1. Wallpaper

This is one of my favorite camera phone hacks! When traveling, remember to set your lock screen background as your emergency contact or personal info, just in case you lose your device. I always use this trick when traveling abroad or attending large events! It’s useful during the school year or busy work season, too. Whenever a new semester starts, I can never remember my class schedule, so I set it as my wallpaper. You can easily set a customized image on iOS or Android through Apple Support lock screen options or Android display settings. It helps so much and saves you from constantly unlocking your screen!

2. Location

Another thing to keep in mind while traveling is to take a picture of a landmark near or next to your hotel. You can use it to find your way back if you get lost without signal. Plus, locals tend to be more familiar with prominent landmarks than obscure hotel names or specific street addresses. If you ever get turned around in a new city, pulling up a quick photo for a taxi driver or local guide can be a total lifesaver. For extra nav assistance, you can also download offline areas in Google Maps before heading out.

3. Take Pictures of Your Fridge

Next time you prepare to head out, take a picture of your fridge and pantry before you go shopping for groceries. That way, you’ll remember exactly what ingredients you need when walking through the aisles! And it helps you keep track of what you already have too much of so you avoid buying duplicate items. It is a simple way to practice smart photography hacks using phone technology right in your kitchen.

4. Crowded Parking Lot

Take a picture of your section number or nearby pillar when parking in a crowded parking lot! My dad taught me this trick when I first started driving. In big cities like Boston, parking garages are always packed multi-level mazes, and it’s only a matter of time before you’ll forget where you parked! Taking a quick snap of the row pillar or floor letter ensures you never wander around searching for your vehicle after a long day.

5. Catalog Items You Lend to Friends

Yes, this sounds mean, but it helps me keep track of what my friends borrow! Whenever a friend borrows a book, clothing piece, or tool, I take a quick picture of them holding the item, and I delete the photo when they return it. It really helps me keep track of who has what without awkward guessing games down the road! Check out more apps and mobile tech tips on our site to keep your digital life organized.

6. Take a Picture of Things You Normally Lose

I take pictures of things that I lose quickly, like my dry cleaning claim ticket, prescription numbers, coat check tags, and valet tickets. And I know it seems so useless to take pictures of little physical slips like this, but don’t forget that deleting the pictures afterwards is easy and painless! Keeping a digital copy on your phone or in digital note apps like Evernote gives you peace of mind whenever paper tickets go missing.

Here are a few common items worth snapshotting right away:

7. Lost Your Glasses?

If you’re nearsighted like me, losing your glasses in the morning or across the room is the worst thing. Use your camera! Hold your phone up to your eyes and look at the screen—it can help you see more clearly across the room because of the camera lens focus! It works surprisingly well when you need to scan the nightstand or floor for missing specs.

8. Take Screenshots!

Screenshot directions or subway route maps if you’re traveling underground or in areas with poor cellular service. This allows you to check your route even when there’s zero connection! Also do this if the cellular connection is patchy in remote locations: your phone’s battery drains quicker (as if it didn’t already!) when it’s constantly searching for a network signal. Having offline screenshots keeps you moving without draining your phone battery.

9. Moving Assistant

When moving houses or apartments, take a picture of what’s inside each box before closing and taping it up. This helps tremendously when you unpack later in your new home. When my friend moved to the Midwest, this tip saved him so much time! Sometimes, just writing general labels on the cardboard boxes doesn’t help when you need a specific item fast. You can even combine this with our grocery planning tip to stay organized during a busy move day.

10. Selfies

Take selfies of your favorite haircut or hairstyle to show your hairdresser during your next salon appointment. Make sure you get photos from all sides and as many angles as possible! This definitely helps minimize any mistakes, confusions, or miscommunications with your stylist so you leave with the exact look you wanted.

11. Lost Kids?

If you’re taking your family to a crowded place, like Disneyland or a festival, take a clear picture of your kids that morning before heading out. If they happen to get lost or separated in the crowd, you’ll be able to report what they were wearing more accurately, if not exactly. You can immediately show authorities or park security what they look like and what clothes they have on! For more everyday safety and family tips, visit our lifestyle and organization guide.

These are some of my favorite camera phone hacks. It’s amazing how much that little camera in our phones can do beyond basic photos! Do you have any clever camera tricks or phone camera hacks that you rely on every day?