The Best iPhone 16 Camera Hacks, According to a Professional Photographer
Portrait-ready
Local photographer Nuar Yusli shares his best iPhone 16 camera tips and tricks that you can use to level up your photo and video game.
Raya is just around the corner and there’s no better time to brush up on your mobile photography prowess than now—just in time for those festive family portraits! With brand new outfits, family reunions, lavish food spreads, and more, there will be tons to capture on your camera during your celebrations. If you’re looking to sharpen your skills, we’ve harnessed some help from renowned local photographer Nuar Yusli, who has shared his top iPhone 16 camera tricks that will help you capture your best content this Raya. So, grab your phones and open your Notes app because class is in session!
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
It’s no secret that we’ve got a portrait photography powerhouse in our hands with the iPhone family, especially the latest iPhone 16 series. “Portrait photography on the iPhone 16 lineup has seriously levelled up and with some small tweaks, you can take your photos from good to stunning,” shares Nuar. “One of my favourite portrait photography hacks is using Camera Control to fine-tune depth and exposure for a natural and professional look. It gives you way more control over how your subject stands out, making your portraits look like they were taken with a high-end camera. Here are some of my iPhone 16 camera tips and tricks to make the most of it!”
Here are Nuar’s favourite iPhone camera hacks when it comes to portrait photography.
ADJUSTING DEPTH IN PORTRAIT MODE:
- On iPhone 16, you can apply the portrait effect and blur the background on photos you take in Photo mode. If your iPhone detects a person, dog, or cat, “ƒ” automatically appears at the bottom of the viewfinder.
- If the “ƒ” doesn’t appear, tap your subject in the viewfinder to focus on and the “ƒ” will appear.
- Lightly double press on Camera Control, and swipe right to Depth. Slide your finger along Camera Control to adjust the depth.
- For a more cinematic and DSLR-like portrait, you can go for a lower ƒ-number (ƒ1.4 – ƒ2.8) for a stronger bokeh effect.
DIAL IN YOUR DESIRED EXPOSURE
- Lighting can make or break a portrait, so don’t just rely on Auto mode. You can manually adjust the focus and exposure to fine-tune the exposure to your desired look with Camera Control.
- Quickly access settings with just a light double-tap to bring up an overlay that shows all your camera settings in one place.
- Slide your finger on the Camera Control to the Exposure setting, then give it a light press to select it.
- Now, just slide your finger to adjust the exposure. This helps prevent overexposure and keeps your shot looking natural and well-balanced.
USE LATEST GENERATION PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLES FOR PERSONALISED LOOKS
- Use Photographic Styles, a latest generation feature available on the iPhone 16 series, to adjust specific colours in certain parts of your photos to create the exact look you want. Choose from Undertones that can impact the way skin tone is rendered, or adjust the overall look and feel of the photo with Mood.
- Try the “Gold” Undertone which creates a rich, warm golden hue and complements Malaysian skin tones beautifully.
- How to apply:
- Open Camera > Tap Photographic Styles at the top right of the screen
- Drag your finger around the control pad to adjust tone and colour at the same time
FAMILY PHOTOS
After you’re done getting in your ‘fit checks and solo selfies, it’s time for your family portraits. No matter how large or small your reunions are, your iPhone is the best companion to have when you need to setup a quick and accessible photo for everyone to be in. “Raya is all about family, togetherness, and capturing those beautiful moments to look back on,” expresses Nuar. “Capturing the perfect family moments comes down to composition, lighting and making the most of iPhone 16’s Ultra Wide lens. Here’s my simple three-step guide to getting the best Raya family photos!”
Use the Ultra Wide lens for big group shots
- The 0.5x Ultra Wide lens helps you fit everyone in the frame without stepping back too much.
- Position your family in a well-lit area—natural light works best!
- Pro tip: Avoid placing people too close to the edges to prevent distortion.
Capture candid moments with Burst mode and Live Photos
- Instead of stiff, posed photos, you can capture genuine interactions and laughter by holding the shutter button to activate Burst mode. This will take multiple high-speed photos, so you’ve got a large selection of them to choose from.
- Alternatively, turn on Live Photos to pick the best frame later or create subtle motion effects.
Try your hand at the viral “Gen-Z selfies” using the Ultra Wide lens
- For family selfies or shoots sans tripods, switch to the Ultra Wide lens (0.5x) for a more dynamic angle.
- Hold your iPhone slightly above eye level and tilt it down slightly for the most flattering look.
- Use the palm gesture (Assistive Touch) or a timer for hands-free selfies.
TAKING VIDEOS
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While getting your photos is an important part of any celebration, making sure you get in some videos of your sweetest moments is just as vital! Whether you just want to look back on good laughs with your favourite people or need a couple quick clips to use for a vlog, shooting high-quality videos has never been simpler with the iPhone’s camera.
“If you want to take your Raya videos to the next level, there’s a simple yet powerful trick to try,” tells Nuar. “One underrated but game-changing videography hack on the iPhone 16 lineup is pairing the Pause and Resume feature with recording Slo-mo at 4K 120fps for seamless storytelling—here are some useful camera tricks!”
Record Slo-mo at 4K 120fps to capture meaningful moments
To give your Raya videos a cinematic touch, record Slo-mo at 4K 120fps to capture moments such as kids running toward elders for salam-bersalaman, pouring drinks, food preparation, making kuih-muih, or even traditional dances and fireworks at night.
- You can enable 4K 120fps by opening Camera in Settings. Click Record Slo-mo and set it to 4K at 120fps.
- Pro tip: Shoot in good lighting for sharper and more detailed slow motion clips.
Seamless storytelling with Pause and Resume feature
Instead of stopping and starting a new clip to eventually compile into a long video, use the Pause and Resume feature on your iPhone to keep everything in one continuous clip. This tip is perfect for capturing the flow of Raya gatherings such as family greetings, food preparation and even family celebrations—all without the need for extra editing.
- Start recording on the Camera app, tap Pause on the left bottom part of the screen, reposition your frame, then tap Resume to continue. This trick saves time and keeps your Raya videos smooth and engaging without extra post-production work!
KEEPING ORGANISED
Now, once you have all your photos and videos taken, take advantage of the redesigned Photos app to remove, reorder, and pin certain collections to keep everything organised. You can also rearrange, filter, and sort through your photo library to only show the clips or photos that you’re looking for.
Not to mention, Apple Intelligence has also made its way to the Photos app, so you can quickly find specific photos or moments in videos within your library. You can also engage the Clean Up feature to remove any unwanted distractions from your photos such as a bird in the background or a crumpled up napkin on the dinner table.
Note: Apple Intelligence is available in iOS 18.1 or later on all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. You can also learn more iPhone photography tips at talent-led Today at Apple sessions, happening live at Apple The Exchange TRX—click here to find out more.
For more Apple-related reads, click here.
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