You don't need a fancy, expensive camera to take up a photography hobby in your golden years. The smartphone you already carry with you has a quality camera that can snap beautiful images that document your retirement. Find out how to start using your phone with your new hobby.

1. Get Acquainted With Your Phone

Every phone camera is a little different, so exploring the settings and options helps you become more familiar with how it works. Open your phone camera and check the different settings and image types. You might refer to the owner's manual or an online guide for using your specific phone model. A younger family member, friend or neighbor who's familiar with your phone could also give you a run-down of its options.

2. Take a Class

You can learn a lot about photography through trial and error, but that can also take a lot of time. Plus, you might not teach yourself everything you need to know to get high-quality pictures. Taking a class, either online or in person, speeds up the process and improves your photography skills quickly. Local senior centers and other organizations might offer classes specifically for older adults. In addition to paid online and in-person classes, you can also find lots of free tutorials on YouTube and other social media platforms. The pointers in these tutorials help you improve your photography skills.

3. Prep Your Phone

Before a photography session, check the camera settings on your phone to make sure you like them. Wipe the camera lens to remove any fingerprints, grease or other debris that can accumulate on your phone. Make sure your battery is charged if you're planning a longer photo session.

4. Stabilize Your Phone Camera

Shaky hands lead to blurry photos. If your hands aren't as steady as they used to be, consider a tripod or a handheld stabilizer for your phone. It's a lot easier to focus on your subject. You can also add knobs or rings on the back of your phone that make it easier to hold onto for on-the-go photos. Resting your arm on something solid can also work to steady your hand in a pinch.

5. Use Natural Light

The built-in flash on your phone can brighten the room, but it could cause a glare or wash out the colors. Shut off the flash in your camera settings to eliminate the glare. Natural sunlight gives you softer, more flattering images. Head outdoors to take the photos if possible. You can also position your subjects near windows for an indoor photography session.

6. Experiment

Photography is a very forgiving hobby. You can't mess anything up by trying different phone settings, light levels or poses. Because you're using your smartphone and not the film cameras of your younger years, you can just delete the ones you don't like without wasting film.

Try different settings on your camera. You might have options like portrait and panorama modes to get different results. Some phones let you adjust the exposure and other details about the camera. Take the same shot with several different settings to compare the results.

Mixing up the types of shots you take can also help you create photos you love. If you're capturing photos of people, take a mix of headshots and full-body poses. Try posed and candid photos. Take pictures from different angles. This helps you get an idea of what works well and what types of shots you prefer.

7. Edit It Later

Smartphones often let you choose filters for your photos, and you can also zoom in on your subject. Starting out, though, take pictures without filters or zooming. That way, you can later use editing software or the editing features on your phone to crop or otherwise edit the images. Zooming with your camera usually makes the photos grainy, so you'll get higher quality images if you wait. Plus, you have more freedom to change the images because you're starting with a raw image rather than something that already has a filter or a limited size.

8. Keep Practicing

Don't love the first photos you snapped? Stick with your new hobby. Like anything new, it often takes time to learn the ins and outs of getting the perfect shot. Keep your smartphone handy at all times. You might capture the beautiful grounds of the ViewPointe community or snap some pictures of your neighbors. When your grandchildren visit, take photos of the moments you share. You can even take pictures of your pets, outings with friends and other everyday moments.

9. Show Off Your Work

Be proud of the images you produce with your smartphone camera. Post them on your social media platforms to share with your family and friends. You might start an Instagram account to share your photography. This allows you to look back and see how your skills improve with more practice. You can even print out some of the images to use for decorating your assisted living apartment. Sharing your images with other hobby photographers could help you get feedback that improves your craft.