Master iPad & iPhone Photography – Tips for Great Photos | Tony’s Tech Tips
Capturing amazing photos with your iPhone or iPad is easier than ever, but mastering the right techniques can take your shots to the next level. Whether you’re snapping spontaneous moments or crafting artistic compositions, a little guidance can make all the difference. Apple offers free in-store photography workshops where you can learn from experts, or if you prefer a more personalized approach, you can book a one-on-one photography session with me to refine your skills. In this guide, I’ll share essential tips and tricks to help you make the most of your device’s powerful camera features.
Quick Access to Your Camera
The fastest way to capture a moment is directly from your lock screen. Simply swipe right to open the Camera app instantly—no need to unlock your device or navigate through apps. This is perfect for those unexpected but priceless moments, like a child’s first reaction to their birthday presents or a stunning view while travelling. Need to switch from photos to video? Just swipe up on the camera shutter button to start recording immediately or down to take burst photos.
Experiment with Time-Lapse
Want to capture a long event in just a few seconds? The Time-Lapse mode is perfect for documenting things like setting up holiday decorations or a beautiful sunset. Just position your iPad or iPhone somewhere stable, start recording, and let the magic happen. The result? A smooth, fast-forwarded version of the entire event.
Slow Motion & Burst Mode
For action-packed moments, use Slow Motion to capture every detail—great for recording kids jumping into the pool or fireworks lighting up the sky.
Alternatively, if you're trying to capture fast-moving subjects, hold down the shutter button to take a burst of photos. Later, you can select the best shot from the sequence.
Taking Large Group Photos
If your family gathering doesn’t fit into a single frame, try Panorama Mode to capture everyone. Simply pan your device across the scene, and it will automatically stitch the images together. You can go even further with this by having someone in the photo on the left come to grab your phone after you have paned past them. Then you stand on the right while they take your photo.
If you can fit everyone in one frame, make sure to use the timer option to ensure no one is left out of the shot.
Turn Live Photos into a Video
Live Photos capture a few seconds before and after you take a picture, creating a mini-motion clip. If you want to turn them into a shareable video, select multiple Live Photos, tap “Export,” and choose “Save as Video.”
Editing Your Photos Like a Pro
Once you've taken your photos, fine-tune them with built-in editing tools:
Brightness & Color: Tap Edit in the top right corner of any photo to adjust lighting and colour.
Filters: Add filters for a professional or artistic touch.
Cropping: Remove distractions or reframe your shot to highlight the subject.
Want to annotate your images? Tap the three-dot menu in the corner and select Markup to draw, add text boxes, or even create speech bubbles on your photos.
