Every year, I plan to book a photographer in advance to take those print-worthy holiday shots, which I'll send to loved ones. But between busy schedules, surging fees and life in general, I always end up doing it myself. I've gotten surprisingly good at capturing almost pro-level shots with just my iPhone, Apple Watch, and a tripod. Here's how.
Level up your portrait mode
Portrait mode is what creates that blurred background effect in a shot, and it's my go-to camera mode for holiday photos, people and pets. This is what professional photographers call the "bokeh" effect, which adds contrast between the background and foreground, making your subject stand out. Just slide to the Portrait option at the bottom of the camera screen, tap on the subject, wait until the focus box and caption turn yellow, and then capture your shot.
Though the iPhone uses software to mimic this effect — rather than adjusting the aperture and focus of the lens like a traditional DSLR — the result is still impressive and might not even be noticeable to most people. The edges of the subject can appear sharper, and the occasional limb or stray hair might get unintentionally blurred. But it's getting close to the real thing, and it's a great option for portraits if you're aiming for a professional look without the hassle of a DSLR.
The other benefit of using Portrait mode in your shots is that you can adjust the lighting, the focus and the intensity of the blur even after you've taken the shot. To edit, click on the slider icon on the lower right-hand side of your photo and flick on the f icon on the lower left. Now you can click anywhere on the shot to change the focus.
When you take photos in Portrait mode, additional editing features are available to help you perfect the shot. Vanessa Hand Orellana
To adjust the lighting on the subject, click the hexagon on the top left and then use the slider option on the bottom of the shot to preview each lighting option and adjust the intensity of the effect. You can also click on the F on the top left above the photo to diminish or intensify the blur.
Live Photo can save a group shot
The biggest downside of using Portrait mode is that it requires your subjects to remain relatively still to lock in focus. And if you've ever worked with pets or young children, you know this is no small feat. Whenever I have squirmy subjects or a large group shot, I usually switch to Live Photo. You'll find this option in the top-right corner of the default Photo mode on your iPhone (it's the ripple icon with the concentric circles). Just tap the ripple icon until you see the word "Live" appear on the screen.
Vanessa Hand Orellana
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