Even though I had fun times, there were definitely things I would have liked to know before pitching my tent and digging into what the festival has to offer. To help all you newbies out there, here is my ultimate survival guide to making sure you have a Coachella to remember:  

#1 – Bring a hydration backpack! It’s hot in the desert and this will save time on trips to water refill stations and save money from needing to buy water bottles all weekend. Plus, you won’t add negative points to your ecological footprint.

#2 – Pack an EZ-UP for shade on your campsite. The sun is always shining at Coachella and nothing is worse than having your tent turn into an oven from baking in sunlight all day. Or if you’re staying at an Airbnb with a pool, make sure to bring your flamingo, unicorn, or pegasus floaties!

#3 – Take a portable phone charger. Everyone uses their phone at Coachella for videos, photos, and connecting with friends. The public charging stations are super packed and will take time away from you being able to enjoy the event. A portable charger can solve this problem, but in circumstances when your phone is not charging and you need the battery to last, use dfndr battery to combat battery drain. That way you won’t miss a single moment.

#4 – Cover your face. A bandana or facemask is crucial to have for the dust in the air. You don’t want that dust in your lungs. Sunscreen is also important when you’re in the sun for 10 hours or more a day. And don’t forget extra sun coverage like a hat and sunglasses.

#5 – Spring for an air mattress if you’re camping. The campsites are all grass, but the ground is not that comfortable to sleep on all night long (dependent on when you do get to bed). 

#6 – Beat the crowds before hunger pains hit. Getting food earlier in the day is much better than later. Lines for food can get really long as the night goes on, not to mention popular menu items often sell out each day.  

#7 – Head to Do LaB. If you’re looking for a place to cool off while still enjoying some music, Do LaB is the place to be. Dance up a storm as water guns spray into the crowd to keep you refreshed. Like a sprinkler on a sweltering, summer day!

#8 – Make a plan. Check out the daily lineup ahead of time and talk to your group about which stage you’ll head to and at what time. Then forget about the plan and just live in the moment!

#9 – Capture the antics. After 2 full days of taking photos and videos of your favorites acts, it’s very likely that you might run out of storage on your phone. Use dfndr performance to clean duplicate photos and other junk files so you have more room for epic festival memories.

#10 – Hide the evidence. What happens at Coachella stays at Coachella! Feel free to virtually “lock” your #NSFW photos with a private gallery app, such as dfndr vault. Go ahead, we won’t judge.

Now that you know all the essentials for the most colossal Coachella experience, you should be ready to have the time of your life. The event runs over 2 weekends, April 13-15 and April 20-22. This year is gonna be the best one yet!

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Focus
You can focus your Android camera by simply tapping the screen. Focus on the subject you want to stand out, or tap near the bottom of the screen to light up the picture. It may take a while to focus on a subject that is close up, so patience and timing is key.

Tweak the Exposure
You can also change the camera’s exposure in your phone’s settings. Longer exposure times let more light into the lens, which is great for dim settings, but photographing moving things with a long exposure time can result in a streaky photo. For moving subjects, lower exposure times are ideal.

Get Perspective
The rule of thirds is well-known among photographers. If your picture is divided into nine equally sized squares, the photo’s subject should be located in an intersection or on a line. If this sounds complicated, don’t worry; you can make a grid appear on your screen to help you perfectly align your photo. Also, if you’re photographing a horizon, aim to make it straight across. However, you can always adjust this later.

Use an App
There are plenty of apps you can use to improve your photo quality, both before and after the picture is taken. Some apps give you more control over your camera’s settings, while others are geared towards editing. Many are free, so be sure to experiment.

Hold Still
A still camera produces sharper images. If you can, support the device or your arms on a sturdy surface while you’re shooting. Better yet, invest in a tripod.

Know When to Flash
It’s generally not a great idea to use flash (except in really dim environments), as it tends to produce overly harsh light. To make an image taken with flash less harsh-looking and more attractive, put a piece of semi-translucent white tape over the lens.

