If you just purchased a new iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro, here are the best iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro camera tips, tricks, and settings you must know for better photos.
Apple has made a number of improvements to the iPhone 13 series camera. On paper, the camera specs of iPhone 13 series might not be that different from the iPhone 12 series but under the hood, there are a lot of improvements and changes. Apple has also added a number of new camera features and settings to the iPhone 13 lineup. Check out the best iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro camera tips and tricks to amp up your photography game.
See also: 30 Best iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Tips and Tricks
With a next-level smartphone like the iPhone 13, you have everything you need to shoot, edit and share incredible social content quickly and affordably. So if you’d like to shoot better photos with your new iPhone, keep reading. We’re going to introduce you to several iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro camera tips and tricks you need to know about.
Best iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Camera tips and tricks to Know About
without further ado, here are 20 best iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro camera tips and tricks you should know in 2021:
1. Understanding What Is Cinematic Mode
Cinematic mode is designed to bring a depth-of-field effect to your iPhone 13 videos by leveraging its A15 Bionic chip and advanced computational algorithms. Just as important, Cinematic mode can provide automatic focus changes when there’s multiple subjects in the frame. The iPhone 13 is even smart enough to switch from one subject to another if, say, one person turns their head towards another.
The goal of Cinematic mode is to make your iPhone 13 videos look more immersive and dynamic. And while the iPhone 13 can switch focus between subjects automatically, you can tap on subjects as you shoot to direct where you want the focus to be. In addition, you can tweak the depth-of-field effect and the level of bokeh after you record in editing.
2. Shoot Videos in Cinematic Mode
It’s incredibly easy to start using Cinematic mode on your iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro. All you need to do is launch the camera app and slide over to spots to the left where it says Cinematic. From there you just tap Record button.
I would suggest that you try to position the iPhone 13 camera in front of your subject or subjects in such a way that you’ll see the bokeh effect in action before you start shooting. You’ll see a live preview of what your Cinematic mode footage will look like as you move your iPhone 13 around.
3. What Are Photographic Styles?
Another iPhone 13 camera trick that seems to have sent the shutterbug for a blitzkrieg is “Photographic Styles.” Photographic Styles consist of a series of subtle filter-like adjustments that you can enable before you’ve taken any photos, allowing you to bring a stylistic effect to your shots beforehand that won’t affect the skin tone of your subjects. These styles come in four presets:
- Vibrant
- Rich Contrast
- Warm
- Cool
Vibrant captures the shot in bright, vivid, yet natural-looking colors, while Rich Contrast adds a more dramatic look that makes shadows darker and increases color and contrast. Warm adds a summery golden undertone to subjects, and cool uses blue undertones to achieve its signature cool look.
These styles work more intelligently than filters, since they capture certain elements of the photo as it’s taken, rather than applying changes in post-processing.
You have two controls for every Photographic Style: Tone and Warmth.
Bringing the tone up, makes a photo brighter and more vivid, while bringing it down increases the contrast and adds more shadows.
Bringing the warmth up, enhances golden tonalities in a photo, while bringing it down actually enhances blue tonalities.
The changes will also be saved and can be reused later on, so that you can easily take every photo with your personal style. Photographic Styles can be used with the front-facing camera, too, so you can style up your selfies. Bear in mind though that a style can’t be removed from a photo once it’s shot.
4. How to Use Photographic Styles on iPhone 13
- Start the Camera app on your iPhone 13.
- If you’ve not used Photographic Styles before, or you previously chose the Standard mode, swipe the horizontal menu below the viewfinder so that Photo mode is selected, then swipe up from the bottom of the viewfinder and tap the Photographic Styles icon (it looks like three cards lined up in a row).
- Swipe through the four presets (in addition to the Standard option) and you can preview each one applied to the scene currently in the viewfinder.
- Use the optional Tone and Warmth sliders below the viewfinder to adjust the look to your preferences.
- When you’re ready, hit the Shutter button.
- Now that your style is active, you’ll see the Photographic Style icon appear in the top-right corner of the Camera interface. Tap it to change the style at any time.
By default, the Photographic Style you select will remain active the next time you launch the Camera app until you select another one or return to the Standard style. You can also change which Photographic Style is active using the Settings app.
In Settings, tap Camera, then under ”Photo Capture” select Photographic Styles.
5. Take Macro Photos on iPhone 13 Pro
Another iPhone 13 Pro camera trick is the ability to capture macro photos and videos with the ultra-wide camera. With Macro mode enabled, you can take pictures or video of subjects that are as close as 2cm to your iPhone’s camera lens, which means you can now take shots of flowers, textures, insects, or pretty much anything small or at close distance, with accurate focus, rich detail, and no blurring.
Here’s how to use the Macro mode feature on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
- Launch the Camera app on your iPhone 13 Pro.
- Make sure Photo mode is highlighted in the camera mode menu. If you’re shooting video, swipe to Video mode instead.
