A blurry snap of the dancefloor at a wedding. A picture from a dinner party in which everyone is either mid-conversation or mid-chew. A badly-lit photo of your friends on a Tube platform before a night out (you thought it would be fun and artsy; the result was more drab and unflattering).

In all likelihood, the camera roll on your phone is overflowing with photographic flotsam like this: sloppy shots that haven’t even made it onto your main grid on Instagram, let alone warranted a spot in a physical album or frame at home.

It’s only natural that we want to document our post-pandemic social lives after more than a year stuck at home. But quantity isn’t the same as quality, and there’s something a bit futile about taking endless pictures that are destined to go nowhere but the cloud.

Some research even suggests focusing too much on documenting experiences with our smartphone cameras can take us out of the moment and hamper our memories of the event – hinting that a more mindful approach could be a good idea.

Of course, we’d all love to capture frame-worthy memories on every night out (as opposed to sweaty-faced group shots that immediately prompt screams of “DELETE IT!”). But how do you go about taking photos that you’ll actually want to print, keep and give to friends as keepsakes – rather than simply providing more filler content for your Instagram stories?

Below, professional photographers share their advice on how to take pictures that you (and your friends) will treasure for years to come.

5 tips for taking photos that are actually worth keeping