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Use auto mode and let the phone do the work
Modern smartphone cameras are smarter than ever. In Auto mode, your phone automatically adjusts shutter speed, ISO, white balance and exposure based on the conditions around you. At a busy, fast-moving Holi celebration, this is often the most reliable option. It reduces the chances of a blurry or badly exposed shot when you do not have time to manually adjust settings.

Try portrait mode for people shots
When photographing friends and family up close, switch to Portrait mode. This creates a soft background blur — known as bokeh — that keeps your subject sharp while making the colours around them stand out more. The result is a photo that feels more focused and visually striking than a standard shot. It works especially well for close-up expressions and coloured faces.

Use Burst Mode to catch the right moment
Holi moves fast. Colours are thrown, water flies, and expressions change in a fraction of a second. Burst mode solves this by capturing a rapid series of photos in one press of the shutter button. You can then scroll through them afterwards and pick the one frame where everything came together perfectly. Do not try to time the perfect shot — let Burst mode do it for you.

Go wide for crowd shots
If you are at a large Holi gathering, the ultra-wide angle lens on your smartphone is your best tool for capturing the scale of the event. Try shooting from a slightly elevated angle looking down at the crowd, or get low near knee-height and tilt the camera upward for a more dramatic perspective. Both approaches add depth and visual interest to what might otherwise look like a flat, cluttered image.

Record slow-motion videos
Slow-motion video is made for Holi. Imagine watching a fistful of pink or yellow powder burst through the air in slow motion — the colours separating and drifting frame by frame. Simply switch your phone's video mode to slo-mo, press record, and capture someone throwing colour directly toward the camera or into the air. Even short clips of five to ten seconds can look extraordinary when played back slowly.

Go Candid
Not every great Holi photo needs to be a posed group shot. In fact, some of the best ones are the ones people do not know are being taken. Candid photos capture real laughter, surprise, and the genuine energy of the moment. Walk around, observe, and shoot without announcing it. A natural expression caught mid-laugh or mid-colour-throw will almost always be more memorable than a posed smile.

Edit your photos for best output
Once the celebration is over, take a few minutes to edit your photos. For Holi specifically, do not worry too much about colour accuracy. Boosting the saturation slightly, increasing the vibrancy, and lifting the shadows can make your photos feel more alive and festive. Most smartphone gallery apps and free tools like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile make this straightforward. Just avoid overdoing it — the goal is to enhance the colours, not make them look artificial.