1. Use High-Contrast Light For Dramatic Portrait Photos

If you want to create more dramatic portrait photos, shoot in high-contrast light!

High-contrast light means you have both bright light and dark shadows in the scene.

So where can you find high-contrast light?

Well, a sunny day is the perfect time to look for this kind of light. Head outside and find a building or wall where the bright light meets a dark shadow.

Then position your subject partly in the shadow.

Tap on your iPhone screen to set focus on the subject’s face. Then swipe down to reduce exposure so the shadows appear dark and dramatic.

Photos taken in high-contrast light look great in black and white. To create this look, simply find the black and white options in your favorite photo editing app!

You can also capture contrasting light indoors. Look for a dimly-lit room that has soft light coming in through a window.

Place your subject near the window. Then position them so that half of their face is lit by the window while the other side is in shadow.

If necessary, reduce exposure to ensure the shadows look dark and dramatic.

The contrasting light and shadow will create a wonderfully moody portrait!

2. Get Creative With Light Patterns

Light patterns allow you to create really interesting portraits.

Indoors, you can find light patterns when the sunlight shines through window blinds or beveled glass.

Outdoors, you can find patterns when the light shines through leaves or a fence line.

You can also get creative by holding different kinds of objects in front of a light source. For example, you could use a strainer to create unique light patterns on your subject’s face.

In most cases, it’s best to position your subject so that the light pattern shines onto their face.

If the pattern is shining on a wall, have your subject stand against the wall for added visual interest.

If necessary, tap your iPhone screen to set focus on the subject’s face, then swipe down to reduce exposure.

Reducing exposure ensures that the subject’s skin isn’t overly bright. And the deep, dark shadows will add a sense of drama to your photo!

Move your subject around in the light and try different poses. For example, you could capture the pattern on just the side of their face. Or use the light to illuminate a certain feature such as their eye.

3. Experiment With Different Poses

The way you pose your subject can make or break your photos. If you want to avoid dull and lifeless poses, you need to get a little creative!

Here are three simple poses that will add interest and drama to your portraits…

The first posing technique is a really easy one to try. Simply use your subject’s hands to frame their face.

Place one hand higher on one side of their face. Then place the other hand lower near their jawline, lightly touching their face.

This type of pose creates a natural frame, drawing attention to your subject’s face. It also gives them something to do with their hands, making them feel more relaxed during the shoot.

The next posing technique creates a bit more mood and drama. Ask your subject to tilt their head back and place their hand lightly on their neck.

This pose creates a wonderfully sensual vibe. And it’s a great one to use to make your subject feel confident and beautiful.

Now, if you want to create more unique portrait photos, try shooting from a low angle. Get your iPhone low to the ground and shoot upward towards your subject.

Use the wide-angle lens on your iPhone and get close to your subject’s feet. Have them kick toward your lens for an exciting portrait photo with a unique perspective.

This technique shows your subject from an angle that people don’t normally see. So it’s bound to grab attention!

4. Evoke A Dreamy Mood In Your Portraits

We’ve talked about adding drama to your photos. But how do you evoke a dreamy mood in your portrait photos?

Well, it’s easier than you think!

There are three main things to think about:

Movement. Relaxed dreamy expressions. Elegant arm and hand placements.

A great way to include movement in your photo is to have your subject wear loose fabric or a long dress.

Once they’re in position, get your camera ready and asked them to throw the dress or fabric up. Then capture some photos as the fabric is falling down.

To maximize your chances of getting the perfect shot, you can use the iPhone camera’s burst mode.

To activate burst mode, simply drag the shutter button towards the image thumbnail (bottom left if holding the phone vertically). Or if you’re using an older iPhone, just hold down the shutter button.

Your iPhone will keep taking photos until you release the shutter button. Then you can choose the best shots from the burst and discard the rest.

This technique allows you to capture the unique way the fabric falls. And it’s perfect for creating a dreamy vibe in your iPhone portrait photos.

Next, think about the subject’s facial expression. An easy way to create a peaceful, dreamy vibe is to ask your subject to relax their face and close their eyes.

You can then take your dreamy pose to the next level by adding some elegant arm placements. Have your subject raise their hands above their head with their elbows bent slightly.

Don’t be afraid to get creative! Direct your subject by asking them to slowly move their hands and arms around to see what works best.

5. Create Interesting Portraits With Two People

Posing two people for a portrait can be challenging… whether it’s a couple, siblings, or friends.

But once you know a few tricks, you’ll be able to create interesting portraits with two people in the frame!

Let’s start with a really simple technique. Ask both subjects to stand next to each other with their faces on the same level.

Then get up close so that only half of each person’s face is in the frame. This is a great way to get a close-up detail shot of siblings.

If your subjects are of different heights, you can create an interesting portrait by having them stand at different distances from the camera.

Have the taller person stand closer to your camera facing one direction. And have the shorter subject stand a few steps back facing the opposite direction.

This creates a more interesting perspective than having them stand side by side. It also allows you to play around with blurring the background or foreground.

For example, if the nearest subject is quite close to the camera, they’ll appear slightly out of focus. You can also shoot in iPhone Portrait mode to create a shallow depth of field effect.

If you’re doing a couples photoshoot, here are some simple posing techniques to try…

Instead of having your subjects look at the camera, ask them to look into the distance while hugging. This creates a thoughtful, dreamy vibe in your photo.

Another option is to have them close their eyes while giving each other a hug. This type of posing creates a strong emotional connection in your portraits.

Once you get started, there really is no limit to the way you can pose two people. So don’t be afraid to experiment and get creative!

6. Use Props To Convey A Story Or Feeling

The most interesting way to be creative with your portrait photography is to tell a story.

And props are the easiest way to add a storytelling element to your photos!

The options are endless when it comes to using props in your photos. Just make sure you choose a prop that helps create the story you want to tell.

For example, you could use flowers as a prop to help tell a story of love or a broken heart.

You could have your subject hold the flowers. Or place the flowers creatively in the frame.

If you want to tell a story of a vintage time period, look for vintage props such as an old car or clothing from that era.

Props such as books or coffee cups can evoke feelings of coziness.

If you want a creative way of conveying inner emotions, have your subject wear a blindfold. In the photo below, I even incorporated flowers into the blindfold for additional creative flair.

As you can see, props add a whole new element to your photos. And once you start using them, you’ll be able to create so many interesting portraits with your iPhone!

7. Style Your Subject’s Outfit To Emphasize A Theme

Your subject’s clothing is more important than you might think.

Their outfit can tell a story or emphasize a theme. And it has a big impact on the overall aesthetics of the image.

So when you’re planning your portrait photography shoot, think carefully about what you’d like your subject to wear.

Try to match their wardrobe to the theme or location (or vice versa).

For example, if you’re shooting in a natural setting, you might want to use floral patterns or neutral-tone clothing.

If you’re in a city setting, trendy or grungy outfits are the way to go.

For a cozy vibe, think about using soft fabrics, woolen jumpers, shawls, blankets, etc.

To add a touch of glamour, you can’t go wrong with sparkly or sequinned outfits!

Also, consider how the color of the outfit interacts with the environment.

Matching the clothing color to the surroundings will create a harmonious image that’s pleasing to the eye.

With that said, don’t be afraid to use a clothing color that contrasts with the background. That pop of color can be a real head-turner!

Of course, the clothing should also reflect the subject’s personality. So get them involved with choosing the outfits too.

And remember, styling your subject doesn’t have to be difficult. Sometimes a simple hat or a piece of flowing fabric is all you need!

About The Author
Aeriel Orndorff has been passionate about photography since 2013… And during the last few years, the iPhone is her camera of choice. Why? Because she enjoys the creative freedom that iPhone photography brings! Aeriel is also a fan of rainy weather, reading books, and cute coffee shops! You can see more of her compelling portrait photos on Instagram.