Even if you don’t become an expert Android photographer, it’s fun to play around with your camera’s features and aim for high-quality pictures. Not only is this getting the most out of your device, but it’s also a great creative outlet.

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Temporary files can slow your processor and drain your battery if the app is left on in the background. However, after the app is closed, there are still pieces of clutter building in your hard drive. These files are not temporary, and while essential to the app’s function, they do not delete themselves. These files are called cache files, and they may be the reason your Android is running slow.

Every time your apps need to store long-term information, like backups and other pieces of information they will need on a later date, they store them into a cache file. However, with every new usage of the app, cache files stack on top of outdated cache files, and the pile builds until your hard drive is stuffed with useless cache junk.

Since cache files cannot be accessed through your phone, they can be difficult to find. There are many ways to delete your outdated cache files without having to go through your hard drive file by file. Simply use quick cleanup on your Android to delete the outdated temporary and cache files from the nooks and crannies of your phone’s hard drive.

After getting rid of all of your junk files, you will notice significant changes to your Android’s hard drive. You will have to run quick cleanup every once in a while to keep your phone running smoothly; cache builds up every once in a while. Just be sure to make your Android run faster by deleting your phone’s clutter.

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Managing Your Photo Library
You don’t want to allow that photo library to become overly full, though. Besides slowing down your phone, you may also run out of room, and find yourself unable to capture the memory that’s happening right now. The great beauty of the phone camera is its ability to capture the surprising moments, moments you didn’t know were coming and that you would not normally have thought to bring a camera for. You don’t want to waste time scrolling through your library deleting pictures to free up space. By the time you’re done, there’s a good chance the moment will have passed.

So, how to pick which photos to have on your phone? You want a small enough number to allow for free space, but need some to show friends. So the real question becomes: What do you need immediate access to? Probably not selfies or even nice landscapes. If they’re nice enough you’ll probably have them up on social media, and be able to pull them up easily even if they’re not on your phone, and if they’re not nice enough to show to everyone you probably don’t need to show them to friends.

What you’ll really want are moments such as family events, parties, and achievements. It may sound like the sort of stuff your grandma would show to her friends, but maybe your grandma has the right idea about this — you want to be able to show off important life events, especially if they involve people you care about.

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Photo Storage Apps
Photo libraries can grow quickly during vacations, filling up a phone’s storage capacity. In cases where a device’s memory fills up before vacation ends, users may find themselves caught between the option of deleting old photos or not snapping new ones. Luckily, downloading a trustworthy photo storage app before going on vacation is an easy way to solve this storage problem.

Flickr is one such app that’s been a trusted photo storage platform for more than 10 years. The service offers 1 TB of free storage, automatic uploads from the camera roll, and free sorting and Smart Search options. Dropbox is another trusted storage provider. Although the app’s free storage constraints are much more limited at only 2 GB, this number can be expanded by following the company’s social media pages, referring friends to the service, and leaving feedback. Users willing to pay a monthly fee will have access to a storage amount of 1 TB and will even be able to access photos offline.

Group Sharing Photo Apps
A staple of summer vacations is the group photo shot. However, sharing these photos can be a tedious process, and photo storage apps often limit user access. Instead, downloading a private photo sharing app such as Cluster can simplify the sharing process. The service imposes no limit on group sizes, offers many privacy control features, and allows uploading and viewing from both mobile and laptops.

1. Find the Best Angle

In order to make sure you look your best, take your selfie from a high angle. Hold your phone a bit higher than your face, and also keep your chin down. Even if your photo is taken on a gorgeous beach or in front of a breathtaking sunset, you will always be the center of attention from this perfect selfie angle.

