I asked a pro photographer for the best iPhone camera settings — my pics are now better than yours

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I asked a pro photographer for the best iPhone camera settings — my pics are now better than yours

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Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I thought I had the best iPhone camera settings simply because I have the i

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— the latest and greatest smartphone offering from Apple.

However, I was humbled quickly when I saw Mashable’s professional photographer, Joe Maldonado, ********* out in the field with a highly tuned

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. Although we were taking the same photos, and despite using the best handset out of Cupertino, Maldonado’s photos turned out more crisp, sharper, and more vibrant than mine.

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Woman using the iPhone 16 Pro Max inside the park

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

At first, I thought a ****** lens was the problem. But even after carefully cleaning the sensors with a microfiber cloth, Maldonado’s photos were still far superior to mine.

Finally, I asked, “Wait, how does your iPhone 14 Pro take better pictures than my iPhone 16 Pro Max?”

“It’s all about the settings,” Maldonado said.

Best iPhone camera settings, according to an expert

So how do you get the crème de la crème of photo quality out of your iPhone? Follow these steps — and thank Maldonado later.

Total Time

What You Need

Step 1: Go to ‘Settings’

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Settings app on iPhone

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Step 2: Tap on ‘Camera’

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Blue arrow pointing at Camera option on iPhone

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Step 3: Tap on ‘Formats’

Here, make sure “High Efficiency” under Camera Capture is ticked as well as “24 MP” under Photo Mode. Plus, make sure “ProRAW & Resolution Control” is toggled on.

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Blue arrow pointing art Formats option

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Step 4: Tap on ‘Pro Default’

Ensure there’s a checkmark next to “ProRAW Max (Up to 48MP)” as well as JPEG-XL Lossy (the latter is only available for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max).

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Pro Default menu on the iPhone 16 Pro

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Step 5: Go back to ‘Camera’ menu and tap on ‘Preserve Settings’

Make sure the following are toggled on: Camera Mode, Creative Controls, Macro Control, Exposure Adjustment, Night Mode, Portrait Zoom, ProRaw & Resolution Control, Live Photo. Like the menu name suggests, this ensures that your current settings are preserved every time you open the Camera app.

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Preserve Settings menu on iPhone 16 Pro Max

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Step 6: Return to ‘Camera’ menu

Enable ‘Grid’ and make sure ‘Level’ is toggled on. According to Maldonado, these settings help him line up his shots. Plus, ensure that ‘Portraits in Photo Mode,’ ‘Prioritize Faster *********,’ ‘Lens Correction,’ and ‘Macro Control’ are enabled.

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Camera menu on the iPhone 16 Pro Max

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

And that’s it as far as the Settings app is concerned.

While you’re actually in the Camera app, Maldonado suggests that users toggle “Raw MAX” on.

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Blue arrow pointing to Raw Max icon

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Plus, while *********, make sure you’re hitting “1x” (the main sensor known as the wide camera) to get the best-quality photos.

Now, go out there with your newly tweaked iPhone and let us know in the comments if you notice a difference.

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iPhone 16 Pro Max

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$1,199.00 at Apple.com

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#asked #pro #photographer #iPhone #camera #settings #pics

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