The post 7 Ways To Shoot Interesting Portrait Photos On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

Table Of Contents: iPhone Portrait Mode

Click any title link below to go straight to that section of the article:

1. What Is Portrait Mode?
2. How To Use iPhone Portrait Mode
3. Use Depth Control To Change The Amount Of Blur
4. Use Portrait Lighting To Enhance The Light In Your Photos
5. How To Remove The Background Blur From Portrait Photos
6. Choose The Best Background For Incredible Blur

1. What Is Portrait Mode?

Portrait mode is a shooting mode in the iPhone’s built-in Camera app. It uses clever software to blur the background in your photos.

Portrait mode allows you to take jaw-dropping, professional-looking portrait photos.

The subject’s face will be perfectly sharp, while the background appears beautifully blurred.

A blurred background is great for emphasizing your portrait subject. It really makes your subject stand out.

It’s especially useful when there’s a busy, messy, or distracting background. The blur brings the viewer’s attention back to the main subject.

Note that Portrait mode isn’t available on all iPhones. So, which iPhones have Portrait mode?

You’ll find Portrait mode on iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, XR, XS, XS Max, X, 8 Plus, and 7 Plus.

2. How To Use iPhone Portrait Mode

How do you use iPhone Portrait mode?

It’s simple!

Open the Camera app. Then swipe across the shooting modes at the bottom of the screen and select Portrait.

When using Portrait mode, there are a couple of things you need to consider:

First of all, Portrait mode doesn’t work well in low light. If there’s not enough light, a message will appear telling you more light is required.

Second, your subject has to be between two and eight feet from the camera. If your subject is too close or too far away, you’ll be prompted to move closer or further away.

When you’re at the correct distance from your subject, you’ll see the words Natural Light in yellow. (On iPhone 7 Plus, you’ll see Depth Effect instead.)

This means your iPhone has successfully identified the subject and the background.

The camera automatically focuses on the face of your subject and blurs out the background.

Once you’ve composed your shot, simply press the shutter button.

The result will be a beautiful portrait photo with a dreamy blurred background.

But there’s a lot more to Portrait mode than this!

Once you’ve taken your photo, you can change the amount of background blur, add studio lighting effects, or even remove the blur completely.

Read on to learn how to edit your Portrait mode photos to make them even more incredible!

3. Use Depth Control To Change The Amount Of Blur

Do you have the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, XR, XS, or XS Max?

If so, you’ll have an amazing iPhone camera feature called Depth Control.

Depth Control allows you to change the strength of the background blur… after you’ve taken a picture!

How do you use Depth Control?

Open your portrait photo in the Photos app and tap Edit.

Next, tap the f/number icon at the top left of the screen.

Beneath your photo, you’ll see the Depth slider. Drag the slider left or right to make the background blur stronger or weaker.

The lower the f/number, the blurrier the background will be. In the examples above, f/1.4 creates a very blurry background, while f/16 shows more detail in the leaves.

When you’re happy with the blur strength, tap Done to save the changes.

You can change the blur strength at any time by opening the Edit options again.

Depth Control is an incredibly powerful Portrait mode tool.

It gives you ultimate flexibility, allowing you to choose just the right amount of background blur to suit your photo.

4. Use Portrait Lighting To Enhance The Light In Your Photos

Portrait Lighting (not available on the iPhone 7 Plus) allows you to add different studio lighting effects to your photos.

For example, you can brighten your subject’s face or add shadows to define features. You can even make the background completely black or white.

You can select a Portrait Lighting option at the time of shooting. But it’s better to do it after taking a photo.

Why? Because you’ll have more time to experiment with the different options.

So, how do you apply a Portrait Lighting effect to your photo?

Open your Portrait mode photo in the Photos app, then tap Edit.

Ensure the Portrait Lighting icon (hexagon) is selected at the top left of the screen. You’ll see the Portrait Lighting options (cube icons) beneath your photo.

Swipe across the Portrait Lighting icons beneath the image to apply them to your photo.

The default Portrait Lighting option is Natural Light. This setting doesn’t modify the lighting in any way.

Studio Light brightens the subject’s face (as if they were illuminated by studio lights). Contour Light adds shadows for more defined facial features.

Stage Light makes the background completely black (as if the subject was standing under a spotlight on a stage). Stage Light Mono is the same as Stage Light, but it turns your photo black and white.

High-Key Light Mono creates a black and white portrait against a white background. (This effect is only available on photos shot with iPhone 11, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max).

When you’ve chosen a Portrait Lighting option, you can adjust the light intensity using the slider.

Tap Done when you’re happy with the Portrait Lighting effect.

You can change the Portrait Lighting at any time by opening the Edit options again.

To sum up:

For a subtle lighting effect, choose Studio Light or Contour Light.

To add drama to your Portrait mode iPhone photos, try Stage Light, Stage Light Mono, or High-Key Light Mono.

If you prefer not to add any lighting effect, choose Natural Light.

Once you see how Portrait Lighting makes your portraits stand out, you won’t regret using it!

5. How To Remove The Background Blur From Portrait Photos

Most of the time, Portrait mode does a great job of keeping your subject sharp and blurring out the background.

But sometimes your Portrait mode photos might not turn out perfect.

For example, the camera might blur part of the subject or keep part of the background in focus. This can be particularly noticeable around the subject’s hair.

If you decide your photo would look better without the blur effect, you can easily remove it… after taking the photo.

Open your image in the Photos app and tap Edit.

To remove the background blur, tap the yellow Portrait option at the top of the screen. You can turn the blur effect back on at any time by tapping Portrait again.

6. Choose The Best Background For Incredible Blur

Of course, it’s essential to have a main subject in your portrait photos.

But the background is equally important… even though it gets blurred out.

Here are some useful tips for choosing a great background for your portrait photos:

First of all, the background needs to have some detail. If your subject is stood in front of a plain wall, there won’t be any detail to blur.

You should also make sure the colors of the background enhance your subject.

Another thing to consider is how far the background is from your subject.

Portrait mode works best when your subject is far away from the background. If the subject is standing close to the background, the blur effect won’t be as strong.

So, for a blurrier background, ensure there’s a large distance between the subject and the background.

Taking the time to find the right background will make all the difference to your Portrait mode iPhone photos.

Remember, the background is just as important as the subject… even though it’s blurred!

The post How To Use iPhone Portrait Mode To Shoot Stunning Portrait Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Choose A Light Or Dark Background For High-Contrast Portrait Photography

Are you looking to take gorgeous high-contrast portrait pictures with your iPhone?

You might be tempted to begin by selecting a model.

However, I’d advise against this.

Instead, start your photography process by choosing a background for your portrait. Only then should you choose your model.

Why should you focus so heavily on the background?

When shooting high-contrast portraits, the background is extremely important. The subject and the background must work together to create a stunning photo.

And so you must pick the background deliberately.

Once you’ve chosen a perfect background, you can select a good model.

But what makes for a perfect background?

A perfect background is, above all, simple. It is generally uniform in color, like the white fabric in the photo below.

But a great background is also very dark or very light.

For instance, the white sands of a beach make for an excellent light background.

And the brown metal of a building makes for a fantastic dark background.

By choosing backgrounds that exist at such extremes, you’ll be able to ensure high contrast between the background and the model.

Which is exactly what you want.

Then you can choose the perfect model.

If you’re using a bright background, you can choose a model with dark clothes or a dark complexion.

If you’re using a dark background, you can choose a model with light clothes or a light complexion.

When your model is photographed on the perfect background, the photo will have a lot of power. The dark-light contrast will stun the viewer!

However, you can do even more to create contrasty photos. Because you also should pay attention to the light:

2. Shoot In Harsh Sunlight For Amazing Contrast

Most photographers like to shoot in the early morning and late afternoon. That’s when the sun casts a gorgeous golden glow over the scene.

(These times are known as the golden hours.)

But if you want to create amazing high-contrast portrait photography, you must avoid the golden hours.

You should also avoid cloudy days.

Why?

When the sun is low in the sky (during the golden hours), or when the sunlight is diffused (on cloudy days), the light is soft.

Which is exactly what you don’t want when photographing high-contrast portraits.

Instead, you should shoot on bright, sunny days—when the sun is high in the sky.

When the sun is high above the scene, the light is harsh and contrasty. And so the scene will have dark shadows and bright whites.

In most photography, dark shadows and bright whites are avoided at all costs.

But when you’re shooting high-contrast portrait photography, it’s perfect!

You can even play with the heavy shadows by placing your subject partially in darkness. This will create a gorgeous, dramatic image—one that will stun the viewer.

Here’s the bottom line: If you’re looking to take the best high-contrast portraits, then you must shoot on sunny days.

I recommend going out for a few hours in mid-afternoon. That’s when the light is perfect.

And that’s how you’ll get the best images.

3. Visualize The Shot In Advance For The Most Compelling iPhone Portrait

You know how to find a background and a model.

You know how to shoot in the best light.

But how do you create powerful compositions? How do you create photos that look very pleasing to the eye?

Start by visualizing the shot in advance. Think about the mood you’d like to create with the photoshoot.

If you want to create a dramatic photo, then you should probably have your model stare at the camera. Have them tilt their head downward. Have them pull a blank expression.

If you want to create a more subdued shot, have the model look away. You might even want to have them turn their back to the camera. That way, the shot will be less intense.

Then think about the different photos you’d like to get.

I’d recommend you take at least a few different compositions: a headshot, a head-and-shoulders shot, and a full-body shot.

But you can experiment with these in your mind’s eye. You can imagine various other possibilities. And you can imagine unique versions of these basic portrait photos.

Once you’ve done this visualization, you’re ready to go out with your model…

4. Simplify Your Compositions For The Best Portraits

Here’s a key to gorgeous high-contrast portrait photography:

The best photos are the simplest photos.

Remember this. And be sure to use it when you’re taking your portraits.

But what’s the best way to simplify your photos?

First, you should make sure that your images have zero distractions.

Because distractions take away from photos. They cause the viewer to focus on something other than the subject—and this isn’t what you want.

To prevent distractions in a composition, look around the area. Are there any unwanted objects, lights, or colors in the scene?

If so, then make sure you eliminate these distractions when you compose your image.

For instance, you can crouch down low to avoid distractions on the ground.

Or you can move to the side to avoid distractions behind the subject.

Just make sure you avoid distractions in the background.

But that isn’t the only way to simplify your shot.

You can also simplify your shots by using minimalistic compositions.

Minimalism is a technique where you include only a few elements in your photos.

For instance, you might include a single person and a white background.

Here’s the bottom line:

Only include what’s necessary.

So make sure that every part of your photo is essential.

If you can do this, your photos will be far better.

5. Use Contrasting Colors For A More Powerful Portrait Photo

You can create contrast with dark and light tones. You can enhance that contrast with harsh light.

But did you know that you can create further contrast?

You just have to use color.

Certain colors are very similar. They create very little contrast.

For instance, pink and red don’t stand out when placed next to one another.

And blue and green look pretty low-key when side-by-side.

But if you put red next to green, both colors really pop.

This is because red and green are contrasting colors. Some other great color pairs are blue/orange and purple/yellow.

So when you’re out looking for backgrounds, see if you can find some interesting colors. Perhaps you can find a blue wall or a red sign.

Then, ask your model to wear clothes of a contrasting color.

It can also be interesting to give your model colored props—which is a great way to introduce contrast.

You could give your model some brightly colored fruit or a colorful umbrella.

The important thing is that you add as much contrast as possible.

And color is a great way to do this!

6. Return To Locations Repeatedly For Creative Portraits

When you’re searching out portrait locations…

…how do you consistently find something that works?

First, I recommend that you spend a lot of time walking and scouting out locations. You should make lots of notes.

Think about how the light will hit the scene. And think about how the backgrounds might work with different models.

That way, you’ll be able to come up with a few possible locations for any photoshoot.

However, I’d also recommend another approach:

Find a few locations and stick with them.

You see, a good location can be used again and again. And you’ll always get great images there!

In fact, your shots will likely improve over time—as you get to know the location better.

You might be worried you’ll take the same shot over and over again. You might be worried that your shots will become stale.

Don’t be! Here’s why:

Locations are always changing.

The light changes. The weather changes. The scenery changes.

And so, if you come back repeatedly, you’ll get different shots each time.

You’ll also come up with some unique and inspiring ideas—ideas that you wouldn’t have come up with otherwise.

And this only happens when you know a location intimately!

So don’t be afraid to return to the same location day after day.

Locations are like fine wines: They only get better with time!

7. Experiment Constantly For Creative High-Contrast Portrait Photography

Once you have an idea for a high-contrast portrait, what should you do?

Do you just go out and take that single portrait? Or do you explore other ideas, too?

Here’s what I recommend:

If you want to get really stunning portrait photos…

…you shouldn’t settle for the first shot you take.

Instead, once on location, you should shoot as many different photos as you can.

Because it’s often not the first idea that’s best. So you shouldn’t focus on getting that one shot.

Once you’ve taken your initial shot, I recommend that you experiment with other, similar shots.

Ask your model to change their pose.

And then change locations, but keep the original pose.

Or change your angle.

Find a high vantage point, and shoot down toward your subject.

Or crouch down low, for a unique, upward perspective.

Have your model change their clothes.

The point is to try different things. Have fun, and experiment!

One last thing: Don’t be afraid to try anything that you think of—even if the idea is strange.

Strange photos can be the best photos!

So if you want stunning, high-contrast portraits, make sure you experiment constantly.

Your last photo might be the best!

The post 7 Tips For Stunning High-Contrast Portrait Photography On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Talk To Your Model To Make Them Feel Comfortable

Rule number one of portrait photography: If you want to create compelling portraits, your model must feel comfortable.

Because uncomfortable models tighten up. They withdraw.

And you won’t capture beautiful, moody shots.

But how do you make your model feel comfortable?

It’s simple: You talk to them.

Before you bring out your iPhone, ask them about themselves. The conversation can be trivial—just make sure you have a bit of back-and-forth.

And when you’re ready to start shooting, keep talking.

If you don’t feel like you can carry on a conversation while taking photos, that’s okay. Instead, just say some encouraging words every so often.

“Really nice!”

“I love that pose!”

“Stay just like that!”

Little things like this go a long way.

In fact, when I compliment my models, it makes them far happier:

And then I’m much more likely to get gorgeous photos like this:

And this:

Plus, the more you talk with your model, the more they’ll enjoy the experience. And then they’ll be more open to a second shoot in the future.

Here’s the bottom line: If you can engage with your model, your portraits will be so much better.

So don’t skimp on talking. It’ll benefit you in the long run!

2. Simplify The Background For The Best Moody Photography

You can use anyone as your portrait photography subject. (That is, you can use anyone as a model.)

But you cannot use anything as a portrait background.

This is especially true if you want to create darker, moodier portraits.

Because a portrait photography background has to enhance the subject. It has to add to the photo—without distracting the viewer.

In moody portraits, this is especially true. Because moody photos can’t be chaotic. They must be orderly.

So what makes for a great portrait background?

Great portrait backgrounds are simple. That’s all there is to it.

For example, a textured wall is a perfect portrait background. It frames the subject, but doesn’t draw the viewer’s attention. This is exactly what you want!

Wooden sheds and fences also make great backgrounds. They add a bit of personality to the photo, without detracting from the overall feeling.

Plus, the darker wood of sheds and fences can enhance the mood.

Another wonderful background is distant scenery. Mountains or trees will add some context to your photo. And if they’re far enough away, they won’t dominate the frame.

Instead, they’ll enhance the overall photo.

So make sure you find a simple background. It’ll help you take great moody pictures.

But what if you’re struggling to find a background? What do you do then?

Read the next tip to find out…

3. Use Portrait Mode For Beautifully Blurred Backgrounds

What if you want to use a simple background, but you can’t find one?

