I test phones for a living, and I’ve spent more hours than I care to count comparing photos shot on flagship cameras versus mid-range workhorses. The Pixel 8a is one of those phones that punches way above its weight: the hardware is solid and Google’s computational photography does the heavy lifting. If you want pro-level photos without splurging on a flagship, you don’t need to be an expert — you just need a few practical tweaks and a workflow that plays to the Pixel’s strengths. Here are the techniques and settings I use every time I pick up a Pixel 8a.

Understand what the Pixel 8a does best

The Pixel line has never relied on raw megapixel counts to win. Instead, Google combines multi-frame captures, smart denoising, and scene-aware processing to extract detail and dynamic range. That means the Pixel 8a shines at:

  • Low-light shots thanks to Night Sight and long-exposure stacking
  • Portraits with clean subject separation and natural skin tones
  • Super Res Zoom (computational cropping) for distant subjects
  • Quick, reliable snapshots with great auto-HDR handling

    • My goal when shooting is to nudge the camera where it’s strong and compensate where it’s not. For example, it’s easier to make a soft telephoto look crisp with Super Res Zoom than to try and recover detail from noisy, high-ISO crops.

    Basic camera app settings I always set

    Before I even frame a shot, I check a few defaults in the Pixel camera app. These small changes prevent headaches later.

  • Turn on RAW capture (in Settings > Advanced): RAW gives you maximum latitude in post. It’s not necessary for every snap, but for portraits, tricky exposures, or anything you plan to edit, shoot RAW+JPEG.
  • Enable RAW + JPEG only when you’ll edit: RAW files are big and slower to write. If you’re just posting to social quickly, leave RAW off.
  • Set the resolution to the highest for the main camera when you plan to crop or print.
  • Check Motion Mode: Use Motion for panning or freezing dynamic movement, and Long Exposure (in Motion) for silky water and light trails on a tripod.
  • Turn on Face Unblur (if available) for shots of people where motion blur might be an issue.

    • Composition and practical shooting techniques

    Good processing can’t fix a bad composition. I keep a few go-to rules front of mind when I’m composing a shot with the Pixel 8a:

  • Get closer rather than relying on digital zoom. The main 1x camera has the best optics and sensor; crop later if needed.
  • Use foreground elements for depth. Even a slight overlap or a frame within a frame makes the Pixel’s computational depth feel more intentional.
  • Watch the light direction. Side light adds texture and depth; backlight can be dramatic but use HDR or expose for highlights.
  • Shoot at eye level for people. Slightly above can be flattering; low angles make subjects larger but can distort proportions.

    • Low-light and Night Sight tips

    The Pixel excels in low light, but you can make Night Sight work even better with these habits:

  • Stabilize the phone. Night Sight stacks multiple exposures — hold steady, lean on a wall, or use a small tripod/beanbag.
  • Use Night Sight for anything under 1/30s or when ISO gets noisy. The algorithm blends frames to reduce noise but keep an eye on moving subjects; they can ghost.
  • Try Night Sight with a short exposure (handheld) and again with a longer exposure (tripod). Compare and pick the cleaner shot.
  • Avoid over-boosting highlight areas. Night Sight can recover shadows well, but blown-out lights will stay blown; recompose to minimize bright point sources when you want detail.

    • Portraits and people photography

    Portrait Mode on the Pixel 8a is very usable, but I tweak a couple things to make images look intentionally photographed rather than “auto-processed.”

  • Use Portrait Mode for subject separation, but don’t rely on it to fix composition — frame and pose the subject first.
  • Choose a slightly wider aperture look in the editor if background blur feels fake. The Pixel’s algorithm can sometimes overdo smoothing; dial it back.
  • Prefer natural light when possible. The Pixel’s skin tones are best in soft, directional light—think window light rather than overhead fluorescents.
  • Shoot RAW + Portrait if you want to edit skin texture and background blur separately later in an app like Lightroom or Snapseed.

    • Getting more from zoom and distant subjects

    There’s no periscope lens on the 8a, but the phone’s Super Res Zoom is surprisingly effective when you follow these rules:

  • Start at 1x and crop later rather than starting at 2x or more. The main sensor is the cleanest.
  • Keep your hands steady when using digital zoom. Super Res Zoom relies on micro-shifts between frames, so a stabilized capture yields more detail.
  • Prefer high-contrast subjects—text, buildings, and textured clothing crop better than foliage or flat surfaces.

    • Video tips that look more cinematic

    Video is where stabilization and processing meet. The Pixel 8a records competent video that benefits from small pro touches:

  • Shoot at the highest bitrate and resolution available for the clearest captures to edit later (check Settings > Video).
  • Lock exposure and focus by pressing and holding on your subject. This prevents the auto-exposure hunt that kills cinematic shots.
  • Use a gimbal or steady surface for panning shots. Electronic stabilization is good, but motion-smooth pans are still a gimbal’s job.
  • Record in natural light and avoid mixing light sources. Mixed color temps create white balance shifts that are obvious in motion.

    • Editing workflow I use on the Pixel

    I edit on-device the majority of the time. Google Photos, Snapseed, and Lightroom Mobile cover 95% of my needs.

  • Start in Google Photos: Use the Magic Editor for quick background or subject-aware fixes. The Sky and Tone suggestions are often right, but dial them down if they look artificial.
  • Switch to Snapseed or Lightroom for fine edits: Snapseed is fast for selective adjustments and healing; Lightroom gives you RAW controls (exposure, highlights, shadows, color curves).
  • Apply sharpening and noise reduction conservatively. Over-sharpening creates halos, while aggressive noise reduction kills fine texture.
  • Use selective edits to brighten faces or recover sky detail without flattening midtones across the whole image.

    • Quick reference settings table

    Scenario Camera mode Recommended settings
    Low light street Night Sight Tripod or brace, RAW if editing, steady for 3–10s capture
    Portraits Portrait + RAW Soft side light, expose for skin, reduce smoothing in edit
    Architecture / detail 1x main + RAW Tripod, lower ISO, shoot bracketing if dynamic range high
    Action / sports Motion or Video Higher shutter, burst mode for decisive moments

    Accessories that make a real difference

    You don’t need to buy a ton of gear, but a few inexpensive tools elevate results quickly:

  • Small tripod or tabletop tripod — essential for Night Sight long exposures and cleaner framing.
  • Phone clamp + compact tripod — great for timelapses and video interviews.
  • Clip-on ND filter — useful for daytime long-exposure effects if you like silky water.
  • External lens kit (optional) — attachable wide or macro lenses can add creative options, but use them sparingly; the phone’s native optics are usually superior.

    • Ultimately, the Pixel 8a gives you a very capable camera system without the sticker shock of a flagship. With a few intentional settings, a steady hand, and a short editing workflow, you can produce images that look polished and professional. I reach for the Pixel 8a when I want speed plus quality — these tips help me get the most out of every shot.