18 tips for taking the best photos with your iPhone (2023)

The iPhone is capable of taking high-quality photos and selfies right out of the box. So you can usually take good pictures without having to adjust any settings. However, there are a variety of advanced photography tricks and features that you can use to take really great photos.

Please note that some options are only available on certain iPhone models. Apple generally improves camera hardware with each new generation ofIphone, and get more when you buy a premium model. (See our story to compare thefour iPhone 14 models.)

The following guide will walk you through all the features accessible in the Camera app on your iPhone and help you take advantage of your phone's photography features. Check out our story for more general photography tips.how to take better photosfrom any smartphone.

1. Update your iPhone

When was the last time you updated your phone? Before you begin, you must update your iPhone tolatest version of iOSto make sure you have the latest and greatest options available. (And to fix anyErrors that can appear).

GonnaSettings > General > Software update. You will be informed that the operating system is up to date or you will be prompted to download and install the latest update.

2. Navigate in photo mode

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

Now open the camera app to see the different camera modes. You are in photo mode by default. You can zoom in or out simply by touching one of the predefined optical zoom settings on the screen. To use digital zoom, spread or pinch your fingers apart and you can move in smaller increments.

If these default settings aren't enough for you, touch and hold one of the preset zoom icons to access the wheel zoom tool. Here you can manually zoom in by dragging your finger between the different presets.

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

To switch between the rear and front cameras, just tap the rotate icon in the bottom right corner. Depending on your iPhone model, you can zoom in and out a little by touching a double arrow circle on the screen, or by spreading your fingers apart or together.

3. Adjust the composition

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

SobSettings > Camera, you can also turn on the switch next toredwhen you want a grid of squares to appear on the camera screen to better align certain subjects and scenes. Make it possiblefront camera mirrorto take a selfie as the camera sees it and not the other way around.

However, certain wide angle lenses distort the captured image.lens correctioncorrects any distortion that appears in a photo taken with the ultra-wide angle or the front camera.

The iPhone 11, 12, 13, and 14 models allow you to view content outside of the frame to show what can be captured with a different lens. This option can be controlled throughshow outer frameoption in camera settings.

4. Set your Flash options

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

In photo mode, you can turn the flash on or off by touching the flash icon on the top toolbar. On some models, you can set the flash to turn on automatically when there isn't enough natural light. Some older phones set these controls in the bottom toolbar.

To view these options, tap the up arrow at the top or swipe up on the screen. Touch the first icon on the toolbar to set the flash to Auto, On, or Off. If the flash is set to Auto and the flash icon turns yellow, the flash will activate when you take a photo.

5. Record quick videos with QuickTake

Record videos in photo mode without having to switch to video mode thanks to the QuickTake function. Press and hold the shutter button to start recording video immediately. To release your finger without pausing the video, slide the trigger to the right and release.

6. Shoot faster

As seen on iPhone X (Credit: Jason Cohen)

To take burst photos, drag the shutter button to the left or use the volume up button if you activate the option viaSettings > Camera > Use louder for burst. or go toSettings > Cameraand enablePrioritize the fastest shotsto automatically take more photos by continuing to touch the shutter button.

7. Play with portrait mode

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

Scroll down to Portrait mode in the bottom toolbar so you can capture studio-quality portraits, capturing a highly detailed image of your subject in the foreground while leaving the background softer and more out of focus. As you line up your shot, the app offers guidelines and suggestions to help you better frame your subject.

You can adjust the zoom, flash, and (if available on your iPhone model) depth of field via the F-stop icon. Moving the slider on the scale below sets the blur level of the background.

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

Touch the light effect icon on the screen to cycle through the effects and select a specific effect, for example, Natural Light, Studio Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, Mono Stage Light, or Mono High Key Light. If you take a photo and don't like the effect, you can change it later.

Select an image from your camera library. The photo will display the word Portrait at the top to indicate that it was taken in Portrait mode. Press Edit. Tap the Light Effects icon in the top left corner to re-examine the effects and choose something else. You can also tap on the depth icon to change the background focus.

8. Take panoramic photos in Pano mode

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

Switch to panorama mode from the bottom toolbar to take a panorama photo by slowly moving your phone across a wide scene. When you are ready to take the panorama photo, tap the shutter button and slowly move your phone as shown on the screen until you capture the entire image.

Be sure to hold the phone steady and level, keeping the arrow on the horizontal line as straight as possible. Then everything is assembled into one enhanced photo. View your photo in landscape orientation to see it full size.

9. Select slow motion mode

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

If you select slow motion mode, it can be used for both the front and rear cameras to slow down the action. Users with an iPhone 8 or later can toggle between 120 and 240 frames per second by tapping the number in the top right corner of the screen.

Tap the rotate icon in the bottom right corner to switch between the front and rear cameras. Tap the shutter button to start and stop the video, or move the shutter button to the right to freeze it. You can also zoom in and out while recording.

10. Record a time-lapse video

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

Set your phone to time-lapse mode and you'll be able to record action-speeding videos as you play them back. For example, record storm clouds, your haircut, or a trip down a winding road. You probably want to keep your phone stable and compatible, so aTripodpossibly better for longer takes.

