Tips for Taking Better Photos With Your iPhone - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Tips for Taking Better Photos With Your iPhone

There's an adage that says the best camera is the one you have with you, and for most MacRumors readers, that's an iPhone. On popular photography site Flickr, the iPhone has long been the most popular camera, responsible for a significant portion of the photos uploaded to the site.

Apple has fully embraced the iPhone's position as a serious photography device, and over the years, the camera has steadily improved, but getting a great picture is about more than just the camera it's shot with -- factors like lighting and positioning can have a huge impact on the outcome.

With that in mind, our videographer, Mattdgonzalez, has created a basic introduction video on how to take better photos using your iPhone and the stock camera app.


Following the rule of thirds and working with the ambient light around you are two of the most important factors when it comes to good photography, but there are a few built-in iPhone tools that can help you get the perfect shot, like tap to focus, exposure control, and HDR.

There are two iPhone tools you'll want to use sparingly or not at all -- digital zoom and flash. Digital zoom is just going to make your photos look grainy, and it's rare photos using the flash will look halfway decent. Simple tips like additional light sources or moving closer to your subject instead of zooming digitally can make a world of difference when it comes to quality.

Matt's also been producing our iOS Beta walkthroughs and regularly publishing videos on our YouTube channel which don't all make their way to the main site. Other recent videos include:

- How to Create an "Unread" Folder in the iOS Mail App
- Avoid Read Receipts in Messages with 3D Touch
- What happens when you block someone on your iPhone?
- 5 Cool Things to do with 3D Touch!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be automatically notified of future videos.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

apple pro tell logo

Apple Launches Two Products Today

Friday November 13, 2026 2:37 am PST by
Apple is releasing two new products today, Friday, November 13: the all-new Apple HomeView and the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, both of which have been available to pre-order since mid-October. Apple HomeView: Apple's new smart home display, powered by Apple Intelligence with Siri AI, for entertainment and managing the home. Available in tabletop and wall-mounted models, it can recognize up...
imac video apple feature

November 20 to Mark the End of an Era at Apple

Wednesday November 11, 2026 7:51 am PST by
Apple has announced that the long-running Apple Support Community discussion forums for user-to-user tech support will be permanently closing on Friday, November 20. The forums have existed in some form for nearly 30 years, so it is the end of an era. Effective immediately, the Apple Support Community forums are in a read-only state, with new posts no longer being accepted. The final message ...
johny srouji

Apple's Johny Srouji Eyed to Replace Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang

Thursday November 12, 2026 4:29 am PST by
Apple's chief hardware officer Johny Srouji is being considered as a potential successor to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang as the chipmaker's board prepares to remove its co-founder, according to Semafor. Citing a person familiar with the matter, the publication identified Srouji as one of the people under consideration for Nvidia's top job. It is unclear if Srouji has yet been approached or...

Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
140 months ago
Digital zoom is a big one. It is absolutely identical to cropping. Avoid zoom and just crop; the result looks better (no upscaling) and you can change your mind later!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
140 months ago
Here's a tip: buy a DSLR if you want good photos.
Here's a tip: Not everyone knows how to handle a dSLR, nor the time to take to learn it, nor the capability to buy a $600+ device in addition to their expensive phone, nor the want (or extra attention) of carrying a bulky device around their neck everywhere they go.

Source: I'm sitting here at work with my 5D MkIII 24-70mm f/2.8L. I'm also considering a move to mirrorless to minimize size and weight. I know other pros who have already made the switch. For instance the Sony A7rII is a beast. If you can't get people like us to still use dSLRs, then there is no hope for regular consumers. dSLRs are still useful (mostly for sports), but they're in decline.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
140 months ago
Here's a tip: buy a DSLR if you want good photos.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghost187 Avatar
140 months ago
How to take better photos with your phone:
STEP 1: Upgrade your phone.
STEP 2: Wait a year, than goto STEP 1.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
140 months ago
Here's a tip: buy a DSLR if you want good photos.
/takes DrumApple's advice
/buys DSLR

/takes pictures with iPhone
/realizes DSLR purchase didn't help me take better pictures with iPhone:rolleyes:

/hunts down DrumApple


OT: These are good tips for taking pics with any smartphone. More of us need to use them.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
140 months ago
There's an adage that says the best camera is the one you have with you, and for most MacRumors readers, that's an iPhone. On popular photography site Flickr ('https://www.flickr.com/cameras'), the iPhone has long been the most popular camera ('https://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/03/flickr-iphone-most-popular-camera-2015/'), responsible for a significant portion of the photos uploaded to the site.

Apple has fully embraced the iPhone's position as a serious photography device, and over the years, the camera has steadily improved, but getting a great picture is about more than just the camera it's shot with -- factors like lighting and positioning can have a huge impact on the outcome.

With that in mind, our videographer, Mattdgonzalez ('https://twitter.com/mattdgonzalez'), has created a basic introduction video on how to take better photos using your iPhone and the stock camera app.


Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ('https://www.youtube.com/user/macrumors?sub_confirmation=1') for more videos.
Following the rule of thirds and working with the ambient light around you are two of the most important factors when it comes to good photography, but there are a few built-in iPhone tools that can help you get the perfect shot, like tap to focus, exposure control, and HDR.

There are two iPhone tools you'll want to use sparingly or not at all -- digital zoom and flash. Digital zoom is just going to make your photos look grainy, and it's rare photos using the flash will look halfway decent. Simple tips like additional light sources or moving closer to your subject instead of zooming digitally can make a world of difference when it comes to quality.