- Line up your close-up subject in the viewfinder and allow the camera to switch to the wide-angle lens. Move in closer – the subject can be as close as 2cm away from the lens (you can use the zoom if necessary).
- Hold the phone steady. Once the lens has focused on the subject, tap the shutter to take the shot or begin capturing video. If you’re shooting video, tap the shutter button again to finish.
6. Take a Video While You’re in Photo Mode
Want to record a video on the iPhone 13 quickly? When you find the perfect moment for a video, you don’t always have time to switch between Photo and Video mode on your iPhone. Simply hold down the shutter button or volume button while using the Photo mode of the Camera app, then capture video until you release the button. You can even slide the on-screen shutter button over to lock in video mode on the spot.
7. Turn Off Automatic Night Mode
When using the Camera app on iPhones, the Night Mode feature comes on automatically when the camera sensor registers an indoor or outdoor scene that is dark enough to warrant brightening, resulting in natural colors and reduced noise. The reality is that Night Mode won’t always capture the kind of nighttime image that you want. If you’re aiming to shoot an authentic evening scene in which any sources of light remain subdued, for example, it’s better to turn off Night Mode to prevent extreme light exposure and a blown out picture.
If you don’t want Night Mode engaged when you’re shooting in low light environments, you can turn it off by tapping the yellow Night Mode button when it appears at the top of the viewfinder. The problem is, when you open the Camera app again and the sensor detects low light, Night Mode will automatically enable itself again.
In iOS 14, there’s no way to disable Night Mode for good – you have to manually switch Night Mode off every time you relaunch the Camera. In iOS 15, however, you can turn off Night Mode and ensure it stays off. Here’s how.
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Camera.
- Tap Preserve Settings.
- Toggle the Night Mode switch to the green ON position.
Turning on this switch makes the Camera remember that you disabled Night Mode last time you were shooting. You can still manually enable Night Mode in the Camera app in the usual way, but now you’re in control of when it’s active.
8. Prioritize Faster Shooting
This iPhone 13 camera trick is designed to modify how images are processed. It plays a key role in helping you to capture more photos when you rapidly tap the Shutter button. Depending on your needs, you can enable/disable Prioritize Faster Shooting feature.
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and select Camera.
- Scroll down and enable or disable Prioritize Faster Shooting.
If you disable Prioritize Faster Shooting, your iPhone 13 will take higher quality pictures but it won’t take pictures as quickly as before. You’ll need to test it around and decide whether you prefer quality over quantity.
9. Test Apple ProRAW
Another iPhone 13 camera trick is Apple ProRAW. It’s basically a type of image file that’s completely raw, with little to no edits from the camera software.
This means you can completely edit your pictures however you want, making it easier for you to give them the look you want. Of course, this takes more time and effort, but if you’re into photography you have to try this feature.
Here’s how you can enable Apple ProRaw on your iPhone 13 series:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Camera.
- Select Formats.
- Enable Apple ProRAW.
- After you enable it, you can turn ProRAW on and of on the Camera app, by tapping on the RAW button on the top right corner of your screen.
Keep in mind that Apple ProRAW files take much more space on your iPhone, and they won’t be as edited as your regular picture, so this feature isn’t the most ideal if you just want to take casual pictures. Still, it’s worth giving it a shot if you already have an iPhone 13 model.
10. Turn Lens Correction off and on
The Lens Correction setting adjusts photos taken with the front camera or Ultra Wide camera for more natural-looking results.
On iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, lens Correction is enabled by default. To turn off Lens Correction, head over to Settings > Camera, then turn off Lens Correction.
11. Take Control of Scene Detection Setting
The Scene Detection setting can identify what you’re taking a photo of and apply a tailored look to bring out the best qualities in the scene. While there is no denying the fact that it’s a great iPhone 13 camera trick, I don’t think pros would want to let the Scene Detection setting have its way without any control.
Start the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Camera and then turn off/on Scene Detection based on your needs.
12. Take Advantage of the iPhone Camera Timer
If you enjoy taking selfies, it’s the perfect tool. Instead of trying to do acrobatics with your arm to fit everyone in the shot, you can use a nearby ledge, line up the photo, and still have plenty of time to get yourself into position.
To use the timer, tap on the Arrow icon in the bar at the top of the camera window, then hit the Stopwatch button that appears at the bottom. You have the choice of a three or 10-second timer. Make your selection and compose your image. The timer won’t start until you press the shutter button.
13. Mirror Front-Facing Camera
The front-facing camera on your iPhone 13 can be a bit weird when taking selfies. You see, when you’re taking a selfie, you’ll see yourself as if you’re looking in a mirror. But when you check the picture in the Photos app, you’ll see it the other way around.
For instance, if you take a selfie holding your right hand up, the Camera app will show you a mirror version of yourself. But once you see the picture, you’ll see it as if you’re holding your left hand up.
You can actually change this so your selfies show a mirror version of yourself. Here’s how you can do it:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and go to Camera.
- Under Composition enable Mirror Front Camera.
14. Enable Grid Lines
Most people who enjoy photography are familiar with the Rule of Thirds. It’s one of the essential rules to follow when you’re composing a photograph.
Put simply, it dictates that you should place the subject of a shot in one of the four intersections of lines on a 3×3 grid.
However, in order to get the most out of the rule, you’ll need to enable an on-screen grid so you can see the four intersections. Gridlines are also useful for other composition issues, such as keeping the horizon level or making sure walls and buildings are at precisely 90 degrees
To turn these gridlines on, go to Settings > Camera > Grid and slide the toggle into the On position.
15. Turn View Outside the Frame off and on
On iPhone 13 models, the camera preview displays content outside the frame to show you what can be captured by using another lens in the camera system with a wider field of view. While this is a great feature, you may want to have manual control over it. To do so, start the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Camera and then turn off/on View Outside the Frame toggle.
16. Burst Mode
Have you ever tried to take a picture of a fast-moving object on your iPhone?
Often, the object in question is long gone before your phone can process the image. And even if you manage to get the shot, your subject will often be blurry and distorted.
The trick is to use Burst Mode. This takes a rapid-fire series of shots that’ll give you a selection of photos to choose from. You can keep the best and discard the rest.
To use Burst Mode, head over to Settings > Camera and enable Use Volume Up for Burst. Then keep your finger pressed on the Volume Up button while taking a shot. Burst Mode will automatically engage and continue until you release your finger.
17. Preserve Camera Settings
Do you have a favorite filter or camera mode? If so, it’s frustrating to have to select it afresh every time you open your camera app. By the time you’ve got your camera set up, the fleeting moment you wanted to capture could have vanished forever.
The trick is to use the iPhone 13 Preserve Settings feature.
To set it up, start the Settings app on your iPhone 13 and go to Camera > Preserve Settings and then customize the settings to your heart’s liking.
18. Adjust Depth Control in Portrait mode
Before taking your Portrait photo, you might want to edit the depth-of-field setting to change how blurry the background is.
To get started, launch the Camera app on your iPhone and then choose Portrait mode. After that, frame your subject and then tap the f button in the top-right corner of the camera, then move the slider at the bottom of the screen.
This slider relates to the f-stop of the camera. The lower the number, the greater the depth of field, which means the background is more blurry. If you want to make the background less blurry, select a higher f-stop number. You might want to do this if the edges of your subject start to go blurry.
Next, tap the Shutter button to take the shot. You can also change the depth of field from the editing options after taking a Portrait mode photo.
19. Adjust Portrait Lighting Effects in Portrait Mode
Portrait mode on the iPhone 13 creates a depth-of-field effect that blurs the background of your photo while keeping the subject in sharp focus. You can use lighting effects to further enhance your Portrait mode iPhone 13 photos. These effects use software algorithms to create different lighting options on your subject’s face, based on popular lighting setups in photography studios.
Simply choose the Portrait mode in the Camera app. After that, drag the Portrait Lighting control to choose between the following lighting effects:
- Natural Light: No additional lighting effects are added.
- Studio Light: Facial features brighten to mimic photo studio lights.
- Contour Light: Sharper lighting creates dramatic highlights and lowlights.
- Stage Light: Imitate a spotlight and plunge the background into darkness.
- Stage Light Mono: The same as Stage Light, but in black and white.
- High-Key Light Mono: Create a white background with a black and white subject.
Next, tap on the Portrait Control button that appears at the top of the screen. The Portrait Lighting slider shows below the frame.
Now, drag the slider to the right or left to fine-tune the effect.
Once you have fine-tuned the portrait lighting effect, hit the Shutter button to take the shot. Now, check out the image to ensure it’s in line with your taste. If you aren’t pleased with the portrait image, get into the edit mode and then use the Portrait Lighting slider to further adjust the lighting effect.
20. Learn to Use Auto FPS
If you like taking videos at night, you might have noticed that your video files aren’t as clear as they should. Some of the footage might look a bit washed out at night. If that’s the case for you, that’s probably your iPhone trying to help you by using Auto FPS.
Auto FPS is a feature that can reduce the frame rate of your video to improve low light. Although it may be useful on some occasions, it’s best to learn how to turn it off when needed.
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Camera.
- Tap on Record Video.
- Scroll down and tap on Auto FPS.
- Select Off.
You can play around with this feature to find when you should use Auto FPS and when you shouldn’t.
See also: 30 Best iOS 15 Tips and Tricks to Try First
Your favorite iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro camera tips and tricks?
There you go! So, these are the best camera tips and tricks for iPhone 13 and 13 Pro. Hopefully, the features and tricks we’ve covered introduced you to some iPhone 13 camera tips and tricks that you weren’t aware of previously.
While it’s all well and good to know these iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Camera tips and tricks, that won’t get you very far in the real world. The only way to really supercharge your photo skills is to get out there and practice. While you are into it, do tell us about your favorite iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro camera tips and tricks in the comments section below.