Tap the arrow at the top to see the exposure scale if you want to adjust it. Tap the rotate icon in the bottom right corner to switch between the front and rear cameras. Tap the shutter button to start the process and tap it again to stop it.

11. Master night mode

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

Introduced with iPhone 11, Night mode lets you take high-quality photos in low-light conditions. You don't even have to do anything to activate night mode; When the phone detects low light, a moon icon will appear on the screen to indicate that night mode is activated.

To take night mode photos in low light conditions, your iPhone extends the shutter a few seconds longer than normal. This ensures that the lens brings in the correct amount of light for a better image. The number next to the icon indicates how long you must hold the phone in place before the camera takes the photo.

Tap this icon and the night mode scale will appear at the bottom, allowing you to set the exposure manually. Slide the vertical line on the scale to adjust the exposure time, typically between one and three seconds. However, you can get exposure times of up to 30 seconds when your iPhone is on a tripod.

12. Keep it small with macro controls

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

iPhone13Pro, iPhone13ProMax, iPhone14Pro, and iPhone14ProMax offer macro control in Photo Mode, allowing you to take photos of small, close-up objects. When macro controls are available, a yellow flower icon will appear on the left. Tap this icon to toggle it on and off to see what the difference would be between active and inactive macro controls.

If you don't see the macro icon on the screen when you try to capture a small object up close, go toSettings > Cameraand turn on the switch next tocheck macros.

13. Change your live photos

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

Live Photos adds movement to your still images by recording what happens 1.5 seconds before and after you take a photo. To activate it, touch the target icon at the top of the screen before taking the photo.

After taking a photo, you can determine how this movement will be used. In the camera roll, find the live photo you want to customize and tap the live icon in the top left corner to choose the effect you want. Loop allows video to loop endlessly, Bounce takes one side of the Instagram Boomerang to jump from one side to the other, while Long Exposure adds SLR-like effects to photos.

To edit a Live Photo, open the image in your camera roll and tapto edit. Select the live icon and use the slider to choose a start and end point. When you find the frame you want, touchtake key photoand this becomes your default still image.

Edits are non-destructive, so you can go back and give a photo a completely different look if you don't like the first photo. Just tap and select the photo in questionGo back. However, live photos consume phone storage. To disable it, tap on the Live Photos icon again.

14. Control HDR (if you can)

As seen on the iPhone X (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

If you have an iPhone 8 or later, Apple useshigh range dynamics(HDR) to enhance your photos; The iPhone 12, 13, and 14 models also use HDR to record video. Certain iPhone models will display an HDR icon in the upper right corner of the screen when you take a photo. When enabled, your phone takes multiple photos at once and stitches them together to highlight the best features.

On iPhoneXS, iPhoneXR, iPhone11, iPhoneSE (2nd generation), and iPhone12 models, you can tap the HDR switch to turn it on or off. For iPhone8, iPhone8Plus and iPhoneX, you need to openSettings > Camera, then turn offAuto HDR. Starting with the iPhone 13 series, HDR is automatically added to your photos, so you no longer have to manually turn it on and off.

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

In photo, portrait, slow-motion, or time-lapse mode, the bottom toolbar can help you control certain settings. To view it, tap the up arrow at the top or swipe up on the screen. Depending on which mode you're in, the toolbar will display up to six icons, including one for flash, live photo, exposure, night mode, and a timer to take a photo in 3 or 10 seconds.

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

Touch the style icon and swipe from screen to screen to switch between different photo styles, e.g. B. hot, alive, hot and cold. To adjust a specific filter, tap the hue or warmth graph below and slide the slider left or right.

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

Touch the aspect ratio icon and you can switch between different aspect ratios, for example B. 4:3, square and 16:19.

16. Change photo formats

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

You can change the default format used for your images. GonnaSettings > Camera > Formatsand choose whether your images are High Efficiency (the HEIF/HEVC format) ormore compatible(JPG format). HEIF/HEVC is a smaller and more efficient format, but it may not be as compatible as JPG if you want to transfer your photos to non-Apple devices and operating systems.

However, in certain cases, HEIF/HEVC photos will be converted to JPG based on how you upload or share them. if you have toSave space on your iPhone, try setting HEIF/HEVC; Otherwise, stick with JPG for better compatibility.

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

iPhone 12 Pro and later let you take photos in the RAW format, which offers higher quality and more editing flexibility, but takes up more space than photos saved as JPG. In photo capture, turn on the switch next toApple Pro RAWif you want to take photos in RAW format. You can save them as 12 or 24 megapixel files, keeping in mind that 24 MP files take up more storage space.

17. Keep the default camera settings

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

By default, your camera settings are reset every time you exit the Camera app. To make them permanent, go toSettings > Camera > Keep Settings. Turn on options for things like camera mode, creative settings, exposure, night mode, portrait zoom, action mode, or live photo. Your camera will now retain the last settings you chose for these features.

18. Change the style of the photo

As seen on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Lance Whitney)

If you prefer your colors a certain way, go toSettings > Cameraand touch thephotographic stylesShortcut. Swipe through each style and choose the default hue and warmth for the colors in your photos. Regardless of which one you choose as the default, you can always switch to a different style for individual photos.