There are a few hidden iPhone features that can actually help improve your photography. Like yes! And they aren’t features from the inbuilt camera. They are features that you can use when you shoot with your professional DSLR camera.
Think about it as how the iPhone can help support your professional camera and improve your photography.
How These iPhone Features Can Improve Your Photography
These are little tricks that I’ve used for years now with my food photography. And you can apply them to any still life photography. Perhaps any product photography also.
All of the features I am about to share with you can be easily customised and even optimised so that you can find them in your Home for quick access.
To use these features and get the most out of them, having quick access to them is super important. So it becomes like second nature. And no additional apps required.
Let’s check them out in order of what I use the most, (a.k.a what I love the most!).
Use The Spirit Level For Overhead Shots
Your iPhone features a spirit level feature built in and this is ever so handy.
There are literally so many ways you can use it to improve your photography.
Firstly, you can use it to make sure your set is level. This is important when shooting beverage photography.
If your set isn’t level, the liquid will always slant to one side.
One of the apartments that I lived in had the most atrocious uneven floor and it started to impact my photos. Certain subjects needed to be spot on.
Propping up legs of my table to create an even set was simple with a spirit level.
But the most common way I use my iPhone spirit level is to make sure my camera is level when shooting overhead images.
Some tripods and ball heads will have inbuilt spirit levels. But even when they do, they don’t always allow you to use them effectively when changing your tripod to shoot overhead.
I simply place my phone onto the top my camera when I am overhead and make sure I am as close to 0, (and level) as possible.
RELATED: Ultimate Guide: Best Tripod Food Photography.
It literally takes a couple of seconds to check but can have a huge impact on the quality of your images.
Depending on the version of iOS you have, your spirit level could be found in one of two places. For older versions, you can find it in your ‘Compass App’. You just need to swipe to get to this feature.
For newer iOS versions, you will find the spirit level has moved to the ‘Measure App’.
The Flashlight Can Help Your Camera Focus in Low Light
Have you ever tried to use autofocus in low light, only to have the lens continuously try to focus but never get there?
This can happen for a couple of reasons. Like there isn’t enough contrast for it to focus on, or you’re shooting in low light.
A lot of still life photography can happen in low light. You might be shooting in such low light that the lens continuously tries to focus. You’ll notice that cameras have a light that comes on to help with this. But it doesn’t always manage to improve focus.
In situations like this, I use the flashlight feature on the iPhone. It helps me to take a tack sharp image. Sharp images that are in focus instantly help improve your photography.
And it only takes a second to turn on the flashlight feature.
Simple, turn on the flashlight and shine it on your subject, in the place you’d like to focus on.
Your lens will be more likely to focus. You can get as close to your subject with your iPhone as you can. Just make sure that your hands or phone doesn’t get in the way of your subject. Otherwise, your focus will be off.
A little unknown tip with using your iPhone’s flashlight is that you can change the brightness of it.
Simply hold the flashlight icon, until it opens the settings. Then touch and move up to increase. Down to decrease the brightness.
Create A Focus Target And Save it to Your Favourites Album
In this post, I talk about troubleshooting focus. Sometimes there isn’t enough contrast for our lens to focus. So it continually tries to focus, which can cause inaccuracies when taking the shot.
This is something that comes up when we are shooting compositions where subjects are around the edits of the frame.
A simple solution is to create a focus target. This is as simple as a big black ‘X’ on white paper that can help with focus.
In the past, I’ve used white paper or white foam core. I had a focus target in my camera bag.
But since we moved overseas from Australia to Canada, we had to significantly reduce our camera gear.
I never replaced a hardcopy of the focus target. But rather created a photo that is located in my photos.
I simply bring this photo up on my screen, with full brightness, and place it on my set.
Now, you do need to be careful at how ‘thick’ your phone is and where you want to actually focus on. Any slight tilts or height differences can be picked up with macro lenses, (which are often used in still life photography).
A quick tip to find your focus target quickly in your photo reel is to mark it as a ‘favourite’. You can do this by touching the little heart icon when you are in the photo. This will save it to your ‘favourites’ album.
You can then quickly access it from your albums.
The Compass Can Tell You The Direction of Your Natural Light
In your home studio or regular shooting location, you most likely know what direction your windows are facing.
And therefore you know what type of light you’re likely to get at different times throughout the day. Understanding aspects of natural light, like the direction of light, will improve your photography.
But if you are new to shooting or you’ve moved house, it’s handy to use the compass feature to find the direction of your light source.
More importantly, I’ve used this on location to work out which direction the windows are facing.
You’d be surprised at how often clients have no idea about the direction the windows are facing. I mean why would they?
They aren’t photographers, that’s what they hire us for.
If you have a choice of options for windows to shoot next to, using your compass tool will help you know which window is facing the best direction for even lighting.
In the Northern Hemisphere, North-facing windows will have more consistently even light, that’s indirect. North-facing light is also usually less powerful than South-facing in the Northen Hemisphere.
Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, North-facing windows will have more power, change a little more and have direct light throughout certain times of the day.
Apps Can Help You Track The Course of The Sun Throughout The Day
If you want to get really fancy, you can also get an app that helps you work out the course the sun will take throughout the day. The time of sunrise, sunset, and twilight.
As most still life or food photography is done indoors, you may not need this feature all the time. But there are occasions where a concept will take you outside to shoot.
If you want to learn move about natural light, click here to buy my ebook: Art of Light.
I don’t know about you, but I always have my iPhone with me when I am shooting. Usually to post behind the scenes images on Instagram. So it makes so much sense to have these features right on the one device that we always have attached to us.
