Best iPhone camera settings you must know about

The iPhone has long been the benchmark for mobile photography, and while some Android phones have caught up in still photography, the iPhone remains unmatched for video capture. That’s not just because of strong hardware, but also how Apple tunes the camera software and the intuitive simplicity of the Camera app. While point-and-shoot delivers great results, you can get even more from your iPhone by learning the best iPhone camera settings you must know about.

iPhone camera settings

From composition aids like grid lines to advanced imaging formats like Apple ProRAW, you can dramatically change your iPhone’s camera output by tweaking iPhone camera settings. Here are the iPhone camera settings you must know about.

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1. Enable Grid for Better Composition
2. Use AppleProRAW for flexibility
3. Photographic Style
4. Preserve Settings
5. Exposure and Focus lock
6. Live Photos
7. Mirror Front Camera

1. Enable Grid for Better Composition

This is the first setting you must change on your iPhone’s camera app. The grid overlays the rule of thirds on the viewfinder to help users align horizons and subjects for a balanced photo. To enable, go to Settings > Camera > Grid in your iPhone’s Settings app.

2. Use AppleProRAW for flexibility

If you have a Pro iPhone, then you must turn on Apple ProRAW for more control over exposure, white balance, and detail in post-processing. This setting makes sense for creative edits since the ProRAW format retains much more image data than the standard format. You can enable this under Settings > Camera > Formats > Apple ProRAW and then tap RAW in the camera app before shooting. Do note that shooting in Apple ProRAW will result in larger file sizes and consume your iPhone storage faster.

3. Photographic Style

The Photographic Style is Apple’s response to Instagram filters, with the only difference being that it applies before you capture the shot. The Photographic Style is my personal favourite and it lets iPhone users change the colour and tone preference for images, and you can select these styles in the camera app itself. To change or choose a style, go to Settings > Camera > Photographic Styles for peak creativity.

4. Preserve Settings

The most cumbersome thing about smartphone cameras is that you need to change settings every time you open the camera app. Not on iPhone. If you like a particular setting, whether it’s Night mode settings, Photographic style, or ProRAW, you can preserve these settings so you don’t have to change them every time you open the camera app. Go to Settings > Camera > Preserve Settings and toggle the option you want to keep and get consistent shots every time you shoot with your iPhone.

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5. Exposure and Focus lock

You can tap and hold on the screen to lock the AE/AF (auto-exposure/auto-focus) on a subject. This prevents the camera from refocusing or changing exposure mid-shot and is particularly useful in challenging light settings. Next time, you should also try using the built-in exposure slider (sun icon) to brighten or darken the photo before taking it.

6. Live Photos

You can also enable Live Photos, which captures 1.5 seconds before and after your shot to preserve movement and sound. This is a great tool to capture context, and it delivers excellent results for moments with motion. You can toggle Live Photos directly in the Camera app.

7. Mirror Front Camera

To capture selfies that look like what you see in the preview, turn on Mirror Front Camera via Settings > Camera.

For most iPhone users, the camera app works well right out of the box. However, you can tweak these built-in camera settings to take better photos without downloading additional applications. For example, the Night Mode is triggered automatically in low-light on the iPhone, but you can manually extend the exposure time by tapping the yellow moon icon.

The Camera app comes with tools like composition aid and creative styles, and there are also advanced formats like ProRAW for creative control. The real benefit of these camera settings is that you take control of your iPhone camera and unlock much more of its potential.