Apple’s iPhones have long been praised for their camera quality, and with the release of models like the iPhone 12 and beyond, mobile photography has reached a professional level. While the iPhone camera is intuitive, understanding advanced features and techniques can elevate your shots significantly.
As an IT professional, I’ve noticed many people rely solely on point-and-shoot techniques. While this can produce decent images, leveraging iPhone features like burst mode, AE/AF lock, and volume-button snapping can transform ordinary photos into striking compositions.
Use Burst mode for action shots
iPhone photography is made easier with the newest iPhones. Whether you are Chasing around a bunch of kids, Going on a bumpy ride, attempting sports photography or trying to capture a random moment; Whatever the case, iPhone burst mode might be just the option you’re looking for to capture the best images. Apple included burst mode originally for snapping clear pictures of moving subjects, but I find it works well when your camera is moving, too — by snapping images in quick succession, you’re more likely to get a clear shot.
To shoot in Burst mode, just hold down the shutter button (or volume up button) when you want to begin. While holding down the shutter button, you’ll see a counter appear at the bottom of the screen, letting you know how many shots you’ve snapped. To stop shooting, just lift up your finger and the burst will be saved to your Camera Roll.
Pro Tip: Burst mode also works when your camera itself is moving — perfect for capturing dynamic angles from a moving vehicle or a running pet.
You can now go to your camera roll and roll through the burst of shots and pick out the best.
Hold down on a spot to lock focus
Do you want to focus in on one particular item in your shot and you want to prevent your iPhone’s camera from attempting to grab a different subject in the frame, it can be incredibly useful to lock your focus point on your current subject allowing you the freedom of arm movement without having to tap again.
You can do this by tapping and holding on the subject in question until you see the yellow AE/AF Lock notification at the top of the screen. This means that the automatic exposure metering and automatic focus metering have been locked on your subject; to remove the lock, just tap anywhere else on the frame.
Real-World Tip: I use AE/AF Lock for macro photography, like capturing circuit boards or intricate tech details — it ensures the camera doesn’t shift focus when adjusting your hand position.
Look out for symmetry
“In order to capture the symmetry in a scene, you have to center yourself, make sure all your lines are straight, and be a perfectionist when it comes to your square crop . . . Look at your scenery around and position the target in a way that it captures a perfect symmetrical surrounding
Keep your photos simple
New photographers often overcomplicate their photos. But too many details can distract the viewer, making it hard to create a beautiful and harmonious composition.
One interesting subject is all you need to create a memorable photo. And it’s much easier to get the composition right when your photo has just one subject.
Don’t worry if most of your photo is filled with empty space. In photography we call this “negative space” and it’s a great way of making your subject stand out.
Simple, minimalist compositions are also ideal for sharing on social media. If you share your iPhone photos on Instagram or a similar photo-sharing network, people will be viewing your photos on the tiny screen of their phone.
As a result, much of the detail you have in your photos will be lost to the viewer. Keeping your photos simple will allow your audience to enjoy them more.
Example: Capture a single leaf in a field rather than an entire tree canopy. In tech photography, this could mean highlighting one component rather than the entire motherboard.
Shoot from a low angle
The majority of iPhone photos are shot from the chest height of a standing adult. This may be the most convenient way of taking a photo, but there are usually more creative options!
You can easily improve your iPhone photography by finding a more interesting perspective to shoot from. Often the best way to do that is to simply shoot from a lower angle.
There are three great reasons to take your photos from a lower angle. First, your photos will automatically become more intriguing because they allow the viewer to see the world in a new way.
Second, by shooting from a lower angle you can show your subject with nothing but the sky in the background. This is a good technique for removing unwanted distractions and making your subject stand out.
A third benefit of taking photos from a low angle is that you can show interesting details in the foreground that would otherwise be lost.
This is particularly useful when you want to capture ripples or reflections in water. Try kneeling or even lying on the ground to use this terrific iPhone photography tip!
Pro Tip: For tech photography, I often kneel or lie on the ground to highlight server racks, cabling layouts, or hardware details from a more compelling perspective.
Snap photos with the volume button
You can use the physical volume buttons on the side of your iPhone to take the shot rather than the big onscreen button—handy if you’re holding the phone at an awkward angle—but this also extends to headphones (including the bundled ones) that have inline volume controls on the cable.
Because the iPhone is so thin, tapping the digital shutter button can cause camera shake and blur the photo you’re trying to take. Instead, you can use the volume up button when in the Camera app to snap a photo — and avoid camera shake entirely.
Pro Tip: For tripod-mounted shots, a remote shutter (volume button or Bluetooth remote) is essential for sharp, professional-quality images.
The self-timer
There’s a self-timer on the iPhone as well, either a two-second one—more on this below—and a 10-second one which is great for those press-the-shutter-run-back-into-shot-then-hold-a-grimace-way-past-the-point-you-think-it-should-have-triggered shots. You might be able to prop your iPhone up against something for these, but consider a tripod for more control and better results if the shot is important.
Quickly jump to a specific shooting mode with 3D Touch
If you have an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus, press hard on the icon for the Camera app on your Home screen and you’ll get the option of jumping straight to slo-mo, video, selfie, or regular photo mode. (It’s worth reinstating the Camera app back to your first screen of apps if you’d previously banished it because of the Control Center button for launching it, partly for this direct-mode-launch feature but also because Touch ID is so fast on the 6s-generation devices that you never get the chance to see Control Center from the Lock screen!)
Go nuts with filters
You might think that the filters you can apply when you’re taking photos—look for the three-overlapping-circles icon at the bottom right—mean that the effect is permanently “baked into” your shot, but that’s no so. Even though the filter looks like it’s applied when you view your photo in your Camera Roll, actually what your iPhone has done is save the unfiltered photo along with an invisible tag that says “shove the filter in front of this image when displaying it.”
Pro Tip: For tech content, subtle filters can make metallic surfaces pop or enhance contrast in circuit board shots. Avoid heavy Instagram-style filters that obscure details.
Use the rear-facing camera (the one on the back of your phone)
Use the rear-facing camera (the one on the back of your phone) instead of the front-facing camera (the one used for selfies) whenever you can.
The rear-facing camera takes photos at a much higher resolution, so you get nicer images.
Bringing It All Together: Real-World iPhone Photography
From my experience, combining these techniques produces consistently better images:
- Plan your shot — identify your subject and composition.
- Use AE/AF Lock — maintain focus and exposure.
- Experiment with angles — low, high, or unconventional perspectives.
- Leverage burst mode — capture movement or fleeting moments.
- Review and select — only keep the strongest photos.
For IT professionals, this approach works whether you’re capturing office spaces, tech equipment, or event photography. Minimalist, intentional shots stand out on blogs, internal documentation, and social media alike.
Final Thoughts
iPhone photography is more than a casual hobby — with the right techniques, it can rival professional cameras in certain contexts. By mastering burst mode, AE/AF lock, angles, and composition, you can produce crisp, engaging, and visually compelling photos for work or personal use.
Pro Tip: Keep experimenting. The best iPhone photography comes from combining technical features with your creative vision. Each model brings new capabilities, so stay updated and adapt your workflow accordingly.
From my early days on the helpdesk through roles as a service desk manager, systems administrator, and network engineer, I’ve spent more than 25 years in the IT world. As I transition into cyber security, my goal is to make tech a little less confusing by sharing what I’ve learned and helping others wherever I can.