Today, most anyone can take a great photo thanks to the powerful iPhone camera lenses and editing tools. However, while these can be as simple as point-and-shoot, if you want to get professional-level results, you’ll have to familiarize yourself with some of the device’s basic and more intricate features.
Follow this step-by-step guide to get the most out of your iPhone’s camera.
Each year, Apple releases a new model of the iPhone. And, with each new iteration of the phone comes stronger camera capabilities. Just check out the lens specs of the latest models:
Regardless of which model you have, you can get incredible results by paying attention to a few technical details before you shoot.
You can take photos using the built-in camera without the need for any additional apps or add-ons (like detachable lenses). Here’s how.
Every iPhone comes with multiple shooting modes. Here’s a breakdown with some recommendations about when to use each of them.
It helps to enable grid lines when deciding the orientation for your photo. Portrait versus landscape depends on your subject. Grid lines help your eye see your subject in the full layout of your photo. For instance, you may want the subject to be in the center of the frame or you may want to use the “Rule of Thirds” within the shot. To enable your iPhone’s camera grid:
Setting the camera focus on your iPhone is as simple as tapping on the screen over your subject. This allows the camera to auto-focus and it will also adjust the exposure as necessary. This method usually works great and is very quick to use.
After setting the focus, your iPhone works to make sure that the area you tapped on is in focus and properly exposed. Specifically that the subject is not too dark nor too bright.
In the case that you don’t set the focus, the camera phone will decide what it perceives should be in focus. This leads to potentially an image that is overexposed or underexposed.
The AE/AF lock stands for Auto Exposure/Auto Focus. By locking it, you are able to gain ultimate control over what your camera focuses on and what the exposure level is. To use the lock:
Now your camera will not automatically re-focus or re-expose before you take your next picture. As such, this feature is specifically beneficial if you are photographing a moving subject. Movement and changes in light cause the camera to re-focus or change the exposure on its own.
Adjusting the exposure on your iPhone’s camera is simple and requires only a few taps:
Now watch the screen as you increase or decrease the exposure, which causes the picture to get brighter or darker.
Photography Tip: Realize that overexposing or underexposing the photo can lead to “noise” or a fuzzy look.
There are two types of zoom a photographer can use: digital zoom and optical zoom.
When taking photos with your iPhone using digital zoom, try to get as close to your subject as possible. Avoid using digital zoom and, instead, opt to crop your photos later as necessary. This will help you avoid blurry, pixelated results that are unusable.
When it comes to digital photography, a lot of the magic happens afterthe photo is taken. Using the phone’s editing tools or editing apps, you can take an “average” photo and make it awesome with simple adjustments including the image’s:
Of course, the end result will always be directly connected to the photo’s initial quality. So, try to get the best photo without disturbing the moment.
Then make any tweaks that are necessary with editing after the fact. This will enable you to consistently get stunning photos. Once you get the hang of it, you might even decide to ditch filters for good.
Once you’ve mastered the art of iPhone photography share your collection. With Mimeo Photos, you can turn your favorite photos into beautiful keepsakes. Simply get started by airdropping images from your phone’s camera roll to your Mac.
From the Photos app you can build gleaming photo projects complete with Apple’s editing capabilities, text, backgrounds and more.
How you choose to tell your story is up to you — select from multiple photobook, card, and calendar options. Get started by learning more about how to use our free app for print photo projects.