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2. Soak Up the Sun

Use the summer light to your advantage! Nothing beats natural light when it comes to selfies. If you’re taking selfies outside during the day, find your light. Make sure to face away from the sun, and block it with your body so that it doesn’t take over the photo and wash you out. If possible, take your selfies during what photography professionals call “golden hour.” This is the time shortly after sunrise or right before sunset. You are guaranteed to look your best in this warm, soft light!

3. Bring in the Props

If you’re feeling crafty, put together a summer-themed photo booth! All you need is a sheet or a plain wall to serve as a background, and some fun props. Hit up Pinterest for some fun ideas such as tropical fruit cutouts, funky sunglasses, or summery hats. You can keep one hand free for selfies, and even have some friends join in for more fun!

4. Filter Magic

Filters and editing are a great way to enhance an already perfect photo, or turn a so-so picture into a masterpiece. There are tons of free apps out there, such as VSCO and Snapseed, to edit and filter to your heart’s desire. However, don’t overdo it! You want to look like yourself, and for the photo to be more natural-looking. One way to do this is to steer clear of preset filters, and to instead make your own adjustments to a photo. Sometimes, a slight change to exposure or saturation can take your selfie to the next level — without even looking like it was filtered!

Android users shouldn’t assume that all of their recently snapped pictures have been automatically backed up, as this is often not the case. Instead, they should be sure to check that the “backup and sync” option through Google Photos is turned on. To do this, access the “Menu” option within the app, select “Settings,” and then tap “Back up & sync” to make sure the option is turned on. To check whether older photos have been backed up, users simply need to tap the photos icon within the app and view the photos that have been saved through the application.  

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Photo Storage Apps

Photo libraries can grow quickly during vacations, filling up a phone’s storage capacity. In cases where a device’s memory fills up before vacation ends, users may find themselves caught between the option of deleting old photos or not snapping new ones. Luckily, downloading a trustworthy photo storage app before going on vacation is an easy way to solve this storage problem.

Flickr is one such app that’s been a trusted photo storage platform for more than 10 years. The service offers 1 TB of free storage, automatic uploads from the camera roll, and free sorting and Smart Search options. Dropbox is another trusted storage provider. Although the app’s free storage constraints are much more limited at only 2 GB, this number can be expanded by following the company’s social media pages, referring friends to the service, and leaving feedback. Users willing to pay a monthly fee will have access to a storage amount of 1 TB and will even be able to access photos offline.

Group Sharing Photo Apps

A staple of summer vacations is the group shot. However, sharing these photos can be a tedious process, and photo storage apps often limit user access. Instead, downloading a private photo sharing app such as Cluster can simplify the sharing process. The service imposes no limit on group sizes, offers many privacy control features, and allows uploading and viewing from both mobile and laptops.

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Even if you’re just an amateur photographer, you can still take great pictures this Fourth of July that you’ll be proud to post on Facebook or Instagram. Here are five photography tips that will make sure you get great looking photos every time.

1. Invest in a Tripod or Mobile Stand

You only get one chance to snap a shot of particularly beautiful fireworks, and even the most sophisticated apps don’t stop your hands from shaking. Instead, steady your phone with a tripod or mobile stand. In a pinch, even a selfie stick will work.

2. Turn Off Your Flash

Most phone cameras are automatically set to flash mode. Since you’re taking photos in the dark, the flash will illuminate things that you don’t want to be illuminated. A flash will underexpose the shot, meaning that the fireworks will be too dark to see well.

3. Don’t Use the Digital Zoom

Oftentimes, you use the digital zoom so you can get a better shot of scenes that are far away from you. But don’t use this feature on the Fourth of July — your photo will end up looking granular and will lose clarity.

4. Use a Long Exposure

If the shutter of your phone camera is open for longer, you’ll end up getting a better light exposure than you would otherwise. A long exposure of somewhere around 10 seconds before the fireworks explode can get you the best pictures. Try a third-party app like A Better Camera for Android. This app is easy to use, so you’ll be able to handle it quickly. Pairing the long exposure app with the tripod or selfie stick is necessary, too; you won’t be able to keep your hand still for that length of time.