Here’s the answer: You blur the background yourself! This results in some beautiful, creative portraits.

How do you do this?

You use a setting on your iPhone camera: Portrait mode.

(iPhone Portrait mode is available on the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max.)

Portrait mode automatically identifies the subject and the background of your portrait photo. Then it blurs the background of the photo. And it leaves the photo’s subject sharp.

Portrait mode is extremely useful for simplifying busy backgrounds.

And Portrait mode creates professional looking background-blur—blur that looks like it was created with a DSLR camera.

To activate Portrait mode, open the Camera app on your iPhone. Then swipe left. Portrait should appear at the bottom of the screen.

Note: When you use Portrait mode, make sure you position your subject between two and eight feet from your iPhone. Otherwise, your iPhone camera will capture a normal image–one without Portrait mode.

And make sure to position your subject far away from the background. If you don’t do this, the background won’t appear blurred, and the photo will look messy.

Also note: If you have the iPhone XS or the XS Max, you can actually modify the blur effect after you’ve taken the photo.

Here’s how:

Open your photo in your photo library. Then tap Edit.

At the bottom of the next screen, you’ll see the option to change the background blur by adjusting the depth slider. You can either swipe to increase the blur—or swipe to decrease it. It’s your choice! Just make sure the amount of blur that you pick enhances your photo.

And remember: To capture beautiful backgrounds, use Portrait mode.

4. Shoot With Cloudy Light For Moody Portrait Photography

You want to capture moody portraits.

And you already know the first steps: Make your model feel comfortable. Simplify the background.

But you also need to consider your lighting. Because shooting with the right light is the key to capturing moody portraits.

Fortunately, moody portraits require pretty simple light.

Because the best light for moody portraits is natural, cloudy light.

Let me break that down for you:

First, you want to use natural light for your moody portrait photography. Don’t use your iPhone’s built-in flash. Don’t use any artificial lighting.

Simply use light from the sun. This light will create more natural, softer looking portraits. And that is exactly what you want.

Second, you want to use cloudy light for your moody portraits.

So don’t shoot on sunny mornings. Don’t go out on bright afternoons.

Instead, shoot when the sky is covered in clouds.

Why is cloudy light so great?

Clouds diffuse the light from the sun. So the light on cloudy days is soft and pleasant. It causes very few shadows—and it’s very flattering.

The cloudy light also makes your portraits moodier. For instance, cloudy light is colder. And it gives your portraits a darker feel.

So if you want moody portraits, shoot under cloudy light.

5. Isolate Your Subject For The Most Compelling Portraits

You’ve identified the perfect light and background for your moody portrait photography. But how do you create a beautiful portrait composition?

Here’s what you do: You isolate your subject.

What do I mean by this?

First, get your subject alone. Make sure that there are no other people in the photo with them.

More people make for a warmer, emotional photo. And this is the opposite of what you want!

(There are exceptions to this. But it’s far easier to take a moody portrait if your subject is on their own.)

Second, remove all distracting objects from the photo.

If you’ve followed Tip 2, your background shouldn’t have any distractions. But look around your subject for other objects that might draw the viewer’s attention.

For instance, remove any objects around your subject’s feet (branches, sports equipment, etc.).

When you actually go to take your photo, your subject should be the only prominent thing in the frame.

If you can make this happen, your photo will have a greater sense of darkness and mood.

Which is exactly what you want!

6. Direct Your Model For The Moodiest Poses

If you want to create truly moody photos, your model has to play the part.

And you, as the photographer, have to direct them!

Fortunately, it’s not difficult to give your models a moody look.

Start by asking your model to bring their chin slightly downward. This will make them appear more angular.

Then ask them to do something with their arms. For instance, they can brush their hair back, or put their hands in their pockets. You can even have them play with a prop of some sort.

(If your model is a bit nervous, try having them cross their arms. It’s an easy position to pull off and will still give you moody photos.)

Finally, the most essential tip of all: Tell your model not to smile.

If your model smiles, it immediately makes the photo appear much happier. And that’s not what you want.

You want an intense expression. So ask your model not to smile—and have them squint their eyes slightly.

Another tip: Make sure your model always has their eyes follow their nose.

In other words, if your model is facing the camera, then they should look at the camera. And your model is facing to the side, then they should look to the side.

Why is this important?

If your model’s eyes and nose aren’t aligned, you’ll see the whites of their eyes—which isn’t flattering. And the look is far less intense.

So make sure to direct your model!

The post 6 Tips For Shooting Moody Portrait Photography On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Find An Interesting Subject For Eye-Catching Portraits

Do you want to create really eye-catching portraits?

Then you’ll need to find an interesting subject.

An interesting subject acts as a focal point in your portrait. It ensures that the photo will grab the viewer’s attention.

Fortunately, there are interesting portrait subjects all around! You can photograph children, family, friends, and even strangers.

In the portrait above, I used my daughter as a subject.

When I was starting out, I often used my friends as models. You can do the same!

Pets also make great portrait subjects.

To create the most powerful portraits, you need an interesting subject. Interesting subjects exist everywhere. Just take the time to look!

2. Find A Portrait Background That Makes The Subject Pop

Portrait photography isn’t just about having a great subject. It’s also about having a great background.

What does a great background look like?

A great background is straightforward and simple. You want your subject to remain the focal point of the photo. You don’t want the subject to get lost in a chaotic scene.

In the photo below, my subjects stand out against the simple brown wall.

Also, make sure that your subject wears a color different from the surrounding elements. Otherwise, your subject will blend into the background!

Another tip is to use an app that blurs the background–or even Portrait mode!

If you want to take incredible iPhone portrait photos, make sure you have a simple, uncluttered background. That way, your subject will really pop.

3. Shoot In The Best Light For Flattering Photos

If you want to create beautiful portraits, you need to shoot in the best light.

Why is this?

Light is one of the most important factors in portrait photography. Great light flatters the subject. Mediocre light makes the whole image fall flat.

What’s the best light?

The best light for indoor portraits is diffused window light. Using a window produces rich, directional light.

Notice how the light falls nicely on my portrait subject:

When photographing indoors, make sure you have enough natural light. Having plenty of natural light ensures that the photo is crisp and clean, rather than grainy or blurry.

When shooting portraits outdoors, it’s best to work when the sun is low in the sky. The lovely golden hours of early morning or late evening are perfect.

Overcast skies are also great for portraits. An overcast day provides subtle, diffused light. Best of all, you can shoot with overcast light at any time of day!

Notice the way soft overcast light falls on my portrait subject below:

However, it’s best to avoid shooting portraits in bright sunlight. Bright sunlight causes harsh, unflattering shadows. Plus, bright sunlight can cause your subject to squint.

Therefore, to capture flattering portraits, shoot in the best light. You won’t regret it.

4. Consider Your Composition For The Most Pleasing Shots

Do you want to really take your portrait photography to the next level? Then you need to compose carefully.

Composition refers to the placement of elements in an image.

It’s important to compose deliberately. That way, you make sure that your portrait subject really stands out.

How do you decide which compositions are best?

A great starting point is to follow the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds states that you should place your subjects a third of the way into the frame.

Therefore, when framing or composing your shot, keep in mind that you don’t need to center your subject. A portrait is usually more interesting if the subject is placed off-center.

In the photo below, I placed my subject off to the side. This resulted in a much more pleasing, powerful image.

Another composition tip is to frame your subject.

Do this by using a natural frame such as a doorway or window. If you’re photographing outdoors, look for trees or bushes. Then place your subject inside them. In the photo below, my subject is framed by the stable doors.

Finally, use leading lines. What are leading lines?

Leading lines are lines that direct the eye through the photo. Also, when viewers see leading lines, they’re drawn into the image.

A ray of light, an arm, or a hand under the chin can provide subtle leading lines. In the photo below, the lines of the blinds lead from the foreground toward the main subject.

If you want to create even more compelling images, make sure you consider your composition. For especially captivating photos, use the rule of thirds, frame your subject, and use leading lines.

5. Use Portrait Mode For Beautiful Blurred Backgrounds

Do you want to have incredible backgrounds in your mobile portrait photography? Then use Portrait mode!

Portrait mode software recognizes the subject and background in a picture. It then blurs the background so that your portrait subject really pops.

If you have the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS Max, or iPhone XS, then you’ll be able to use this incredible feature.

How do you use Portrait mode?

On your camera screen, you’ll see the shooting mode options across the bottom. Scroll to find Portrait.

Then make sure that you’re at least two feet away from your subject. Also, make sure that your subject isn’t more than eight feet away from you. If you violate either of these conditions, your camera screen will give you a warning.

When Portrait mode is ready, you’ll see the words Natural Light in yellow.

Then take your shot!

When you look at it in the Photos app, you’ll find that your subject has been framed by a beautifully blurred background.

Therefore, if you want incredible portrait backgrounds, use Portrait mode.

6. Use Portrait Lighting For Dramatic Portrait Photography

If you have the iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or iPhone XS Max, then you can use Portrait Lighting.

What is Portrait Lighting?

Portrait Lighting is a Portrait mode feature. When you activate Portrait Lighting, the resulting photos look like they were taken under studio lighting.

To add a Portrait Lighting effect to your photo, open the image in the Photos app. Then tap Edit.

Portrait Lighting has five different options. To switch between them, scroll through the Portrait Lighting menu (cube icons).

Natural Light does nothing to your photo. It’s the default setting. Use this if you want to keep your portraits looking as natural as possible.

Studio Light brightens the face of your subject. Contour Light adds shadows to the face of your subject for a more defined look.

Stage Light blacks out the background, making it look like the subject is standing under a spotlight. Stage Light Mono has the same effect as Stage Light, but it turns the photo black and white.

Do you want to create photos that look like they were taken in a studio? Then try using Portrait Lighting!

7. Use Depth Control For Incredible Backgrounds

Do you have the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or iPhone XS Max? If so, you can use the newest Portrait mode feature: Depth Control.

Depth Control allows you to control the amount of background blur after you’ve taken your portrait photo.

How do you do this?

First, take a photo in Portrait mode. Then open the portrait in the Photos app. Tap on Edit.

Use the Depth slider at the bottom to change the strength of the background blur. Swipe to the right for more blur. Swipe to the left for less blur.

More blur makes your subject pop off the background. Less blur emphasizes the scene as a whole.

If you want to create the best possible background, use Depth Control.

8. Use A Telephoto Lens For More Flattering Portraits

If you want to take flattering portraits, use your camera’s telephoto lens.

Unfortunately, not all iPhones have a telephoto lens. This feature exists on the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max.

Why is the telephoto lens important?

The answer is simple: A wide-angle lens, which is the default on your iPhone, distorts faces. A telephoto lens does not.

Distorted faces have exaggerated features. This is something that you want to avoid as a portrait photographer.

The image below has no distortion. Notice the very natural features.

How do you turn on the telephoto lens?

When you switch to Portrait mode, the telephoto lens is automatically activated. But if you’re shooting in Photo mode, you’ll have to switch to the telephoto lens yourself.

Simply tap the 1x icon on your camera screen. Then watch as the screen is magnified! The icon will now read 2x. To switch back to the wide-angle lens, tap the 2x icon.

When doing portrait photography, use your telephoto lens. This will result in far more flattering portraits.

9. Focus On The Eyes For Powerful Portraits

The eyes are the key to great portraits. When taking a portrait photo, you must focus on the eyes of your subject.

Why is this?

The eyes are the most expressive part of the face. They’re where the viewer will look first.

If you nail focus on the eyes, your portraits will be more powerful. If you miss focus, then your portraits will almost certainly be ruined.

How do you nail focus on the eyes?

First, make sure you hold your iPhone very still. Then simply tap on the eyes to set the focus. Take your shot.

If you make sure to always focus on the eyes, your portrait photos will be much more powerful.

10. Experiment With Different Perspectives For Creative Portraits

Do you want to take original portraits? Then try experimenting with different perspectives.

Different perspectives create unique and creative portraits. Different perspectives tell a story.

How do you experiment with different perspectives? It’s easy!

Try standing, kneeling, stooping, or lying on your belly. In the photo below, I got down on the ground so that my iPhone was touching the grass.

This is especially powerful when photographing children. If you position your camera down low, children will look larger than life.

You can also try shooting from above the subject. This will make them look small and more vulnerable.

In portrait photography, there’s no one correct perspective. However, experimenting with different perspectives will give you far more creative options. It will ensure that you come away with unique portraits.

11. Use Props To Make Your Subjects Feel More Comfortable

Do your subjects struggle to pose naturally? Then try using props!

Props can make a subject loosen up. When your subject holds props, they’ll act more natural.

This is especially useful when photographing children. If you can get them interested in props, they’ll start having all kinds of fun!

If your subject is a bit camera-shy, then props can be a great way to make them feel comfortable. Next time your subject is looking a little stiff, pull out some props!

12. Pose Your Subjects To Add Energy To Your Portraits

Do your portraits seem a bit flat? If so, I’d recommend carefully posing your subjects.

It’s easy to forget about posing. Yet posing is a critical part of taking stunning portraits. A good pose adds a sense of life to an image. It draws the viewer in.

How do you pose a subject?

One technique is to think about your subject’s personality. What are they like? Then try to convey their personality through a pose.

You can even try to pull the personality out of your subject. Keep your comments positive and affirming. Talk to your subject about things they’re interested in. Then your subject will pose naturally!

Another technique is to experiment. Have your subject sit, stand, kneel, or lean on an object. Explore all the options for the best and most engaging portrait. For the photo below, I had my subject run and jump. This resulted in a very dynamic, exciting pose.

It only takes seconds to pose your subject. Plus, it can prevent lots of frustration later. Next time you go out to shoot photos, don’t forget about posing your subject!

13. Edit Carefully For A Jaw-Dropping iPhone Portrait

There are so many great portrait photographers out there. How do you rise above the rest?

One way is to edit very carefully. There’s so much you can do with editing. Don’t waste the opportunity!

Once you’ve taken your portrait, go ahead and open it in your favorite editing app.

Your first goal should be to make your subject’s skin tones look soft and natural. This generally requires a small amount of editing. Start by playing with the exposure and the temperature.

Then you can move on to more noticeable edits. Do you want to create drama? Add a bit of contrast to your image.

Do you want to create a darker, moodier photo? Drop the exposure.

Do you want to create black and white portraits? You can do this easily in the Snapseed app or in VSCO.

In the image below, I boosted the contrast and dropped the exposure for a moody portrait feel.

Do you want to create even more powerful edits? Use apps such as Snapseed, VSCO, and Mextures. These apps have filters that will really take your artistic editing to the next level.

If you want to create the best possible iPhone portrait, then make sure you do some editing!

The post 13 Tips For Stunning Portrait Photography On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

How To Use Portrait Mode

The Portrait Lighting feature requires you to use Portrait mode in the iPhone camera app.

Portrait mode is available on the new iPhone XS camera, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. You’ll also find it on the iPhone 8 Plus camera, iPhone X camera, and iPhone 7 Plus. However, please note that the Portrait Lighting feature isn’t available on the iPhone 7 Plus.

Before we launch into Portrait Lighting, we’ll look at Portrait mode. If you’re already familiar with Portrait mode, you can skip this section. Otherwise, read on to learn about Portrait mode.

Keep Your Distance

Portrait mode needs you not to be too close your subject. When you fire up your camera and swipe to Portrait mode, an on-screen prompt tells you whether you’re at an acceptable distance or not. If you’re too close, too far away, or your surroundings are too dark, the camera lets you know.

The available Portrait Lighting options will automatically appear for you to scroll through. If you’re the proper distance from your subject, you’ll see that particular box turn yellow and the background should become blurry. If the box is not yellow, you need to move a bit closer or farther away until it is.

Keep it Simple

For the best portrait photography results, focus on a subject that is simple. If your subject has strands of hair sticking out in all directions or a hat with a feather in it, you may notice that some parts of that hair or feather are blurred. The same is even more likely if you’re using Portrait mode to take a picture of something other than a person’s face.

Whatever your subject is, pay particular attention to the edges of what you want to be in focus. If you don’t like what you see, move around a bit (closer or farther away) until you get the look you want. If your subject is too complicated, you might not be able to get everything in focus. Your results will vary, but generally speaking — the more complex your subject, the more difficult Portrait mode will be, so remember to keep it simple.

Portrait Mode Isn’t Only for People Portraits

Sure, Portrait mode is used primarily for portraits of people, of course. But you can also use this mode to take pictures of anything, like your pet or even inanimate objects. In fact, if you want to practice your Portrait mode skills prior to working with friends or family, this is a pretty practical idea.

Find something around the house, like a light bulb, vase, glass, or cup and snap some pictures of it. If you want to take it a step further, go into your favorite store and take pictures of some of their products. This will give you a little experience with Portrait mode so you have a feel for what works and what doesn’t work.

Stay Still

Try to remain as still as possible when you’re taking a portrait. This goes for you and your subject. The less motion you have on either side of the camera, the better your results will be. You don’t have to use an iPhone tripod. Just try to eliminate a lot of excess movement.

Portrait Lighting

In order to realize the full potential of Portrait mode, you need plenty of light. That’s why Apple created Portrait Lighting. This allows you to select a lighting effect in your photo, especially when there isn’t enough natural light in your environment. Portrait Lighting produces the effects of real studio lighting based on fundamental photographic principles using depth‑sensing cameras and facial mapping.

When you select Portrait mode, the default option is Natural Light. Always remember, where there is good light, there are good pictures. So look for a well-lit area to get the best results. When you don’t have good natural light, Portrait Lighting allows you to do something about it.

Please note that at this time Apple says the Portrait Lighting feature is in “beta mode”. This means they’ve not finished developing – so you should expect it to have some quirks and bugs at this time. Indeed, some of the lighting effects are quite crude, as you’ll see. Hopefully Apple will keep improving this feature with each new iOS update.

Let’s take a look at each of the five available options.

Natural Light

As we just discussed, this is the best-case scenario for your perfect portrait. Find a well-lit area and you’re well on your way to getting great results. Try to stay away from harsh light, however, or parts of your image might get overexposed.

Studio Light

When you find that you need just a bit more light on your subject’s face, Studio Light provides a subtle solution with some added brightness. This is a great alternative to using the built-in flash to provide more light. iPhone 8 Plus and X utilize Slow Sync Flash, which is a drastic improvement over previous flash efforts, but it should serve as a last resort. Slow Sync Flash applies a small amount of flash to freeze the subject whilst leaving the shutter open long enough to capture some of the natural ambient light for more attractive backgrounds.

Contour Light

With Contour Light, you can add some dramatic shadows with highlights and lowlights. It’s most effective if you start with a lot of natural light, otherwise your image will appear a bit dark. But it’s a pretty cool effect nonetheless.

Stage Light & Stage Light Mono

Stage Light highlights your subject’s face against a deep-black background. It’s a very heavy-handed effect, however. Any success you find with this particular option will depend upon how light or dark your background is and how much contrast there is with your subject. The best results occur when you have a dark background to begin with, but your results will vary.

Sometimes, the effect will be so bizarre, you might laugh at the end result and wonder why Apple included it in the first place. Give it a try, however, and see if you get the results you’re looking for.

Stage Light Mono is the exact same process only in black and white.

Editing Your Portraits

As long as you shoot your original image in Portrait mode, you can apply any of the Portrait Lighting effects afterward in the Photos app. This is a nice option to have in case you aren’t happy with the lighting in your original image. You can try all the options — Natural Light, Studio Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, and Stage Light Mono — and see which works best.

Remember, you aren’t limited to the Portrait mode adjustments. Apple’s built-in editing app — or any editing app for that matter — has plenty of other options to improve the lighting on your subject.

Portrait Mode Selfies

If you have an iPhone X, XS, XS Max or XR, you can take self portraits in Portrait mode using the front-facing TrueDepth camera. When you use the front-facing camera, you’ll get something close to the same effect you get with the rear-facing camera. Keep in mind that the front-facing camera only has 7-megapixels instead of 12.

The front-facing camera does a pretty decent job of providing what Apple describes as “sharp foregrounds and artfully blurred backgrounds.”

Portrait Lighting: Conclusion

If you want to take great portrait photos, Portrait mode together with Portrait Lighting will help you get there. They’re not a perfect match in every situation, but by following a few tips, you can take some truly outstanding pictures.

Remember to watch the space between you and your subject. When you’re at an acceptable distance, a yellow on-screen prompt will let you know. Keep your subject as simple as possible. Try to avoid a lot of movement on either side of the camera when you’re taking pictures.

Ideally, you’ll want to find a well-lit area with plenty of natural light. When that isn’t an option, use Studio Light to strategically throw some brightness on your subject’s face. You can also experiment with Contour Light and two different versions of Stage Light.

The post How To Use Portrait Lighting To Enhance Your iPhone Portrait Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

Zaw Latt

Alexandra

Anitra Lavanhar

Cathy Cain

Dariusz Sobiecki

Eugene Ng

Faye McGinley

Elaine Collins

Dwight McAnear

Hashim Mohamed

Isabelle

Jess

Kim Loya

Lyn Newnham

Liz Anderson

Lizbeth Hamlin

Lolly Kakumani

Lorna Merrifield

Marcos Losada

Maria Theresa de Mesa-Mendoza

Marla Thompson

Penni James

Heidi Mayberry

Milano Romero Lagdan

Miki Takahashi

M.Y. Mim

Nidhi Singh

Ramim Alam

Steve Morris

Which one of these photos is your favorite? Please let everyone know in the comments below!

The post 30 Heartwarming iPhone Photos of Families appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

Whether you’re shooting for a professional-looking photograph or a quick keepsake, following these steps will help you create images you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

1. Get The Timing Right

Timing your photo correctly is absolutely critical. Of course, you’ll want to select the time of day when the light is best. But much more importantly, you’ll want to choose the time when your subjects have had the most rest and are looking their best.

The sports photo below is not a very flattering group shot. Yes, everyone is positioned nicely, and some children have great smiles. But some members of the group would clearly rather be somewhere else.

What’s the difference between the sports photo above and the one of the Canada Day children below? The answer is simple: timing.

The sports photo was taken on a hot day, at dinner time, after an hour of soccer play. The children were asked to sit or kneel and then say the magic word “cheese.”

The Canada Day photo was taken at the very start of the festival. The children weren’t hungry or tired, and everyone was in good spirits. The result is obvious in their universally cheerful smiles!

So, what does this mean? If you have to take a group photo at an event (which is where most group photos are taken), it’s generally a good idea to rally your group as early as possible to take your most memorable group photo.

Take advantage of your subjects’ positive energy before they have a chance to get tired and hungry or need to fix their hair and make-up.

2. Communicate Your Vision

Before you even get started with a group photo, you’ll want to gather everyone together and talk about what type of photos you’ll be taking and what to expect along the way.

If you’re photographing adults, you’ll want to share your vision of the final product. It’s a great idea to encourage your group to share and contribute their ideas.

Who should be in front? Should anyone be holding a prop, wearing a special item of clothing, or standing in a particular spot?

Let everyone know “if you can’t see me, I can’t see you.” Encourage everyone to lean forward or move their head so that they can be seen clearly.

If you’re photographing children, you can turn the conversation into a game, a challenge, or an opportunity. For example, “Today I’m going to take your photo and I want you to teach me your best dance moves. Can you show me how to do a ballerina pose?”

3. Compose Your Photo

Effective composition can take your group photo to the next level. Positioning your subjects to follow general composition rules rather than posing will allow you to achieve amazing results with a natural candid feel.

While you may be tempted to line your subjects up and have them face the camera with big smiles on their faces, you may want to try a more unusual approach.

In this photo, the ladies are positioned with a triangle composition technique (faces all in line to make a triangle). This composition technique adds a little bit of interest to the photo and captures the casual effect naturally.

This picture of young dancers shown below is an excellent example of unique and interesting composition. The girls aren’t looking at the camera, but if you look closely you can see their faces reflected in the mirror. 

Even though the girls don’t all have smiles on their faces, the group shot is beautiful and natural.

When you have a small group of people (like the hockey boys below), positioning them in a straight line works very well. Try that pose with a larger group, though, and you’ll wind up with with a lot of dead space in the top and bottom of your photo.

To avoid the dead space issue, you can create a panoramic photo as seen with the girls in this photo, below.

Or you can shake things up a little more and position your subjects in a circle, as shown in the photo of baseball players below. This team shot will last a lifetime!

It’s always a great idea to shake things up a little and look for a new angle. You may find results that will surprise you.

4. Relax Before The Big Moment

Most people will pose as soon as you pull out your iPhone, and will try to hold their biggest smile for as long as they can. But it’s nearly impossible to hold a perfect smile for more than a few seconds – and the strain will show in your photos.

To avoid this problem, let your group know that they can relax until it’s time for them to give their best smile.

When working with children, it’s a good idea to have them practice their best smiles ahead of time – off camera. Then you can collaborate on a code word to use when you’re ready for them to show that wonderful smile.

This is a fun twist on the classic “say cheese,” which can be effective but can also turn out some robotic smiles. Choose a silly code word, which leaves the children laughing at you. It’s a great way to capture those special smiles.

5. Have Your iPhone Camera Ready To Go

There’s nothing more frustrating than having a subject who’s ready and a photographer who isn’t!

Before posing and cueing your subjects, it’s important to know how to use your iPhone’s settings. Access the camera app, so you’re ready to take photos the second your subjects are ready.

Set focus and exposure ahead of time. Look at your composition, tap on your group to set focus, and hold your finger down for a few seconds to lock the focus point (you’ll see the letters AE/AF Lock in a yellow box on the screen).

A little yellow sun slider will appear on the screen. You can use your finger to slide the sun up and down in order to adjust the exposure (image brightness).

Now that your camera is set and your subjects know what to expect, it’s time to say your code word – and the result is beautiful.

6. Use The Art Of Distraction

When taking group photos of children (and some adults), you need a lot of patience and a goofy personality to capture genuine smiles and keep your group focused. Games and props can also make a big positive difference.

The right kind of distraction can turn a mediocre photo into a memorable keepsake. Try using a crazy distraction like the light saber glow rings the kids are wearing in the photo below.

Another great option is to stick a mirror on the lens side of your iPhone so that the people being photographed can see themselves while you’re taking the picture.

If you’re really having a hard time getting your group to smile, whoopee cushions are a terrific ice breaker too!

Some simple props from the dollar store, a goofy personality behind the camera, and some fun games like “Simon says” can help you get amazing iPhone photos of groups.

7. Use Your iPhone Camera’s Burst Mode

 Your iPhone has an amazing “hidden” feature… burst mode. This allows you to take ten photos in a single second, which will dramatically increase your ability to capture your subjects at just the right moment.

In seconds, you’ll have taken a series of photos that you can then go through to find the perfect composition in which every face is smiling.

To use the iPhone camera’s burst mode, simply press your finger down on the shutter and hold it. As you hold your finger down, you’ll hear the shutter fire multiple times. When you lift your finger, you’ll have a selection of images to choose from.

Sometimes you have to take a lot of photos to capture that special moment – especially when taking group shots.

The post 7 Steps To Capturing Perfect Group Photos With Your iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Ali Dover and I live in the east of England on the Cambridgeshire Fens along with my partner, three children, our dog Jack, and cat Spider.

My core business is my brand of woven wraps to carry babies and young children which I design and have woven here in the UK.

I’m also a professional photographer focusing mainly on mother and children photography.

How did your iPhone photography journey begin?

I got my first iPhone (a 4S) in 2012, which was about the time I discovered Instagram. The two are natural partners, and I discovered how easy it is to whip out my phone to capture things spontaneously.

Your Instagram feed is full of wonderful photos of children in natural settings. What draws you to this genre of photography?

As a child, I spent most of my life growing up in rural areas with amazing nature all around me.

I didn’t realize until I had children of my own how much this influences my sense that children need the freedom to roam.

It’s important for children to enjoy the wildness it offers to be creative and live in the moment. It’s very important to me to show this as much as I can.

How do you select your settings, props, and poses? And how do you manage to get young children to model so beautifully?

Most of my photos are taken when we’re simply out and about enjoying the outdoors. I try to just shoot whatever my children are doing rather than attempting to pose them, as it makes for a more natural depiction of childhood.

When I do use props, they’re usually something from nature, such as flowers.  I also sometimes include our old Series 2a Land Rover which is part of our adventures.

I think you have to work very much with a child’s personality. If their thing is to pull funny faces then just work with that. There’s no point trying to make them something they’re not.

What composition tips would you give to aspiring photographers who want to start capturing these types of images of idyllic childhood?

Go to the woods or a field and watch your children at play. Get down to their level physically (and mentally!) and just snap away.

Keeping some distance allows them to feel unselfconscious and also allows you to frame them in their surroundings and tell their story.

Light is so important for creating mood and getting decent exposures. Do you have a favorite time of day, season and type of weather for shooting photos?

Living in England means it rains a lot and we often have some great, moody skies as a result. I love to try to capture the sense of natural drama this creates.

Summer evenings are the perfect time for capturing this as there’s often a brilliant sunset whilst a storm passes overhead.

Apart from photographing children, what else inspires you to reach for your iPhone camera?

Definitely landscapes. The focal length of an iPhone camera lens is perfect for this. But actually I take photos wherever I see interesting light.

Are there any apps that you use for taking photos besides the native camera app?

No, I only use the native camera app.

What are your favorite apps for post-processing?

There are many apps out there, but my favorite go-to is the VSCO photo editing app.

Filterstorm is great too if you want to do more than a quick edit.

What would your typical editing process involve for a portrait shot?

I’ll look at the composition first – sometimes cropping a shot can make a big difference to its impact.

Then I think about exposure. Would it look better a bit darker? Depending on the background and where my subject is in the shot, adding a small amount of vignette can help add some drama and extra focus on the subject.

Can you briefly explain the story and editing behind your three favorite iPhone photos?

The photo below was, unusually for me, posed. I wanted to create something fairly dramatic so got down low on the ground to take the shot.

It was quite windy and I wanted to try to catch the flow of my daughter’s skirt in the breeze to create a sense of movement.

It was taken in the golden hour during August but the weather was quite stormy. I warmed up the tones in VSCO and added some vignette.

In the photo above, my son was running past me and I thought it would be fun to capture him in full flight. I didn’t capture him in the center of the photo, because I thought it added to his sense of speed.

Again, this photo was taken during the golden hour in the late summer, so I warmed up the tones and darkened down the exposure.

The photo above of my daughter splashing about was taken on a really rainy, bitterly cold day in Yorkshire.

Children love playing with water whatever the weather, and I simply captured how my daughter interacted with her surroundings.

I cropped and edited in VSCO to make the most of the lines in the decking and the color contrasts.

Do you shoot with other cameras? If so, when do you prefer to use the iPhone?

My photography kit also comprises a Canon 5d and a Fujifilm X-T1, but I always, always have my iPhone on me.

When I’m doing a professional shoot, I use my iPhone to take behind the scenes shots and video.

If I’m out and about with my kids, I find my iPhone is often the best option because it’s so quick and easy to use.

Do you have any new goals for iPhone photography in the upcoming year?

