How to Take Pictures with iPhone Camera App (iOS 17)

* This article is from our Tip of the Day newsletter. . *

While some people consider their iPhone a camera first and a communication device second, not everyone has embraced iPhone photography. If that's you and you want to get started using your iPhone Camera app, you've come to the right place. Capture a sunset or snap a selfie using your iPhone as a point-and-shoot camera. Once you start, you won't be able to stop.

Why You'll Love This Tip:

  • Take simple photos.
  • Capture moments with your iPhone. 
  • Use the selfie camera to take great pictures of yourself.

How to Take a Picture on Your iPhone

Before taking a picture with your iPhone Camera app, be sure that nothing is blocking your lenses. Wipe away smudges and tuck your finger out of the shot. To learn more about taking pictures with an iPhone, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter. You might also want to check out our guide to HDR to learn more about the kind of pictures you're taking.

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  1. Open the Camera app.

    Open the Camera App on your iPhone.
  2. Aim your phone at the subject you want to photograph. Make sure that everything you want to capture is visible within the four white corners on the screen.

    Aim your camera to position your subject within the four corners.
  3. Tap the round shutter button or click either of the volume buttons on the side of your phone. Hold your phone steady and stay still to avoid a blurry photo. 

    Tap the shutter icon to take a picture with my iPhone.

To take the best photos, make sure to shoot in well-lit places. However, the iPhone Camera app has nifty settings to help even when light conditions are not ideal

How to Take a Picture of Yourself with Your iPhone

If you want to take a picture of yourself with your iPhone, you'll want to use the front camera. The slang term for this is "taking a selfie."

  1. Open the Camera app.

    Open the Camera App on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the rotating arrow icon to switch the Camera app to the front-facing camera.

    Tap the circular arrows to switch to front-facing camera on iPhone.
     
  3. Now, you can see yourself while you pose. Tap the round shutter button or click one of the volume buttons on the side of your phone. Hold your phone steady and stay still to avoid a blurry photo. 

    Tap the shutter to take a selfie on your iPhone.

You can quickly check the latest photo you took in the bottom left. To learn how to take a good selfie, learn How to Zoom In & Out When Taking Selfies on an iPhone.

Have fun taking pictures with your iPhone! Next, try taking a picture or video on your iPhone using Siri!

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Author Details

Hallei Halter's picture

Author Details

Hallei Halter

Hallei is a 2018 graduate of Maharishi University of Management with a BFA in Creative & Professional Writing. She's currently working on a novel about people using witchcraft to clean their houses.