Matt's also been producing our iOS Beta ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/08/apple-seeds-third-ios-9-3-beta/') walkthroughs and regularly publishing videos on our YouTube channel ('https://www.youtube.com/user/macrumors?sub_confirmation=1') which don't all make their way to the main site. Other recent videos include:

- How to Create an "Unread" Folder in the iOS Mail App ('https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybvpXVyMWY0')
- Avoid Read Receipts in Messages with 3D Touch ('https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY6Nj5KKgUc')
- What happens when you block someone on your iPhone? ('https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYzg_JJTTnU')
- 5 Cool Things to do with 3D Touch! ('https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhAk70G9yyg')

Subscribe ('https://www.youtube.com/user/macrumors?sub_confirmation=1') to our YouTube channel to be automatically notified of future videos.

Article Link: Tips for Taking Better Photos With Your iPhone ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/23/how-to-take-better-photos-with-iphone/')
SOMEONE GET THIS TO TIM COOK ASAP BEFORE HE POSTS ANY MORE RUBBISH PICS
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Black Friday Starts Early: Save on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
Apple Black Friday Starts Early: Save on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
8 hours ago
Top Stories: Apple's New Software Approach, iPhone Duo-Optimized Apps, and More
Top Stories: Apple's New Software Approach, iPhone Duo-Optimized Apps, and More
10 hours ago
HomeView Tidbits: Mirror, Sleep Timer, and Other Details
HomeView Tidbits: Mirror, Sleep Timer, and Other Details
1 day ago
Siri AI Still Not Enabled on HomePod Mini 2 With Latest Software Update
Siri AI Still Not Enabled on HomePod Mini 2 With Latest Software Update
1 day ago
Apple Releases tvOS 27.2.1 With Siri AI for Older Apple TVs
Apple Releases tvOS 27.2.1 With Siri AI for Older Apple TVs
1 day ago
Microsoft 365 Outage Resolving After Nearly 24 Hours
Microsoft 365 Outage Resolving After Nearly 24 Hours
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Survives 450,000 Folds, but Hinge is Weakening
iPhone Duo Survives 450,000 Folds, but Hinge is Weakening
1 day ago
Apple TV 4K Launch Day Deal Arrives at Amazon
Apple TV 4K Launch Day Deal Arrives at Amazon
1 day ago
The MacRumors Show: HomeView and Apple TV 4K First Impressions
The MacRumors Show: HomeView and Apple TV 4K First Impressions
1 day ago
YouTube App Not Working on Your New Apple TV? Here's the Fix
YouTube App Not Working on Your New Apple TV? Here's the Fix
1 day ago
Apple Meets Thai Officials Over iPhone Spyware Warnings
Apple Meets Thai Officials Over iPhone Spyware Warnings
1 day ago
Apple Shares HomeView 27.2 Release Notes With List of Features
Apple Shares HomeView 27.2 Release Notes With List of Features
1 day ago
HomeView in Québec: Apple Says Canadian French Support to Arrive in Software Update
HomeView in Québec: Apple Says Canadian French Support to Arrive in Software Update
1 day ago
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Gets Big $250 Discounts Ahead of Black Friday
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Gets Big $250 Discounts Ahead of Black Friday
1 day ago
Apple Says HomeView Sets New Record in Design-Focused Interview
Apple Says HomeView Sets New Record in Design-Focused Interview
1 day ago
Best Apple Deals of the Week: AirTag 2 Hits Record Low Price, Plus Early Black Friday Sales
Best Apple Deals of the Week: AirTag 2 Hits Record Low Price, Plus Early Black Friday Sales
1 day ago
iPhone 18 and 18e Coming in Spring 2027 With A20 Chip
iPhone 18 and 18e Coming in Spring 2027 With A20 Chip
1 day ago
King Charles to Join Elton John's Apple Music Radio Show
King Charles to Join Elton John's Apple Music Radio Show
1 day ago
Select 'Apple Home Collection' Accessories Now Available to Order
Select 'Apple Home Collection' Accessories Now Available to Order
1 day ago
Major Microsoft 365 Outage Continues
Major Microsoft 365 Outage Continues
2 days ago
Apple Launches Two Products Today
Apple Launches Two Products Today
2 days ago
Hands-On With the New Apple TV 4K and Siri AI
Hands-On With the New Apple TV 4K and Siri AI
2 days ago
Siri AI Coming to Older Apple TV 4K Models in tvOS 27.2.1
Siri AI Coming to Older Apple TV 4K Models in tvOS 27.2.1
2 days ago
HomeView Launch Kicks Off as First Orders Reach Customers
HomeView Launch Kicks Off as First Orders Reach Customers
2 days ago
Apple Continues to Move Up iPhone Duo Delivery Dates
Apple Continues to Move Up iPhone Duo Delivery Dates
2 days ago
Apple Explains How HomeView Keeps Camera Data Private
Apple Explains How HomeView Keeps Camera Data Private
2 days ago
Apple Releases Updated HomeView Software 27.2 Before Launch
Apple Releases Updated HomeView Software 27.2 Before Launch
2 days ago
Apple Adds Samsung Foldables to Trade-In Program
Apple Adds Samsung Foldables to Trade-In Program
2 days ago
Apple Sports App Now Features UFC
Apple Sports App Now Features UFC
2 days ago
Trump Says Tim Cook Should Be Nvidia CEO as Jensen Huang Resigns
Trump Says Tim Cook Should Be Nvidia CEO as Jensen Huang Resigns
2 days ago