5. Turn Off Your Auto Mode

Your phone might try to help you take a great picture, but especially at night, it doesn’t know what it’s doing. To get better details in your shots, disable the auto mode, and with it, quick shutter speeds.

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1. Snapseed

With several similarities to Photoshop, this app has the full, inclusive range of editing features users look for. The options for viewing are as varied as the editing effects, and it even has unique filters and effects. This app is great for professionals and rookies alike!

2. Instagram

You can’t forget the capabilities of one of the most popular social media apps of all time. The list of filters is lengthy and high-quality, and it has every saturation, sharpness, color contrast, and enhancement feature needed to create awesome works of art.

3. Photo Editor Pro

This free app is a basic service that has all the essentials of a photo filter app. With text to images, brightness, contrast, and more, Photo Editor Pro is perfect for those just starting out and looking for an easy way to practice editing photos.

4. AirBrush

For the selfie fans out there, this one erases blemishes and highlights features on the user’s face. This app is easy to use, but it does cost $0.99 to download. For the dedicated selfie fans, however, this is a worthwhile investment.

5. Lenka

Lenka creates beautiful, rustic photos based on what the app is given. Working with black and white exclusively, this alternative approach to filters is sure to be a crowd-pleaser in whatever platform these photos are shared.

These apps are all available on the Google Play store. Most of these apps are free, while more professional-grade ones may require a fee upon purchasing. However, the myriad of options for filter apps means that there is something for everyone to enjoy. With these apps, you’ll be sure to enjoy taking your new favorite photos!

This is especially good advice if you are keeping a blog or updating your Instagram as you go. Your followers don’t want to see the same selfie in 40 different locations. They want to see something new and interesting every time they visit. You’ll also have more fun looking back at your adventures if your pictures tell a cool story. Think outside the box and take pictures from unique angles and in different weather conditions. Mix it up with memorable meals, picturesque sunsets — and yes, even the occasional selfie. Try to find something unusual or less common to photograph in each place you visit.

Learn Some Pro Tips

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to get amazing travel shots — just follow some basic guidelines.

• Lighting matters. Generally, the best lighting you’ll ever get is around sunrise and sunset, when everything takes on a warm glow that makes otherwise average shots look incredible.
• Cropping is key. Knowing where to place the frame around any image is the difference that can turn an ordinary photograph into art.
• Take a lot of pictures. One of the best things about the age of digital photography is that we can take zillions of pictures and only keep the best ones. Delete the bad ones as you go, so they don’t clog up your phone’s storage space. Duplicate Photos will ensure your phone automatically deletes any duplicates to save you time and space.

The Best Apps for Editing and Sharing Your Photos

Now that you’ve got some pro tips for how to improve your travel photos, it’s time to edit them, add filters, and share them with your friends.

• Edit and add filters. Before sharing your photos, you’ll want to edit them and apply filters to make your photos look professional. Some of the best, free photo editing apps include VSCO, Snapseed, and Preview.
• Share your photos. The most popular apps for sharing travel photos include Snapchat, Instagram, and Trover. Use Snapchat for fun, silly moments to share with friends, and Instagram and Trover for sharing your most amazing travel shots.

Make Sure Your Device Is Travel Ready

First, your device should be equipped with a decent camera. Make sure you’ve got your Insta, Facebook, and other mobile apps downloaded before you hit the road (where downloading things can cost you a small fortune depending on your data plan).

• Protect Your Privacy. If your phone gets stolen while you’re out traveling, make sure you use Anti-Theft so you can remotely track or erase sensitive data from a stolen or lost phone. Additionally, Private Gallery lets you curate which photos you want to show up in your Android’s photo album.
• Stay Up to Speed. In order for your phone to perform when on the go (and store all those photos!), you need to get rid of the junk taking up valuable space. Click below to clean up the junk: