8 Tips for Shooting Better Portraits on iPhone

A portrait can be a fun photo that captures someone in a unique environment, or it can be a deeper study of a person's character…

iPhones, being an accessible tool that so many already carry around day to day, are just as capable of taking stunning portraits as a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

The default iPhone camera app is a great place to start when learning how to use your phone for photography, but the Moment Pro Camera II app is a more professional option that offers better control over settings that you can adjust manually.

Portraits are less about megapixels and more about capturing a person's essence through angles, the environment, and a creative eye. Use these 8 tips to shoot stunning portraits with your iPhone.

Tip 1: Expose for your subject

The trick with portraits is that the exposure on your subject is usually takes priority over whatever else is in the frame. Tap and hold your screen in the default iPhone camera app and to bring the exposure up or down to highlight your subject.

In the Moment Pro Camera II app you can adjust manual settings, like shutter speed or ISO dials, to nail your exposure similar to how you would on a big rig.

Tip 2: White balance matters.

Along with exposure, white balance is one of the most important things to get right for a good portrait. I like to manually adjust my white balance in the Moment Pro Camera II app. Most often, I end up in the 5000K - 5500K range in neutral daylight, or go a little warmer in the 6000K - 7500K range on overcast days or if my subject’s skin tone calls for it. White balance is not one-size-fits-all. Take some time to observe your subject’s skin tone and adjust accordingly.

If you want a true-to-color white balance, you can use the tried and true method of having your subject hold a white piece of paper and adjusting your white balance to it.

Tip 3: Know your light source.

Lighting can completely change the look of a portrait. Overcast days are wonderful for even lighting that is naturally diffused by clouds. I aim to shoot midday when it’s overcast to ensure that there is enough light to avoid setting my ISO too high.

Bright midday lighting can be intimidating but can also yield incredible punchy portraits. I place my subject with the sun slightly to the side at about 45 degrees on bright days. This avoids squinty eyes but also ensures that the subject has some light on their face.

Early morning and late afternoon are photographer favorites. These times of day have softer light that tend to work best for portraits. Skin tones look soft and the light is dynamic but not harsh. Again, angling your subject so the sun is slightly to the side works well at this time of day. Back light can be fun to play with too as the sun gets lower in the sky.

Tip 4: Change your angle.

Interesting portraits are all about angles. I try to include a variety of angles in my portrait galleries. A straight on eye-level angle is great for establishing shots and capturing the true likeness of your subject.

Standing above your subject can feel intimate and really bring the focus to your subject’s face. A lower angle can be dramatic and cinematic or a great way to highlight the environment above your subject, like a tree canopy or interesting sky.

Try different angles. Some angles work better than others for certain people so experiment with your subject. Avoid angles that have your horizon line going straight through your subject’s neck or head. This creates a distracting slicing effect.

Tip 5: Crop Intentionally.

A good crop can bring an extra level of intimacy to portraits. Portraits can be more than just photos of a person. A crop focusing on their eyes, lips, or hands can express who they are on a more personal level. Cropping can highlight specific features of a person or tell a story.

Use the rule of thirds to crop. Eyes sit well on the upper third line or placing your subject slightly to the side where the grid lines meet can create a balanced composition.

Avoid crops that cut your subject off at their joints. I purposely leave a little space above or below a joint if the crop is going to come close to somebody’s elbows, knees, wrists, or ankles. Cropping at the joints can make a person look unbalanced and letting their limbs naturally extend off frame results in a more natural look.

Tip 6: Fill the frame.

Consider the story you want to tell and fill the frame accordingly. Is your subject standing in an incredible vast landscape? Step back and let the surroundings tell a story of scale and adventure.

Getting closer to your subject and letting them fill the entire frame creates an intimate feeling with all of the focus on them.

Your subject is always the focus, but environmental shots mixed with detail and mid range shots can round out a collection of portraits.

Tip 7: Pick your colors.

Colors can be just as impactful as lighting. Environment, outfits, and props can all work together to create a color palette in a portrait photo.

A limited color palette e.g. neutral tones, muted tones, etc. can bring a cohesive and calm look to portraits. Complimentary or bright colors can create a fun and playful feeling. Monochrome portraits might feel modern and editorial.

Color palettes can say a lot about the subject or the overall feeling of a portrait session. Consider how the color palette compliments the environment you’re shooting in.

Do the colors draw positive attention to your subject?

Tip 8: Play with shutter speed.

Moment Pro Camera II’s shutter speed adjustment dial is a great way to capture movement in a portrait. Portrait photos do not have to be stagnant and perfect. The imperfect moments can be full of feeling and playfulness.

Lower your shutter speed for a softer nostalgic, or even filmy, look. I keep my ISO low when shooting at a slower shutter speed to avoid overexposing my photos.