Master Your iPhone Camera: Settings and Tips for Stunning Shots

A not-boring guide to level up your photos without needing a DSLR — or a PhD in pixels

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Have you ever opened your iPhone’s camera app, snapped a quick shot, and closed it? Hi, hello, and welcome to the club. But what if I told you your iPhone — even the non-Pro model — is hiding a lot of clever tricks? Not just the basic point-and-shoot stuff, but features tucked away in settings menus, button gestures, and secret Apple sauce. Yumm!

Now, full disclosure: I usually shoot toy photography with my Canon RP, and it is my precious. But when I’m out in a snowy winter garden chasing LEGO minifigs (while also freezing my fingers off), running after the kiddo in the park, or wandering through cobbled streets on a city break with absolutely zero space for camera gear… my iPhone 15 wins. It fits in my pocket, it’s always with me, and half the time it’s already open because I was taking a photo of my lunch anyway.

Over time, I realized that I wasn’t settling by using my phone’s camera besides my MILC (Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera) — I was just unlocking a different kind of creativity. Especially with a few lesser-known settings that make a real difference — and no, I don’t mean slapping on a random filter and hoping for the best. I’m…