Want to learn how to shoot professionally with your iPhoneThen you've come to the right place. Below, we'll share some simple suggestions, from which settings to use to which one to shoot.
1. Use the rule of thirds to shoot
One of the biggest tips for a professional** is to use the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is to divide the image into a grid of three by three, and placing the main subject along these lines can create a more visually appealing image.
When we take photos, we often want to put the subject in the center of the **, but actually placing it on one side can produce a better image, leaving room for the subject to interact or imagine.
2. Look for unique perspectives
Another general photography tip that you can use to shoot more professionally with your iPhone is to look for a different, more unique perspective instead of shooting everything from where you're standing. Experiment with high and low angles and see how they change the scene, different angles can reveal details and hidden symmetries in everyday scenes. When people see a ** of something they're familiar with but see in a different way, it tends to get people's attention.
Unusual angles also provide more options for composition, with different lines and shades, which can also bring us closer to the subject.
3. Create a sense of depth in your iPhone**
When composing a shot, we usually think about two-dimensional first, but an image with a sense of depth will be more compelling. An easy way to create this effect with your iPhone is to shoot a close-up of the subject foreground against an out-of-focus background.
Your phone will automatically guess what it thinks is the focus of the subject, but to focus elsewhere, simply tap the screen to overlay your phone's selection, and then try to include different elements in different depths in the image.
When you move the iPhone camera to adjust the composition, the iPhone camera adjusts automatically, but you can lock the focus by tapping the screen and holding your finger for a few seconds—it will appear in a yellow box at the top of the screen. The screen lets you know that the focus and** is locked, and then you can move your phone and reframe the shot without the camera trying to refocus.
Incorporating lines into the composition can also help create a sense of depth. The medium-long, straight guide line provides the viewer with a perspective that helps them understand the image.
4. Don't use flash
Photography is all about using light, which makes it challenging to shoot dark scenes. The light from the phone's flash is cold, harsh, and very unpleasant. Diffused light looks much better, so if you're shooting at night, try to take advantage of any other light sources you may have on hand before using the flash, and the same goes for night mode. While it's much better than it used to be, it may look unnatural or too bright to realistically reproduce the night scene you see with your eyes.
5. Avoid blurring the lens
iPhone camera sensors are getting better and better, but camera shake still causes blur. iPhones are so thin that sometimes even just pressing the shutter button with your finger or thumb is enough to cause shaking. The iPhone camera's time-lapse is not just for the collective**, but can also shoot any** without actually pressing the shutter button.
If you're going for a short period of time**, you can use a timer and just hold your phone steadily with both hands. For longer periods of time, such as in low light, you'll need a grip or tripod (or temporary stand) to stabilize the phone and avoid camera shake.
Of course, using a timer is best for shooting stationary subjects. Anything that moves doesn't necessarily have to wait for the timer to time out. Another option is to take a photo with the volume buttons. It's not as stable as using a timer, but it generally provides more stability than using the on-screen shutter button, giving the subject an option to move.
6. Use the manual mode of the iPhone camera
It's easy to shoot pretty well with your iPhone's automatic settings**, but that's usually not the best way to shoot professional** on your iPhone, and taking the time to go into manual mode and adjust **and focus on your own can help you get more creative images. Your phone may often over-include images of shadow areas, thus losing detail in the brighter parts of the image, and sometimes it's better to shoot too dark than too bright, because you can recover some detail from the shadows while editing.
In fact, it's very easy to change ** manually without going into manual mode. Just tap where you want to focus on the screen and swipe up or down to increase or create**.
7. Use Portrait mode to take portraits
If you're taking a portrait, use Portrait mode. Portrait mode on iPhone creates a shallower depth of field, makes the subject stand out from the background, and can capture truly popular portraits. When you open the camera app, you'll find it next to the mode above the shutter button. The iPhone 15 introduces automatic mode detection, so it can switch directly to portrait mode when it sees fit.
List of high-quality authors8. Use HDR when there is a lot of light and shadow in the sceneAnother built-in feature that is often overlooked or misused is HDR (High Dynamic Range). HDR solves the problem of having very light and very dark areas in a scene, which often results in an over- or under-image, but what HDR does is combine multiple lenses from different levels to produce a composite image. Professional photographers do this manually by shooting separate ones with different settings and then merging them together in the edit, but your iPhone can do it well for you.
9. Use continuous shooting mode for dynamic subjects
Whether it's a moving subject or yourself, shooting multiple shots in quick succession is more likely to guarantee that at least one of them is perfect. To shoot continuously, simply tap and hold the shutter button (or the volume up button). Go to Settings > Camera, then select "Burst with Volume Up."