Before (and after) taking a portrait, change the backdrop bokeh blur to experiment with various lighting effects.

What does iPhone Portrait mode do?

Photographers with DSLR or mirrorless cameras can take more beautiful portraits by choosing a wider aperture setting. The background blur, also known as bokeh, will be blurrier the larger the aperture is (such as f/1.4).

A wide aperture allows the eye to concentrate on the foreground subject of the shot by turning distracting background features, such as individuals in the backdrop of the photo or graffiti on a wall, into abstract forms and colours. The Aperture Priority option allows you to choose a larger aperture while remaining confident that the camera will utilize a faster shutter speed to prevent overexposing the picture.

The iPhone's Camera app often sets the aperture and shutter speed automatically in Photo Mode to make the foreground and background appear sharp. You may naturally create a background bokeh if you shoot in low light and with the subject close to the camera, but when using the iPhone Camera's default Photo Mode, you have no manual control over the aperture setting.

You can, however, add a characteristic DSLR-style background bokeh to your images for a more polished portrait if you swipe to the Camera app's Portrait Mode.

What iPhone models support portrait mode?

In 2016, the iPhone 7 Plus was the first device to use Portrait Mode (but not available on the basic iPhone 7). Since then, the feature has been present in every generation of the iPhone.

How does the Portrait Mode on an iPhone operate?

The Camera app uses a mask to separate the foreground topic from the background when in Portrait mode. Then, manually use the Depth slider to select a wider aperture, such as f3.5. The background is then blurred by the iPhone while the foreground subject is kept sharp.

While framing your subject for the shot, you can modify the Depth slider knowing that you can also change the blur strength using the editing features in the iOS or macOS Photos app after the photo has been taken.

What are the benefits of the iPhone Portrait mode?

You have more creative control over the background on an iPhone portrait than you would with the baked-in bokeh produced by a DSLR because Portrait mode employs software to replicate the blurring produced by a DSLR's aperture.

In the Apple Photos app, you can view photos taken in Portrait mode and utilize the Depth slider to change the blur level to meet your creative needs.

In contrast to built-in DSLR bokeh, you can modify the level of background blur in Portrait mode while the photo is being taken (or afterwards in the Apple Photos app's Adjust panel).

There is another advantage of the Portrait mode - you can create ambient lighting for your photos. Professional photographers can add contouring to a subject's face by using an external flash or LED light. The curves of a model's face can be emphasized by a light source coming from the side.

You may adjust the lighting presets in Portrait mode to create a variety of effects. Even better, you may entirely erase the background from the photo, apply high-key lighting, and simulate a white studio backdrop by using the mask that Portrait mode generates.

What are the drawbacks of the iPhone portrait mode?

Portrait mode has its limits because it fakes the bokeh effect. Only images with human faces can have background blur on older iPhone models (like the 7 Plus). Other subjects wouldn't be recognized by Portrait Mode or get a mask added. You can utilize Portrait mode on recent iPhones (starting with the iPhone 11) to change the background blur behind subjects or objects.

Sometimes the Portrait mode is unable to detect all backdrop details. Complex elements, such as gaps in the model's hair, could be overlooked whenever the mask is made, resulting in some background items remaining crisp while others blur.

Enhancing the bokeh on an iPhone in Portrait Mode

Step 1. Photo mode

There is a tiny background blur when taking the iPhone close to the model using the default The backdrop details are still rather crisp, though. You may manually select a bigger aperture on a DSLR to further blur the background. Swipe to Portrait mode in the iPhone Camera app to replicate this effect.

Step 2. Select Portrait mode

On the iPhone's display, if you swipe to Portrait mode, an aperture value will appear in the top left corner. In this instance, it is a small f/16, resulting in a background with disturbing bystanders that is just slightly blurred. A helpful Depth slider that lets you select a different aperture value and increase background blur is accessible by tapping on the aperture value.

Step 3. Adjust the aperture value

A Depth slider and an f (f-stop) icon replace the f/16 aperture value and value in the top left corner, accordingly. By swiping the slider, you can experiment with various background blur levels.

If the image appears too fuzzy, you can change the aperture value before taking the picture and make further adjustments in the Photos app. For a blurrier bokeh, you might want to select a wide aperture of f/2.2 for the instance.

Lighting effects in iPhone Portrait Mode

Step 1. Studio lighting

Close to the shutter button are box-shaped symbols that indicate that the camera is in Portrait mode. You can experiment with various lighting effects by swiping from the default Natural Light icon to other options. For example, Studio Light creates a soft glow and subtly illuminates the highlights on the subject's face, blending the skin tones for a more aesthetically pleasing complexion. The chosen light effect's intensity can also be changed in the Photos app.

Step 2. Contour light

The mid-tones and highlights of the subject's face are given extra contrast by the contour light. This “modelling” effect, which can be seen in the enhanced contrast around the highlights, mid-tones, and shadows of the subject, helps draw attention to the features of their face. You can modify the lighting effects later in the Photos app, just like you can with the bokeh blur in Portrait mode.

Step 3: Mono High-key

The lighting effect known as High-Key Light Mono is more striking. This isolates the subject entirely from the background (as if they had been photographed against a studio backdrop) using the mask that Portrait mode created. A beautiful monochrome portrait is the consequence of this. The Stage Mono lighting setting can be used to produce a black background in a film noir aesthetic.

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