Everyone has tech issues and they are usually because things are more complicated then they have to be. Listen and learn how to simplify your tech life. With Frank Bravo.
This week on Your Tech Makeover, professional photographer and Stanford University instructor Don Feria joins Frank Bravo to share real-world tips for taking better photos with the camera you already own, your phone.
Just in time for the holidays, Don and Frank break down what separates a good phone photo from a great one. From lighting and composition to phone-specific settings, you’ll learn how to capture the moments that matter most, whether that’s a Thanksgiving feast, a Christmas tree glow, or kids and pets who refuse to stay still.
🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
📱 Why mobile photography has changed the way we capture memories — and how to use that “studio in your pocket.”
⚙️ The real difference between High Efficiency and Most Compatible camera settings on iPhones.
🖼️ Simple composition tricks to make your photos instantly better (and what to watch for in the background).
💡 Lighting made easy — how to find soft, flattering light indoors and outdoors.
🍗 Holiday photo tips for food, family group shots, and fast-moving kids and pets.
✨ Editing basics that make photos pop without overdoing it.
🗂️ Quick ideas for keeping your photo library organized (and backed up safely).
🧠 Key Takeaways
Even small changes — like moving a few feet for better light — make a big difference.
You don’t need fancy gear; understanding your phone’s features goes further.
Practice before the big day: try shooting scenes with both shadow and light so you’ll know how your camera reacts.
If you enjoy Your Tech Makeover, please consider supporting it with a small donation — listeners who contribute $25 or more will receive a free 30-minute tech consultation to help simplify your own digital setup.
So, what’s one photo tip you plan to try this holiday season? Let me know what you think — and, as always, if you have ideas for topics you’d like me to cover, reach out at frank@yourtechmakeover.com.
Thanks for listening to Your Tech Makeover. Don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and visit YourTechMakeover.com for more episodes, transcripts, and show notes.
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More recent episodes
🎧 Gift Card Scams: How to Spot Them Before You Get Hooked
💳 Gift cards make great gifts, but terrible payments.
With the holidays approaching, scammers are working overtime to trick people into using gift cards to pay fake bills, bogus tech support fees, and even phony family emergencies. In this special between-episode of Your Tech Makeover, I share how one simple flyer at Target, and a neighbor’s unfortunate experience, inspired a timely reminder about one of the most common (and costly) scams out there.
You’ll learn how these scams actually work, the red flags to look for, and what to do if you or someone you love gets pressured to “pay” with a gift card.
🔑 In this episode, you’ll learn:
🎯 How gift card scams really work and the psychological tricks scammers use to create panic.
🚫 The biggest red flags that signal a call, text, or email isn’t legit.
🧾 What to do if it happens to you, including how to report it and maybe stop the funds.
🧡 How to protect family and friends with a “pause plan” before they buy or send anything.
💬 Frank says:
“The IRS doesn’t take Apple gift cards, your power company doesn’t take Target cards, and no tech support person should ever ask for Google Play cards. If someone tells you otherwise, hang up.”
🙌 Support & Resources:
If you or someone you know gets targeted, report it atReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP. And if you see someone at the store buying lots of gift cards under pressure — say something. You might save them a lot of money and stress.
Share this episode with family, coworkers, or that friend who always gets “urgent” texts. The more people who know the signs, the fewer will get caught.
💡 Support the Show
If you’ve learned something from Your Tech Makeover, consider supporting the podcast!
🎁 Listeners who contribute $25 or more will receive $25 off a one-on-one tech consultation with Frank to help simplify your digital life.
🎧 Listen to the full episodes at: 👉 YourTechMakeover.com/
So, have you ever gotten one of those “urgent” messages asking you to pay with a gift card? Let me know what you think and, as always, if you have any ideas for topics you’d like me to cover, please feel free to contact me at frank@yourtechmakeover.com.
✈️ Don’t Let Your Battery Ruin Your Flight: Tech Travel Tips for the Holidays
Batteries catching fire on airplanes? Unfortunately, it’s more common than you think.
In this episode of Your Tech Makeover, I dive into the rise in battery-related incidents on flights, and what you can do to stay safe and still fly with your tech. Whether you’re heading home for Thanksgiving or taking a winter getaway, this episode will help you avoid airport surprises and keep your gadgets (and seatmates) out of harm’s way.
This is part of our ongoing series on making your devices more useful and safer across everyday situations—and just in time for the holiday travel season.
🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
📈 How often batteries really catch fire on flights (hint: more than once a week in the U.S.)
⚠️ The rules around bringing power banks, vapes, and other rechargeable devices onboard
🧠 What “watt-hours” actually mean in simple, real-world terms
🚫 Which major airline banned power bank use onboard starting October 2025
🎒 Smart packing tips, like where to store your charger to avoid overheating or getting flagged
💡 Support the Show
If you’ve learned something from Your Tech Makeover, consider supporting the podcast!
🎁 Listeners who contribute $25 or more will receive $25 off a one-on-one tech consultation with Frank to help simplify your digital life.
I just wrapped up a six-part series on cloud storage, but if you missed an episode or still feel a little lost, this one’s for you. In this wrap-up, I’ll recap the highlights, share what I didn’t cover enough the first time, and give you a simple checklist you can use this week to finally take control of your files.
Whether you’re team Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, or iCloud Drive, this episode pulls it all together.
✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:
🌐 A quick rewind of the “big five” services — and who each one is best for
🔑 The key differences between sync and backup (and why you need both)
🧩 How to make sense of mix-and-match setups without losing your mind
📋 A 7-step checklist for cloud sanity and security
⚡ Five “quick wins” you can do in ten minutes or less
🗂️ A 5-day cleanup plan to finally get organized
❓ Listener Q&A — the most common cloud storage questions, answered
💡 Why this episode matters
This isn’t just another tech tutorial. It’s the in-case-you-missed-it recap of an entire series — plus the extra tips that didn’t fit into the earlier episodes. If you’ve been meaning to pick a primary service, tighten up your sharing, or finally back up those important folders, this is your cheat sheet.
🙌 Support the show
Your support helps keep Your Tech Makeover going! Contribute via the link in the show notes or atYourTechMakeover.com. Supporters who give $25 or more get $25 off a one-on-one consultation with me to simplify their tech.
