no idea what the brief is.

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The angle is wrong. The lighting is questionable. Somehow, your head is cut off. And why did he take 47 photos, but not one of them is the picture?

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Before you start questioning the entire relationship over a bad holiday photo, there is another option: train him.

Yes, seriously. Instead of getting frustrated every time he picks up your phone, give him a few simple rules. Think of it as a crash course in Boyfriend Photography 101.

Start with the Phone Settings

Sometimes, it’s not him—it’s the camera settings. Turn on the grid to help with framing and show him when to use 1x, 2x or 0.5x, depending on the shot. For portraits, 2x can create a more flattering look, while 0.5x works well for wider outfit shots—just don’t let him get too close.

And if your phone has Portrait mode, show him how to use it. A few simple settings can make a surprisingly big difference.

Teach him about lighting

The easiest way to instantly improve a photo? Better lighting.

Natural sunlight is your best friend, especially when you’re outdoors. Show him how to position you so the light falls naturally across your face rather than putting you directly under harsh overhead light. Golden hour, the hour around sunrise or sunset, is particularly flattering, creating that soft, warm glow that makes even a casual picture feel editorial. And please, teach him the difference between “the sun is behind you” and “you are standing directly in front of a blazing ball of light and I can no longer see your face.”

Find your good angle—and tell him

Your partner cannot read your mind. If you know you prefer photographs taken slightly above eye level, from your left side or with your face turned a certain way, show him. Take a few selfies or photographs you love and use them as references. Tell him what you like about them.

“Take it from here.”

“Keep the camera around this height.”

“Don’t shoot from below.”

It might feel excessive, but so does deleting 63 photographs after a dinner date because none of them are giving what they were supposed to give.

Stop asking for one picture

One picture is rarely the picture. Tell him to take several photographs in quick succession while you move naturally. Change your expression, turn your head, adjust your hair or simply walk.

This gives you options—and, more importantly, takes the pressure off that one perfectly timed shot.

Teach him the art of the stolen picture

Some of the best photographs are the ones you didn't pose for.

Ask him to photograph you while you’re laughing, walking, looking through a menu, fixing your hair, drinking your coffee or simply enjoying the moment.

The trick is not to announce it. “Baby, smile!” is often the fastest way to turn a natural moment into an awkward one. Instead, let him observe and capture the moment as it happens.

Those photographs often feel more intimate because they capture you, rather than your best attempt at posing.

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Give him a little direction—but don't micromanage

There is a difference between directing and becoming a frustrated creative director on a date.

Instead of saying, “No! That’s terrible. Take it again,” try giving him one instruction at a time.

“Move a little closer.”

“Take one vertically.”

“Get my full outfit.”

“Try one from the side.”

Simple instructions are easier to follow than a five-minute critique while you’re both standing in the middle of the street.

Tell him what the picture is for

This is an underrated one.

If you want an Instagram picture, say so. If you want a candid memory, tell him. If you’re photographing an outfit, explain that you need the entire look in frame.

The photo he takes for a casual WhatsApp update is not necessarily the same photo you need for your Instagram feed.

Give him the brief.

Let him experiment

Once he understands your basics, let him develop his own eye. Maybe he sees an angle you hadn't considered. Maybe his perspective is actually good—you just needed to give him the tools.

And when he gets it right, tell him. “Okay, you ate that.” Positive reinforcement works. If he knows exactly what he did well, he’s far more likely to repeat it.

Remember: he is your boyfriend, not your professional photographer

At the end of the day, this is still your partner. He might never understand why that particular angle matters so much to you—and that's okay.

The goal isn't to turn him into Trevor Stuurman overnight. It's to help him understand what makes you feel confident in photographs and give him a few tricks to get there.

Because sometimes, love is flowers, date nights and remembering your coffee order.

And sometimes, love is knowing not to photograph your girlfriend from three feet below her face.