A tool you can keep in your pocket for quick access that can improve your photography in a flash.
As I mentioned, my favourite feature is the spirit level. Which is yours? Do you have any tips for using hidden features on the iPhone?
Nancy Meyer
Great info as always. Would love a recommendation from you. I鈥檝e been a caterer and food stylist for 20 years, always taking pictures with my iPhone. I鈥檇 like to buy a camera, but not spend s fortune. What do you suggest. Thanks.
Rachel
Hey Nancy! Lovely for you to stop by 馃檪 Definitely! Whilst I don’t keep up with entry-level camera models (as they change so often). I have this post on 10 tips on what to buy in a new camera for food photography: https://twolovesstudio.com/blog/best-camera-food-photography/ Check it out and leave me a comment if you need any help.
Claire
Great post, thank you. In the compass part you suggest north-facing windows for both southern and northern hemisphere – is that what you meant to say? Trying to work out what’s best for me in the UK!
Rachel
Hey Claire! Thanks for stopping by. I think it depends on what kind of light you are looking for right! Neither is better just because. North-facing light in the Northern Hemisphere is more consistent throughout the day. In the Southern Hemisphere, the South Facing window is more consistent. So it’s really opposite. South facing window in the Northern Hemisphere has more power and changes more often. In the Southern Hemisphere that’s the North facing window. So it’s good to use a compass to know which way your window is facing and what the light will be like and change. Let me know if you have any other questions on that 馃檪
Rebecca Peloquin
The compass idea to chart the direction of the light is SUCH a good one! I definitely never have any idea aside from a foggy guess! Thanks for sharing!
Rachel
Totally!! It’s easy to get familiar with our light if we shoot from home, but on location, I usually have no idea. So whipping out the phone will instantly tell us! So glad you enjoyed it.
Austin
Love the iPhone photography hacks, Rachel. Keep the value-add info coming. You’re inspiring so many.
Rachel
Hey Austin! Thanks for stopping by 馃檪 Aren’t they awesome. I just love them. Use the all the time. Thanks for much for your kind words and keep in touch.
Laura | Tutti Dolci
Love the tip about the level, that’s such a game changer! Thanks Rachel! 馃檪
Rachel
Hey Laura, so awesome to see you on the blog! The level is a GAME CHANGER. I use it all the time. It’s such a quick and easy process. Love it!
Rosa
Thank you for the level tip. I sometimes have to use the tripod on thick carpet over uneven floors in my older home. I鈥檓 looking forward to seeing how accurate my tripod is.
The most spacious and bright area to shoot in at my home is south facing and I am continually frustrated by the changing intensity of natural light. Any suggestions? Would you recommend always shooting on a tripod in less bright areas facing east and west? North isn鈥檛 really an option at home until it warms up and I can go outside.
Rachel
I feel ya Rosa! The floors in my current rental are terrible! This is a good one to check on the level of your setup and the tripod. If you haven’t read my ebook, I highly recommend getting that for knowing how to tame natural light, the direction of light and how that interplays with the inverse square law. You can get that there. Mostly you want to think about what light you want, and then knowing how to manipulate it. I would recommend shooting on a tripod in low light. Especially if your hands are shaking like me at low shutter speeds. South-facing windows are great, you just need to know what aids to use and how things like power of light and distance can help you craft the light you want.
Cassie
The level tip is genius! I used the compass on my phone to identify which direction my windows were facing when we moved into our place – such a clever idea too. Thanks for sharing these!
Rachel
Hey Cassie! That is so cool right. Love that you are using that feature and yes the level is a game changer. I use it almost every shoot. Thanks for stopping by.
Tara
Love these tips, Rachel! The focus target one got me thinking… Do you think creating a digital grey card to assist with white balance would work, as well?
Rachel
Hey Tara! So nice of you to stop by. That’s an idea for sure. I think the tricky thing is that there can be different brightnesses of the screen and reflections that those things will impact colour. But it’s worth researching and exploring.
Shibani
What a fabulous article.. Rachel .. you鈥檙e articles and posts are always so informative. Thanks ?
Rachel
Hey Shibani! Always lovely to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by. I am so pleased that you found these tips helpful.
Justin @ Salt Pepper Skillet
Rachel – These are so freakin’ genius! You are totally right. When you think you know all the things you can do with your phone and I was totally wrong. So excited to test out the focus point trick.
Thanks for sharing!
Justin
Rachel
Hey Justin! Haha right, there is always a new tip to learn. That’s what I love about photography. I am always learning something new. Glad I shared these as people are really loving them. I can’t live without them. Let me know how you go 馃檪
Lou | Crumbs and Corkscrews
Rachel, these are fantastic. Thank you! You are right, I鈥檓 never without my iPhone when shooting but never thought it could be so handy. I have used the compass to make sure I鈥檓 level better, but the other tips are great too. I鈥檝e just stopped reading to create my focus target and favourited it already 鈽猴笍
Rachel
Right! We are glued to our phones and sometimes that can really help. There are so many apps that they can have to help us out. Yes, the level used to be in the compass, but it’s moved in the new iOS. Hope you find it as useful as I do!
Suchita Kalele
Such an informative post and I dont know how but somehow I missed this blog post. Level is such a genius idea. I was looking for something like that for my flatlay set up. I am glad I can use something that’s always with me. Thanks for writing it.
Rachel
The level is great right! I use it all the time as my phone is pretty much glued to me. You’re so welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.
Brennen
That’s a great idea to use the iPhone in the shot as a compass or another device. I like it a lot, definitely going to see where I can implement that in my own photography.
Rachel
Awesome to hear that Brennen! It’s a handy little trick I use all the time.