Understanding Portrait mode: How to achieve beautifully blurred backgrounds in your photos

For those immersed in the iOS ecosystem, Portrait mode on iPhones is a standout feature. It's the go-to for capturing stunning portrait shots with blurred backgrounds, earning high praise from iPhone users everywhere. Let's delve into its standout features and the simplest ways to harness this portrait-enhancing mode, brought to you by Mytour.

What is Portrait mode?

Portrait mode is the signature portrait photography feature integrated into iOS devices. Starting from iPhone 7 Plus onwards, all camera setups boast precise focusing capabilities and processing through dual lenses. When activated, this mode automatically measures the distance to the subject, generating a multi-point depth map to blur both foreground and background elements, creating the coveted bokeh effect. Resulting images rival those captured by DSLR cameras.

Key Highlights of Portrait mode 

Currently, Portrait mode is available on various iPhone models, offering many conveniences for users in capturing and editing photos. Let's explore some standout features that define the brand identity of this mode:

Taking Photos in Portrait Mode

Taking photos in portrait mode is the most basic and typical feature of Portrait mode. The camera app informs users of the subject's positioning relative to the camera lenses for adjusting direction and distance accordingly. 

You can also use the flash in low-light conditions and apply additional available color correction filters. Newer iPhone models nowadays offer more options for portrait photography features.

Adding Light when Taking Portraits

Apple's phones like the 8 Plus and models from iPhone X and above can utilize this feature. Adding light when taking portraits will produce images of studio-quality. You can choose from 5 effect options as follows:  

• Studio Light: Brightens dark spots on the face. 
• Contour Light: Provides impressively directed light.
• Stage Light: This type of light is used to illuminate subjects like stage spotlights. 
• Stage Light Mono: Designed for stage lighting with classic black and white.
• High-Key Light Mono: Suited for subjects with grayscale on a white background.

You can capture photos in portrait mode and customize the lighting effects as desired. Simply swipe right on the screen and tap on the names of the effects at the bottom of the screen. 

Taking Selfies

Similar to taking photos with the front-facing camera in regular mode, you can use the selfie feature in portrait mode. To do this, switch to portrait mode and select front camera mode. The device will then automatically adjust and detect faces. Additionally, you can choose portrait lighting for selfies. 

Adjusting Depth & Lighting

After taking photos with Portrait mode, you can easily adjust depth, blur, lighting, etc. This is an incredibly convenient feature that helps users create the best possible images. Simply tap on the edit option, where numerous editing tools will be displayed for you to adjust the image, then swipe left or right to choose effects. 

Guide to Using Portrait Mode for Sharp Photos

On every new iPhone model, Apple adds more features to Portrait mode. Therefore, using this mode varies across iPhone models. For iPhones from 7 upwards (excluding iPhone 8), simply access the camera app and swipe to the Portrait mode. To capture the sharpest images, consider the following:

• Ensure well-lit surroundings. 
• Limit the number of subjects to a maximum of 3 at once.
• When capturing more than 3 subjects, tap on each face to ensure sharpness, especially in background blur.
• Avoid overly colorful environments as they may cause facial blurring and loss of contrast.

From iPhone 8 Plus onwards, Apple introduced a new feature called Portrait Lighting. This feature allows you to achieve studio-quality lighting in your photos.

Slide the circular slider to select effects like Studio Light, Natural Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, and Stage Light Mono. Each mode offers different color tones and effects on your photos. 

Furthermore, you can use Portrait mode with the front camera on newer iPhone models for easier focusing and angle adjustments. iPhones upgraded with this feature include iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone XS, and iPhone 13.  

What is Portrait mode? Learn how to use Portrait mode to capture sharp photos effortlessly. The portrait mode captures stunning photos with blurred backgrounds, a feature beloved by many iPhone users. This feature is even being researched and implemented by other phone manufacturers on their product lines. If you want to know more about how this feature will evolve, Mytour will continue to monitor and provide you with the latest information.