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Apple Shares New 'Today at Apple' Session on How to Shoot Portrait Photos on iPhone

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Apple today shared a new "Today at Apple" session on YouTube with photographer Mark Clennon on how to properly take "powerful portrait" photos using the built-in camera and Camera app on the iPhone.


Apple has begun promoting and posting Today at Apple sessions on YouTube due to the global health crisis. The company was planning to bring back its session to its in-person retail stores at the end of this month; however, it has since decided differently due to the health crisis. The sessions cover photography, art, design, video, coding, music, and more using Apple products and accessories like the ‌iPhone‌, iPad, Mac, and Apple Pencil.

Article Link: Apple Shares New 'Today at Apple' Session on How to Shoot Portrait Photos on iPhone
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/08/20/today-at-apple-session-portrait-photos/
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While I love portrait mode, I still think it could be improved, at least on non-PRO models. It sometimes changes a bit the shape of the face, like if the lens was too close to the subject, but it isn't.
 
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There are some good tips there. And a phone camera is an excellent tool as it's always with you.

Still, for me, environmental context is key for good portraiture. Shooting against a studio screen often comes off sterile.

I like hitting up strangers in neighborhoods for some conversation and a portrait.

Portraits B&W-143.jpg
 
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I have upgraded my iPhone almost every year mostly because I wanted to have the latest camera features so that I could take great photos with it.

This year I finally caved and bought myself a Sony a6600 camera with a Sigma 16mm f1.4 lens and now I’m hooked on using this over my iPhone for photos.

This may be the first time since the XS that I skip an iPhone upgrade and keep my iPhone 12 Pro Max until it’s truly obsolete. I’d just rather spend that money on lenses for my a6600.
 
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yellow8 said:
While I love portrait mode, I still think it could be improved, at least on non-PRO models. It sometimes changes a bit the shape of the face, like if the lens was too close to the subject, but it isn't.
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That's the limitation of the built in lenses. Typically for portrait shoots, you want a long lense since it doesn't distort the features like a wide angle does. Being able to blur the background to get the subject to stand out is a plus.

Anyhow, I liked how they compensated for the short comings of the built in camera while taking advantage of the its strengths. I hate cropping a photo in post production and with a DSLR I don't have too. Props to the photographers, they've got skills.👍 I could never use a phone camera as a serious tool, it would be like me trying to rebuild an engine through the tailpipe.
 
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MrENGLISH said:
I have upgraded my iPhone almost every year mostly because I wanted to have the latest camera features so that I could take great photos with it.

This year I finally caved and bought myself a Sony a6600 camera with a Sigma 16mm f1.4 lens and now I’m hooked on using this over my iPhone for photos.

This may be the first time since the XS that I skip an iPhone upgrade and keep my iPhone 12 Pro Max until it’s truly obsolete. I’d just rather spend that money on lenses for my a6600.
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For sure that will be a different experience. Good luck!

My trajectory as a photographer turned out being the opposite. I love being able to make photos when I'm not geared-up out to make photos, and instead just being out and about waiting to stumble into a bit of serendipity.


At the museum.jpg
 
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citysnaps said:
My trajectory as a photographer turned out being the opposite. I love being able to make photos when I'm not geared-up out to make photos, and instead just being out and about waiting to stumble into a bit of serendipity.
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But you keep forgetting to bring enough color film for your iPhone! 😂

(Seriously, though, lovely photo.)
 
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Does this mean that the W M has already been completely erased from public space?
 
TheYayAreaLiving said:
Wow! The video is very helpful. It explains it very well.
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Agreed.

From my racial background I find this VERY interesting on a few fronts …

The courage of the featured model having vitiligo and the photographer having the courage to show these features and uniqueness of contrast.
This also shows incredible camera and processing prowess of the iPhone to not only show the correct shades, and true to colour tone and contrast but the fine accuracy. When you see a person with this on their skin IN person - you’ll understand what I mean.
Great detail of a particular photographer, their inspiration, insight and HOW important it is to make the person feel comfortable, have direction for the person without being douche (as we’ve seen in movies of super models over the decades - see movie Anna for example).

I’ll have to watch more of Apple’s creative instructional guides. I think many iPhone users may not use their camera’s to their full potential. Amazing that iPhone’s first 3 models had junk camera’s and then after the iPhone 4 it’s pretty much been at the TOP of all comparisons in terms of quality photos and videos year after year - despite not having the latest and greatest cutting edge hardware of camera tech (100x zoom, variable periscope camera, periscope camera).

Cannot wait to in-store Apple training events open up again globally.


For reference …
 
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msackey said:
What? You're a little late to the game. With a paired Apple Watch that is unlocked, you can unlock FaceID while wearing mask. That has been a feature for a number of months now.
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There is a fault with Watch+MaskDetection+FaceID unlock …. Pull your mask below your nose and it will not work - it confuses Apple’s FaceID mask unlock algo.
 
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MrENGLISH said:
I have upgraded my iPhone almost every year mostly because I wanted to have the latest camera features so that I could take great photos with it.

This year I finally caved and bought myself a Sony a6600 camera with a Sigma 16mm f1.4 lens and now I’m hooked on using this over my iPhone for photos.

This may be the first time since the XS that I skip an iPhone upgrade and keep my iPhone 12 Pro Max until it’s truly obsolete. I’d just rather spend that money on lenses for my a6600.
Click to expand...
I totally agree that most pro-super cameras w/ the appropriate lens(es) can out perform any phone camera.
 
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citysnaps said:
For sure that will be a different experience. Good luck!

My trajectory as a photographer turned out being the opposite. I love being able to make photos when I'm not geared-up out to make photos, and instead just being out and about waiting to stumble into a bit of serendipity.


View attachment 1821053
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As Ive said, a dedicated camera, with the proper equipment can easily out perform any iPhone That said, The best camera for any situation is the one you have with you. I good eye also helps. Great pic.
 
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cmcbhi said:
As Ive said, a dedicated camera, with the proper equipment can easily out perform any iPhone That said, The best camera for any situation is the one you have with you. I good eye also helps. Great pic.
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Thanks.

A good eye is essential. Being merely a camera operator rarely results in expressive photographs.

And an expressive photograph, one that has the power to stir a viewer's imagination ultimately releasing and conjuring narratives, is rarely is about the camera used. Rather, it has a lot to do with the photographer. And his/her life experiences, awareness, observation, curiosity, imagination, find/assessing nice light, composing elements within the frame, ability to hide/withhold information to provoke mystery in the viewer's mind, and on and on.



11225160_10206032732992120_8134596159479837882_n.jpg
 
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