Not so long ago, a camera was a camera, and a phone was a phone. But that all changed in the late 1990s when some crazy Japanese techies decided to integrate the two devices. Those clunky forerunners of today's "smart" camera phones didn't make good photos, but the mold was cast and the camera phone phenomenon took off around the world.

Converging technologies coming from a host of competing manufacturers, such as Sanyo, HTC, Nokia/Microsoft, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, LG, Lenovo, Samsung and Apple have led to a flurry of camera phone innovations down through the years. Touchscreens, autofocus, LED and Xenon flash, video recording capability, optical zooms, image stabilization, and advanced image sensors and software have become commonplace features of contemporary camera phones.

So what we have today is an array of smartphones fitted with highly sophisticated cameras capable of making pro-quality images — provided we know how to use them to best effect. Here then are seven tips that are guaranteed to help you make better photos with your smartphone's camera.

1. Learn your phone's camera settings

Most folks are probably more familiar with the phone functions of their device than they are the workings of the camera. Getting to know your camera's settings, rather than just relying on the default auto mode, can lead to more interesting and beautiful pictures.

Most phones, for example, allow you to control focus, exposure, white balance and ISO. For those not familiar with the acronym, ISO relates to the camera's sensitivity to light, a subject further discussed below in Tip 5.

As for white balance, most phones feature four settings that you'll want to match according to the environment in which you're shooting. For example, incandescent and fluorescent modes are used indoors based on the type of artificial light in play. Daylight and cloudy obviously are outdoor modes to be selected according to weather conditions.

2. Focus, focus, focus

Before making a photo, double-check the screen to make sure you're in sharp focus. To achieve the best possible focus, tap on the screen in the area of the subject you want to be the sharpest.

3. Move in on your subject

One of the most common mistakes made by amateur photographers is failing to get close enough to their subject. So move in and fill up the screen with your subject.

If your camera has a digital zoom feature (as opposed to optical zoom), avoid using it to crop your image — it will increase pixelation and decrease the quality of your shot. Optical zooms are OK to use, because they don't enlarge your subject by enlarging pixels.

4. Use the back camera, not the front camera

Front-facing cameras are fine for those silly selfies, but most smartphones feature rear cameras with higher quality lenses than those up front. Use the rear camera for better, sharper photos.

5. Use light to your advantage

Lighting is a critical factor when it comes to making great photos. The better lit your subject is, the more impactful your image is likely to be. The general rules on lighting are the same for camera phone photography as they are when using a traditional camera.

First, you should consider where your source of light is coming from. Common sense suggests light should fall on your subject from the front or possibly from either side, depending on the effect you're seeking. Side lighting can be effective in capturing texture and depth.

Avoid back lighting when making photos of people unless you're trying for a silhouette effect. A flash can be effective in such instances, even outdoors, by filling in light for better detail.

Natural light is almost always best, so when shooting indoors, try to utilize light from windows or doors. You also can turn on lights. Keep in mind, however, that artificial light impacts the color cast in your images — a situation that can be corrected by making white balance adjustments.

Here's where the ISO setting referred to earlier comes into play. ISO standards (established by the International Standards Organization) originated back in the days of film photography to rate film speed. Without getting too technical, a low ISO film (say 50 ISO) would be the appropriate choice for shooting bright outdoor scenes, while a high ISO film (like 1,600 ISO) would typically be used in low-light settings.

Low ISO films yield sharper, more saturated images, while higher rated films — needed for low-light situations — tend to produce images that are grainier and less saturated. The same scenario applies to digital photography.

So unless your camera phone is set to automatically adjust to the correct ISO reading based on its light meter reading, always go for the lowest possible ISO setting.

6. Understand the basic rules of composition

Good composition is another element that's essential to making appealing photos. While the old saying, "rules are made to be broken," can apply in certain situations when composing a photo, you really must know the rules before you can break them.

One of the more inviolate axioms, right from the text of Photography 101, is the rule of thirds, that upholds studies showing that off-center composition is more pleasing to the eye than when the subject is placed right in the middle of the frame.

The principle is best understood by imagining a grid placed over the viewfinder with two equidistant vertical and horizontal lines dividing the scene into thirds so that you have nine parts. The theory here is that if you place the main point of interest in your image at one of the four intersections, or along one of the four lines, your photo will be more balanced, enabling the viewer to interact with it more naturally.

The concept of leading lines is another important principle of good composition. Leading lines refers to a technique used to draw the viewer's attention to lines that lead to the main subject of the image. A leading line, a roadway or fencerow, for example, paves a path for the eye to follow through different elements of a photo. Usually, it starts at the bottom of the frame and guides the eye upward and inward, from the foreground of the image to the background, typically leading toward the main subject.

Shooting from odd angles is another technique that can sometimes make your subject appear more interesting or flattering. So don't hesitate to climb atop a park bench or crouch down low to the ground for a different point of view.

7. Keep your lens clean

Phones typically reside in our pockets or bags where camera lenses can get dirty, smudged or even damaged. Try to avoid putting your phone in a pocket or bag along with objects such as keys and coins.

And, from time to time, clean the lens of your camera with a soft cloth or a lens wipe, available at any camera shop or optician's office.