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You don’t need to have a professional camera to take post-worthy photos. Many successful influencers use their iPhones to create content for platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Take xcanadian’s iPhone-only photography account on Instagram as an example of this. Using only an iPhone, this Hong Kong-based photographer takes awe-inspiring photos that rival the quality of even the best high-end DSLR cameras.
Whether you’re into portraits, landscape photos, or action shots, the iPhone has a camera setting for you. Keep reading to learn about 5 must-know iPhone camera hacks that will help you get the perfect shot every time.
Add a Grid
Following the rule of thirds can take your photos to the next level. Simply put, the rule of thirds suggests that your primary subject should take up one-third of your photo while the other two-thirds remain emptier or less “busy”. This is a simple trick that can make any kind of photo seem more professional and compelling to the viewer. The iPhone makes it easy to align your shot with the grid function, which divides your screen into nine parts with vertical and horizontal lines.
To apply this feature, go to camera settings on your phone (Settings > Camera), and then tap the grid toggle button. Voila! You can start applying the rule of thirds to any and all photos. The grid also helps you confirm that you’re holding your phone perpendicular to the ground in the middle of a shoot.
Take Burst Photos
If you need to get the perfect action shot, your iPhone is a great tool. Any moving object, human or otherwise, can be captured in all of its glory with the camera’s Burst mode.
To use Burst mode, tap and hold the photo-taking button and drag it all the way to the left. This automatically takes a consecutive string of photos for as long as you hold the button. After you’re satisfied with the number of photos captured, you can press the “Select…” option underneath the bundle of images in the Photo app to go through and pick the best ones.
Use the Long-Exposure Effect
If you’ve ever seen a photo that shows stars spinning in the sky or the lights of cars trailing along a road, you’ve seen the result of long-exposure photography. The trick to creating long-exposure photographs is the slow shutter speed. The camera’s shutter remains open for an extended period of time which allows more light to enter the camera. This allows moving objects (especially lights) to appear in photos in a unique way, as it captures several different moments in time and combines them into one photo.
The good news is that you can take exposure photos on your iPhone with Live Photo mode. The first step is taking a live photo as you usually would (tap the concentric circle icon in the upper right-hand corner of the Camera app to toggle this mode on and off).
Make sure to hold your phone tightly一or use a tripod一so that it stays stationary while the photo is being taken. Once you’ve taken the photo, open it in the Photos app and swipe up on it to see the Effects options. Tap on “Long Exposure” to get the desired effect.
Use the Time-Lapse Feature
Sometimes, the terms long-exposure and time-lapse have overlaps in the world of photography. Time-lapse photographs may be referred to more succinctly as GIFs or videos since they often show movement. For example, check out this blooming flower time-lapse published by National Geographic.
To create your own time-lapse on the iPhone, all you need to do is open the Camera app and scroll through the modes at the bottom of the screen until you find “time-lapse”. From there, you can find a stable place to set your phone and tap and hold on the screen to lock focus and exposure. This step ensures a consistent focus point and level of exposure despite any changes in the field of view. Begin the time-lapse video and let your phone work its magic!
Use Portrait Mode to Blur the Background
If you aren’t using portrait mode for your people-centered photos, now is the time to start. Portrait mode offers a variety of different lighting options and allows you to take professional-looking photos with a blurred background. Newer iPhone models (iPhone X and up, excluding XR) also extend the Portrait mode/background blur function to inanimate objects and pets. Here’s how to use it:
- Open the Camera app and choose the Portrait option.
- Stand between two to eight feet away from the person or object you want to take a picture of. Tap the subject of your photo.
- Select the “f” icon in the top right corner to access a slider that will allow you to adjust the focal length.
You can also adjust the background blur on newer iPhone models (iPhone 8 Plus and up). To do this, simply:
- Go to the Photos app and select a photo that was taken in portrait mode.
- Click on the Edit option and then tap the “f” icon in the top left corner of the screen.
- Move the slider at the bottom of the screen to change the blur as you desire.
Takeaway
Influencers, social media marketers, photography hobbyists, and even your technology-challenged grandparents can create eye-catching photos and other content with nothing more than their cell phones.
The combination of high-quality cameras with smartphone technology has opened up a world of possibilities for anyone with an interest in photography. All you need is an iPhone and the knowledge on how to use it.
