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How to take great photos with iPhone

By Ashley Burnett

Originally published February 4, 2025

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Last Updated February 4, 2025

Mint Fox with graphic copy that says “How to take great photos with iPhone”

Fujifilm, Nikon, Canon and…iPhones? Despite what you might think, you don’t need a fancy pants camera to take great pics. With Apple constantly evolving the camera on their iPhone models, the phone you carry in your pocket might even beat some professional cameras on the market.

So, ready to take the best damn brunch photos anyone has ever seen? Read on to learn how to take great photos with iPhone.

In this article
Graphic copy that says “Getting ready to take iPhone pictures” with these bullet points
Clean your lenses
Adjust the settings
Turn on Grid mode
Update your iPhone

Getting ready to take iPhone pictures

Here are just a few ways you can prep your iPhone for the best pictures: 

  • Clean your lenses. In order to avoid hazy images, wipe your lens gently with a clean, soft lint-free microfiber cloth. Make sure you never use a harsh scrub though, or you could scratch the lens. (Unless you really like the scratchy aesthetic and want all your photos, including your niece’s 5th birthday party, to look like scenes from Se7en.)
  • Adjust your camera’s settings. You don’t have to just snap pics with the default settings on your phone. Instead, adjust things like exposure and focus. How can you do that? So glad we asked!
    • Exposure: Changing this can be helpful when you’re snapping pics in sunny or bright conditions. Here’s how:
      • Open your Camera
      • Tap the screen to show automatic focus areas and the exposure setting
      • Drag the little sun icon up or down to play around with your exposure levels.
    • Focus: By tapping the screen, you can choose what your camera focuses on—like that fancy matcha you just ordered.
    • Resolution: Fine-tuning this lets you capture more detail and makes your photos appear even more lifelike. Here’s how to change your camera’s resolution:
      • Open Settings
      • Select Camera
      • Tap Formats
      • Tap Photo Mode, then choose between 12 MP or 24 MP
        • To go up to 48 MP on iPhone 14 Pro and later iPhone models: 
          • Open Settings
          • Select Camera
          • Tap Formats and then turn on Resolution Control
  • Turn on the grid. In Settings, scroll down and select Camera,  then scroll down to the Composition section and turn on Grid mode. Using this mode can help frame the subjects in your photos
  • Update your iPhone. Many iPhone updates also come with tweaks to make your camera’s performance even better, so make sure you’re constantly updating.
Graphic copy that says “6 iPhone camera features for taking great photos” with these bullet points
Portrait Mode
High Dynamic Range
Live Photos
Filters
Night Mode
Pano Mode

6 iPhone camera features for taking great photos

In addition to adjusting your settings, here are a half-dozen key features in your iPhone’s camera library to try out:

  1. Portrait Mode: If you’re trying to get a professional looking headshot (for your LinkedIn profile, dating profile, or otherwise), Portrait Mode can help by blurring the background and emphasizing your subject.
  2. HDR (high dynamic range) feature: This feature balances the exposure in scenes with a strong contrast between light and dark areas. Try it out when you’re taking photos in bright sunlight, or trying to capture a sunset.
  3. Live photos: This feature allows you to make still images into little mini movies that capture sound and movement. You can also use it to create long exposure shots.
  4. Filters and adjustments: Give your pictures a different mood or vibe—throwback to the old Valencia filter, anyone? You might even look online for presets from content creators if there’s a specific look you’re going for.
  5. Night mode: This feature helps capture photos in low-light conditions…like those dimly-lit restaurants where you have to use your phone light to read the menu.
  6. Pano mode: Take widescreen pictures by moving your phone along a panoramic scene. This is especially good for landscapes, or making your friend look like Slenderman.
Graphic copy that says “iPhone photography tips” with these bullet points:
Use burst mode
Pay attention to the rule of thirds
Play with angles and perspectives
Use leading lines
Utilize the front lens
Utilize negative space

iPhone photography tips to further elevate your snap skills

Now that you know the basic features on your iPhone’s camera, here are some further tips for getting your Ansel Adams on: 

  • Use burst mode to capture fast-moving subjects, like someone skating or surfing, or your dog running to get a treat, or your dog skating or surfing to get a treat.
  • Pay attention to the rule of thirds. No, this isn’t that old “first is the worst, second is the best” rhyme. The rule of thirds is a basic composition technique that suggests placing the subject off-center for a more visually interesting photo. Try using Grid mode for this.
  • Ever wonder why you see those Instagram boyfriends crawling on the ground to get the perfect pic? It’s because angles and perspectives make a big difference. Play around with different angles and dimensions.
  • Use leading lines. Position the subjects of your photo along lines, like a fence or the lines on a road. It helps lead the viewer’s eye toward the subject of the photo, whether it’s your S.O. or that matcha latte from the “Getting ready to take iPhone pictures” section.
  • Even if you’re snapping a selfie, consider using the front lens on your iPhone.
  • Utilize negative space in your photos. To make your subject matter stand out, try avoiding any distracting backgrounds or additional clutter in your photos. Because do you really want ANYTHING pulling focus from your surfing dog?

Ready for your close-up?

Now that you’re an expert on iPhone photography, why not learn about the best phones for content creators, how to make money with your phone, how to record on your phone or how to screen record on your iPhone? Or, maybe you’re ready to become an expert on switching to Mint Mobile. In that case, tap the button below—and say cheese.

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