Would you believe it if I told you every single one of my photos on this website was taken on my iphone? It’s true. I do not yet own a nice camera for my travel photography. Instead, I have learned how to work with what I’ve got to take great photos on my phone! And I can teach you how to improve with a few of my iphone photography tips and tricks. There is no point to invest in a professional camera if you can’t even master your cell phone.
With the advancements in technology, our smartphones have become our go-to cameras for capturing life’s moments. If you’re looking to improve your iPhone photography skills, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you take better photos and make the most of your device’s capabilities.
This guide will teach you how to take better iphone photos with actionable tips you can implement today. Practice makes perfect and you will get better as you keep at it. Remember, it is all about the photographer and not so much about having the best equipment. If you have a good eye and a few editing skills, you can master iphone photography!
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1. Upgrade to the newest iPhone and learn how to use it
While I have taken great photos on every phone, having the newest version is always helpful.
The iPhone camera is packed with features and settings that can help you capture stunning photographs. Understanding how to use these features effectively will allow you to take full advantage of your iPhone’s capabilities. Here are some key features and settings to explore.
- HDR mode: High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode helps you capture more detail in both the shadows and highlights of your photos. It’s especially useful in high-contrast situations, such as landscapes with bright skies and dark foregrounds. Enable HDR mode in your iPhone camera settings to automatically capture HDR photos.
- Live Photos: Live Photos bring your images to life by capturing a few seconds of video before and after you take a photo. To enable Live Photos, tap the Live Photos icon in the Camera app and press the shutter button. You can then use the Photos app to view, edit, and share your Live Photos.
- Burst mode: Burst mode allows you to capture a series of photos in quick succession by holding down the shutter button. This feature is perfect for capturing action shots or moments when timing is crucial. To activate burst mode, simply hold down the shutter button in the Camera app.
- Gridlines: The iPhone camera offers a grid overlay that helps you align your shots and create well-balanced compositions. To enable the gridlines, go to the Camera settings and toggle on the Grid option. Use the gridlines to guide your composition and create visually pleasing images.
- Exposure control: The iPhone camera allows you to manually adjust the exposure for your photos. Tap on the screen to focus on your subject, then swipe up or down to adjust the exposure. This feature is particularly useful in challenging lighting conditions, where the camera may struggle to meter the scene correctly.
Take the time to familiarize yourself with these features and experiment with different settings to find the ones that work best for your photography style.
2. Use the grid feature to help with composition
Composition is the arrangement of elements within a photograph. It’s important to understand the basics of composition to create visually appealing images. One of the most common composition techniques is the rule of thirds, which involves dividing the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically, and placing the subject at one of the intersections. This creates a more balanced and interesting image. Other composition techniques include leading lines, symmetry, and framing. Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for your photos.
Learn the rule of thirds by using the grid feature to setup your shot. Go to settings>camera>formats>switch on the “grid” button.
3. Take advantage of the iPhone’s Portrait mode to create a depth-of-field effect
The iPhone’s Portrait Mode allows you to create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and making the subject stand out. To activate Portrait Mode, open the Camera app, swipe to the Portrait mode, and position your subject within the frame. The iPhone will automatically detect the subject and apply the depth effect.
4. Get close to your subject to capture details and emotions
Close ups are sometimes better than shooting from a distance.
5. Use Night mode in low-light situations to get better exposures
If the light is not great, switch into night mode to try again.
6. Experiment with different angles and perspectives
Don’t like your first photo? Try it from another angle, distance, or perspective. One of the best things about iPhone photography is the ability to experiment with different angles and perspectives. Don’t be afraid to get down low or climb up high to capture a unique perspective. Try shooting from different angles, such as from above or below your subject, or experiment with different compositions, such as the rule of thirds. You can also play with reflections, shadows, and symmetry to add interest to your photos. The possibilities are endless, so don’t be afraid to get creative and try new things.
7. Use the self-timer function to take better group photos or selfies
Self timer is your best friend when traveling solo!
8. Buy a tripod and bluetooth remote
If you can, buy a small tripod and bluetooth remote so you aren’t trusting a stranger to capture your vision. I have used this combo on so many trips and we love it! Here are some photos taken on my iphone with a tripod/remote and the exact ones I bought!
I also love it for doing time lapse videos so the shot stays perfectly still.
Click the images below to shop:
9. Utilize the iPhone’s built-in editing tools
It is all about editing! Learn cropping, lighting, contrast, colors, and more to turn your dark photos into a beautiful image. After taking your photos, don’t forget to utilize the iPhone’s built-in editing tools to enhance your images. The Photos app offers a range of editing options, including cropping, adjusting exposure and color, and adding filters. You can also use third-party editing apps like VSCO, Snapseed, or Lightroom to take your editing to the next level. Experiment with different editing techniques to find the style that best suits your photos. Just remember to keep it subtle and avoid over-editing, as this can make your photos look unnatural.
10. Use the sun feature to adjust exposure before snapping a picture
When taking a photo, tap the screen, and move that little sun slider up and down to adjust the brightness of the image before you take it.
11. Download Lightroom App (free version)
Download the free Lightroom app to edit your photos with advanced setting and preset filters. Once you get better, you can make your own presets to apply to your images allowing you to edit quickly.
12. Avoid the zoom feature!
Do not zoom in while taking a photo. It makes the quality look worse. Instead, you can crop the image afterwards.
13. Use Natural Lighting to Your Advantage
Natural light is always superior. Try to take a photo near a window when possible. Lighting is one of the most important factors in photography, and natural lighting can be your best friend. Avoid using the flash whenever possible, as it can create harsh shadows and wash out colors. Instead, try to shoot during the golden hour – the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset – when the light is soft and warm. If you’re shooting indoors, try to position your subject near a window to take advantage of natural light. And don’t be afraid to experiment with different angles and positions to find the best lighting for your shot. You can easily see the difference this makes by going to “selfie mode” and turning in a circle to see how the light changes against your face.
14. Shoot in the morning and evenings
Lighting is always best in the mornings and evenings when the sun is softer. It is called golden hour for a reason!
15. Shoot in RAW
On the new iphone 13, you can now shoot in RAW. This feature is basically a file format that captures all of the images data when you take a photo. When shooting normally, the file is compressed and some of this data is lost. So shooting in RAW allows you to take higher quality pictures and make any corrections with editing. This will take up way more space on your phone so I do not recommend it for every photo. Go to settings>camera>formats>switch on Apple ProRAW.
16. Adjust the main video settings to make your videos look more professional
Adjust the main video settings to make your videos look more professional. Go to settings>camera>record video>select “4k at 60fps”. This changes the frames per second creating a smoother video. It can take a while to upload these to instagram, so try out 4k at 30fps as well to compare if you are posting to social media.
17. Invest in external lenses and accessories for even more creative options
If you want to take your iPhone photography to the next level, consider investing in external lenses and accessories. These can help you achieve different effects and perspectives that are not possible with the built-in camera. For example, a wide-angle lens can help you capture more of the scene, while a macro lens can help you capture stunning close-up shots. Other accessories like tripods, stabilizers, lights, and remote shutter releases can also help you take sharper and more stable photos. Just make sure to do your research and choose high-quality products that are compatible with your iPhone model.
click any image below to learn more:
Your iPhone camera is capable of capturing stunning images – all you need are the right techniques. I hope you have discovered how to take better iPhone photos with this guide. Let me know any questions in the comments below.
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