I have a couple of goals. I’d actually like to do an entire professional shoot using just my iPhone. I’d also like to stretch myself creatively with some travel photography for some trips I have planned.

What tips do you have for beginner iPhone photographers who want to start taking more creative photos with their iPhone?

Start to really notice light – how it falls off subjects when shooting indoors next to a window, for example.

Outdoors, notice different colors and textures in nature, and how the light affects these at different times of the day.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Use the sliding exposure control by holding your finger on the screen of your iPhone to get a sense of how this affects your image.

Use your instinct too when it comes to finding your own style in terms of editing.

Play around with composition. It isn’t necessary to have your subject in the middle of the photo. Use the rule of thirds grid to help you move your subject around creatively.

Which iPhone photographers do you admire the most?

There are some truly inspired iPhone photographers around. @annaremarchuk creates beautiful images using flowers.

@cecilemoli does a wonderful job of showing us her life in and around Paris. And I love the way that @me_and_orla shares her quirky, heart-centered life in the Yorkshire Pennines.

Where can we see your iPhone photography?

You can find my iPhone photography on Instagram @ali__dover and on VSCO at alidover.vsco.co

The post How Ali Dover Captures Enchanting Images Of Children And Nature appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Make Your Subject Comfortable

If your subject is standing or sitting in an awkward position, they’ll look uncomfortable and unhappy. Try a few different poses, snapping images until your subject looks and feels relaxed and natural.

What could be less comfortable than squatting for a long period of time? When you look at the subject’s face in the photo above, you can see how hard he’s working to look cheerful.

Allowing your subject to find a position that’s comfortable for them will result in a smile that’s natural and warm.

To be sure your subject is really comfortable in their pose, keep communication open and honest. Let your subject know that it’s fine to say “I feel weird like this,” or “this hurts!”

After all, mobile portrait photography should be fun to create and share. Effective communication is key to creating stunning iPhone portraits.

2. Position Your Subject To Make Good Use Of Natural Light

Too much light can create harsh shadows. Too little light will leave you with a dark, dull portrait.

The girl in the photo below is positioned directly in front of the light. The shadows on her face aren’t flattering, and her squinting eyes make her look uncomfortable.

This problem is easy to fix. If possible, schedule your portrait shoot for early morning or late afternoon when the sun is softer. Then you can position your subject in shade or in areas with hints of light that will dance over them, creating stunning effects.

If you can’t choose a particular time of day, choose a more flattering location where the sun isn’t quite so direct. The photo below was taken on the other side of the building, where it was easier to capture a portrait in beautiful soft light.

You may not need to move very far to get the right lighting for your subject. Below, you can see how it was possible to use reflective light by simply changing this subject’s position to a different angle.

You can have fun with positioning! Ask your subject to move around in a circle and look at how the light falls over them. When you see the effect you like best, ask them to “hold it right there.”

3. Choose Flattering Postures

Have you ever said, “I don’t like the way I look in pictures?” Very often, there’s a good reason for this: poor posture.

Posture is the key to showcasing our best features. The following posing tips will help make your portraits as flattering as they can be.

In the photo above, the man looks comfortable, but his appearance could be improved with just a few small changes.

To create a more flattering portrait, have your subject sit or stand with their back straight and shoulders rolled back and down. This will instantly give them a nice long neck.

To further accentuate the neck and jawline, ask your subject to push their chin out slightly and angle their head down.

To eliminate the dreaded double chin, have them press the back of their tongue to the roof of their mouth.

The photo below is much more flattering, because the subject now has a straight back and a long neck with a defined jaw line.

It’s easy to get comfortable in this position, but be ready with your iPhone to take the portrait as soon as your subject is ready. The most natural poses and expressions come out if your subject isn’t holding a single pose for too long.

4. Position Your Subject At An Interesting Angle

Most of the time we engage with other people face to face. So when we pose for a portrait, we often stand straight in front of the camera and smile.

For conversations this is great, but for portraits it’s a problem. We end up looking a little like a deer in the headlights, as in the portrait below.

Here’s how you can pose your subject so that they’ll love their portrait. Ask them to place their weight on their back leg and angle their hips three quarters toward you. It’s easiest if you show them the angle and then hold the pose while they imitate you.

This will instantly create a slimmer figure while adding interest to your composition. For added effect, you can now ask them to very slightly lean their front shoulder down.

Be sure your subject is comfortable with the desired angle. Your photos won’t look natural if your subject is thinking too much about where their weight is and what their body looks like.

5. Position Your Subject’s Hands

Now that your subject’s posture is good, you’re ready to take your photos! But wait, what do they do with their hands?

Your subject won’t look good with their hands at their sides. If your subject presses a hard closed fist under their chin, they look like they’re ready for a fight!

Instead, have them slightly turn their wrist outward toward the camera and open their fingers to lightly brush their face. You now see the long edge of their hand, which helps to create a more inviting and attractive portrait.

You can also have your subject place their hand on their hip or hold their jacket.

Another nice option for girls and women is to have your subject touch their hair.

Arms crossed or hand in hand placement can be flattering, but be cautious of arms crossed – keep it soft or it may portray someone who’s closed and uninviting.

In the photo below, relaxed hands create a pretty, casual look.

Having hands in the photograph will dramatically improve the portrait’s composition. The position of hands in a portrait is a powerful tool for showing emotion.

Decide what emotion you’re looking for in your portrait, and use these hand placement techniques to guide you along the way.

6. Help Your Subject Choose A Smile

Some people smile with full teeth, some smile with just their eyes, and others choose to not smile at all. They can all be beautiful, so long as you avoid the fake smile that occurs when someone has held a pose for too long or is uncomfortable.

A little trick of the trade is to ask your subject to close their eyes. Then when you’re ready to take the photo, ask them to open their eyes and smile! This is a great way to capture natural raw emotion in your portraits.

If you have a subject who doesn’t want to smile, ask them to smile with their eyes and open their mouth slightly.

If someone has a closed mouth, typically that will also mean they have a clenched jaw. A clenched jaw will add unwanted weight to their face, so soften it up a bit by asking them to breathe through their mouth.

A true smile is one of the hardest things to capture. Using these tips will help you capture more of those amazing smiles in your portraits.

7. Pose Children To Get Their Attention & Smiles

Kids are always on the move – so how do you pose a child to get a stunning portrait?

Start off by asking them to lay on their stomach and face you. They may prop their head up with their hands. Even if they don’t prop their head up with their hands you’ll still get an amazing portrait.

Another great option for kids is to have them lean up against a wall, post or sibling.

Once children are posed, you only have a few seconds to take a few shots with natural smiles, so you have to act fast. If you act silly, you’ll get their attention and their smiles!

If you like, have them bring along a favorite toy. This is a great way to take a photo that becomes a wonderful keepsake, with a special memory from their childhood.

Simplicity is the key to successful portraits of kids. Remember, children love to play. As long as the process is fun, children will naturally smile. Those are the best moments to capture.

8. Check The Small Details

Now that you have your subject ready to go, there are a few other areas that may also need attention. Before you snap that portrait, do a quick check of the following:

• Hair – Check that it’s either all on one side, or all behind or in front of the shoulders. It should never be over the shoulders or in the subject’s face.
• Clothes – Position dresses, and ensure they’re not scrunched or sitting inappropriately. Smooth out any bulky jackets and check blouse buttons.
• If you see any grass or lint on clothes or shoes, take a minute to remove it.

Conclusion: Portrait Posing Tips

Your iPhone is an ideal tool for great portraits. But to capture that perfect smile in just the right way, you’ll need to work closely with your subject. Be sure you’ve followed the tips for positioning, lighting, and posture before snapping the photo.

Attention to detail, and using all of the portrait posing tips you’ve just discovered, will take your iPhone portrait photos to the next level. In fact, they’ll be so good you’ll want to print them and hang them on the wall!

The post 8 Portrait Posing Tips For Gorgeous Portrait Photos On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.