How I Shoot Amazing Photos on iPhone

November 27, 2025

I’ve taken thousands of photos on my iPhone over the years, and along the way, I’ve learned a few simple things that make iPhone photos look so much better.

You don’t need a professional camera.

You don’t need to know photography terms.

And you definitely don’t need loads of gear.

Just a few small tips and settings that make a big difference.

Here’s exactly how I shoot amazing photos on iPhone, in a way that anyone can follow.

Start With the Phone You Have (But Pro Models Help)

You can improve your photos on any recent iPhone.

But if you have a Pro model (14 Pro, 15 Pro, 16 Pro, 17 Pro), you’ll have access to ProRAW, which gives you more detail and flexibility when editing.

If you don’t have a Pro model — don’t worry.

Most of these tips still apply.

Easy Settings That Help Straight Away

1. Clean the Lens (this fixes more than you think)

Before anything else, wipe your lens.

Your iPhone lives in your pocket, in your hand, in your bag — it gets smudged constantly.

A quick wipe instantly makes photos look sharper.

The latest iOS actually has a setting that will tell you if your lens is dirty.

Seems ridiculously simple, but makes a huge difference.

2. Turn On Grid + Level

Go to Settings → Camera → Grid and Level.

These do two things:

Grid helps you frame your shot better
Level keeps horizons straight

Straight lines = photos that instantly look more “professional” without extra effort.

3. Use These Format Settings

Settings → Camera → Formats

High Efficiency
Photo Mode: 24MP
ProRAW & Resolution Control: ON (if you have a Pro model)
ProRAW Format: JPEG-XL

JPEG-XL keeps file sizes smaller without ruining image quality.

4. Set Up Video (if you film content)

If you shoot TikToks, Instagram videos or YouTube Shorts:

4K 60fps
HDR: On
Enhanced Stabilisation: On

For a cinematic feel:

Switch to 4K 24fps.

How I Actually Take Photos

This is where most people see the biggest improvement.

5. Lower the Exposure Slightly

Before taking a photo:

Tap your subject
Slide the little sun icon down a bit

I usually shoot around –0.7 EV.

This stops your photo from being too bright and keeps your highlights (like the sky) from blowing out.

It also gives a cleaner, more natural look.

6. Lock Focus if You Need Consistency

If you’re taking several shots of the same thing, hold your finger on the screen until AE/AF Lock appears.

This stops the camera from constantly refocusing.

7. Use the Main 1x Lens

If your phone has multiple lenses, stick to 1x most of the time.

This lens has:

The biggest sensor
The cleanest detail
The best low-light performance

I use 4x or 8x only in bright light.

In low light, the main lens is always best.

8. Use Burst Mode for Anything Moving

Hold the shutter button to take a burst of photos.

This is perfect for:

Cars
Pets
Sports
Kids
Anything that moves quickly

Then pick the sharpest one afterwards.

9. Skip Photographic Styles

Photographic Styles look fun, but they’re not very useful if you plan to edit your photos later.

I keep mine on Standard.

The problem with the styles is that they “bake in” a certain look — things like contrast, warmth, or tone — and you can’t fully undo them afterward. So if you’re going to edit your photos or use presets, they just get in the way.

Standard gives you a clean, neutral starting point, which is exactly what you want before editing.

10. Try All the Lenses

Although I’d always recommend the 1x main lens, each lens gives a different look:

0.5x ultra-wide: big spaces, creative angles
1x: the best all-round lens
4x/8x: portraits, details, background compression

You’ll find new angles and perspectives just by switching lenses.

11. Use Natural Light Whenever Possible

Natural light will always look better than artificial lighting.

Best lighting:

Next to a window
In the shade
Golden hour
Overcast days

Turn off indoor yellow lights if you can — they mix with natural light and create strange colours.

12. Use Presets — They Make Editing Much Easier

One thing I’ve relied on for years is presets.

Over time, I figured out the look I like — clean, natural, not overly processed — and turned that into presets I now use for almost every edit. It just makes the whole process quicker.

A preset sets the overall style for you, and then I only adjust the basics like exposure or temperature. It saves time, keeps everything consistent, and stops me from over-editing.

You don’t need to use mine — there are plenty out there — but if you want the exact look I use, they’re in the iPhone Creator Kit. No pressure, just an option.

Bonus: Quick Access to the Camera

A quick one: make sure you can open the camera fast.

On the iPhone 17 Pro, set the Camera Control Button to go straight into the Camera app (or the mode you use most). If your phone has an Action Button, set that to open the camera too.

With iOS 26, the lock-screen shortcut and quick mode switch in the Dynamic Island also make things easier.

It sounds small, but being able to open the camera with one press means you actually get the shot instead of missing it.

3. Editing — The Part That Makes the Biggest Difference

Shooting is half of it.

Editing is the other half.

I use Lightroom Mobile because:

It’s free
It handles ProRAW really well
It syncs between devices
It backs up your photos

Here’s how I edit.

Step 1 — Start With a Preset

I usually start every edit with a preset.

It’s the quickest way to get the look I want without adjusting a bunch of sliders.

A preset sorts out the overall style for you — colour, contrast, tones, all of that — and then you can just tweak the basics after.

I use my own presets (from the iPhone Creator Kit), but you can use any you like.

Step 2 — Make Small Adjustments

After applying a preset, I usually just tweak:

Exposure
Highlights
Shadows
Colour temperature
Contrast

That’s it.

Small adjustments are always better than over-editing.

Step 3 — Crop and Straighten

This tiny change often makes the biggest difference.

Cropping helps:

Remove distractions
Fix uneven lines
Improve balance
Make the subject stronger

Sometimes a simple crop is the thing that makes a photo feel intentional.