iPhone Photography Tips
Our iPhones are like our most loyal friends—always there, ready and willing to help us out. They spend a lot of time multi-tasking: keeping us organized and connected, entertaining and informing us, and most importantly (in our opinion anyway), capturing and storing our most precious everyday memories. The iPhone camera app is so easy to use—you can capture a photo with merely the press of a button—that most people don’t give it a second thought. But what if we told you there are some simple tips on how to take good pictures with iPhone cameras? 🤳
At Flytographer, we easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photoshoots and have captured over four million memories worldwide. The magic of Flytographer is both the experience and the photos. Explore the city with a fun, talented photographer and get wall-worthy photos to relive your trip, forever. Read on to level up your own iPhone photography and learn how to take better pictures with iPhone cameras by avoiding these 5 common mistakes!
TLDR
What to avoid when taking iPhone photos:
Photo: Elisenda in Washington for Flytographer. Keisha captures memories in Washington DC with a modern headshot photoshoot.
1. Having a grimy iPhone camera
The simplest iPhone photography tips always start with wiping off your lens before taking an iPhone photo! Throughout the day, your phone collects dust and fingerprints, and a dirty lens will lead to blurry and distorted images. Make it a habit to do a quick wipe with a cloth or the hem of your shirt as you open your camera app, and you’ll be ready to take crisp, clear photos. 🧼
iPhone photo trick: Once you have a clean camera lens, turn on the live photo setting for better quality pictures and more options to choose from when photo editing!
Photo: Kris in Santorini for Flytographer. Angela and partner capture memories in Santorini with an anniversary photoshoot in Oia Village.
2. Neglecting your natural light source
As you prepare to take your iPhone photo, take note of the natural light available: light is the foundation of taking better photos with iPhone cameras. Our Flytographers love “golden hour,” which is the hour after sunrise or before sunset when the sun is low on the horizon and the light is soft, creating the perfect photography atmosphere. If you are taking iPhone photos in the middle of the day when the sun is high and bright, try to keep the sun behind your main subjects to avoid harsh light conditions or unflattering shadows. 🌅
Photo: Liz in San Diego for Flytographer. Brittni and partner capture memories in San Diego with a couples photoshoot.
3. Not tapping on your main subject
This rule is the key to taking professional photos with iPhone cameras. To avoid blurry photos, make sure to hold your phone very still, touch your finger to the main subject on the iPhone screen to bring it into focus, and gently tap the shutter button to avoid jostling the phone. You can also use the volume buttons on the side of your phone as a shutter release.
iPhone camera tip: Turn on your grid lines in the iPhone camera settings and practice with the rule of thirds! Does your image look like it’s in night mode, or is there not enough natural light? Tap on the iPhone screen to focus, and then slide your finger up or down on the screen to customize the exposure, which is the brightness of the image. This iPhone photo hack will guarantee better pictures in your photos app! 📱
Photo: Matěj in Prague for Flytographer. Parisa captures memories in Prague with a solo adventure photoshoot at Charles Bridge.
4. Underutilizing new iPhone camera features
With every iOS update and new iPhone model, there are more and more incredible features added to the camera app. For Apple iPhone models like Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro and up, be sure to utilize portrait mode, which can give your photos a professional photographer look. This mode mimics a wide aperture on a DSLR lens by creating “bokeh,” which means “blur” in Japanese. To put it simply, it blurs the background while keeping your main subject sharp and in focus. 💎
iPhone camera hack: You can even adjust the f-stop, or aperture, in your camera settings with a slider that customizes the blurriness of the background. A low number like 1.4 adds more blur, while a high number like 16 is less blurry. These features are a must for taking good pictures with iPhone cameras!
Photo: Cho in Tokyo for Flytographer. Hark and partner capture memories in Tokyo with a proposal photoshoot at Shinjuku Gyoen Park.
5. Snapping iPhone photos without purpose
These may seem like simple iPhone camera tricks, but it’s so important to take time to compose your iPhone image, and not just in editing apps. A photo has the power to tell a story, evoke emotions, and bring back powerful memories.
Look for interesting backgrounds for your photo that capture your mood or destination, or opt for simple backgrounds when you want to focus on your subjects. Finally, don’t be afraid to have fun, laugh, try burst mode, and take lots of selfies! While most of us were likely taught to “sit still and smile for the camera,” our favourite images are often those in-between moments, when we’re able to be silly and authentically ourselves with our loved ones. ❤️
Photo: Andrea in Provence for Flytographer. Casey and family capture memories in Provence with an anniversary photoshoot in Moustiers Sainte Marie.
Capturing Good Pictures with iPhone Cameras
We hope this helps answer your questions about how to take better pictures with iPhone cameras! These tips will level up your iPhone photography and yes, of course, your social media. 😉 If you’re looking for more iPhone photo tips and tricks, be sure to check out our blog on iPhone photography tips to capture better photos too. And of course, if you want the help of a professional photographer, our local Flytographers around the world are ready to capture your memories! 📸
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“Having our family photos taken by HaleLee was easily one of the highlights of our first visit to Seoul! She was so kind, sweet, and patient with us during our session and worked very well with our kids. We booked a 1 hour afternoon session at Gyeongbokgong Palace and it was a fabulous back drop to our photo shoot. We found so many private corners of the palace grounds without any tourists appearing in our photos. The quality of the images, composition, colours were stunning. Best of all, these photos are the most priceless souvenir from our trip and I am so grateful for HaleLee for capturing these memories.”
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Gyeongbokgung Palace
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Manarola
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Brooke
Opunohu Valley
