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How to Make the Most of Your iPhone's Photo Editing App for Better Photos
There are many sophisticated photo editing apps to take your iPhone photos to the next level. But the Photos app on your phone has a pretty nifty set of editing tools that can elevate your shots. Here's how to make the most of it.
Adjust the Exposure
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your photos might not look very balanced in terms of lighting. For instance, if the sunlight is too harsh, you can end up with overexposed photos that appear washed out. On the flip side, if you shoot in a low-light environment, your image might be underexposed with too many deep shadows.
The good news is that in either case, you can correct the lighting to some extent using the Exposure tool in the Photos app. The key here is subtlety. So, to play it safe, I recommend making small adjustments and not overdoing it.
Remember that increasing the exposure too much can flatten important details, while reducing the exposure excessively might make the photo look dull. Do your best to tweak the exposure just enough to introduce more balance in the lights and darks.
To change the exposure, select the image you want to edit and tap the Edit button in the top-right corner of the screen. Check that you're on the Adjust tab and scroll till you see the Exposure tool.
Crop and Straighten the Image
Ideally, you should crop as little as possible to maintain the quality of the photo. But, of course, this isnt always an option. Whether you want to remove unwanted distractions or improve the composition, cropping can be a useful tool, but be sure to learn how best you can crop a photo so you don't make it look worse.
Straightening is another way to improve a photos overall look, especially if the alignment and angles seem a little distorted. To correct either the alignment of the photo or crop unwanted details, tap the Edit button and select Crop.
You can manually drag the edges around the photo to crop the image. Alternatively, you can tap the Crop button a second time to view the preset aspect ratios. Tapping the Crop button once will also let you use the Straighten tool to correct the angles.
You want to aim for minimal and natural-looking adjustments here to maintain the quality and appeal of the photo.
Adjust the Contrast
While the Exposure tool can correct the overall brightness of the photo, using the Contrast tool is key to making minute details in the photo really come to life. This tool essentially introduces a distinction between the dark and light areas to achieve this output.
While the right amount of contrast can make the photo more vivid and appealing, you'll want to be careful. Too much contrast can make the image look harsh, and too little can make the details look flat and pale. Below, you can see what a difference contrast makes to an image.
To use this feature, tap the Edit button, check that you're on the Adjust tab, and scroll till you see the Contrast tool. Move the slider right and left to decrease or increase the contrast.
Experiment With Filters, but Don't Overdo It
Whether you're going for a cool black-and-white effect or a more vintage look, the right filter can help you achieve it. Like any other editing tool, though, while filters can add a dramatic twist to your photo, applying the wrong filter or using it too heavily can make the image look over-processed.
That said, there are plenty of iPhone camera filters that are worth experimenting with. You can also create custom photo filters if you don't find any that work.
Open the image to which you want to apply the filter, select Edit, and tap Filters. You can then use different filters and adjust the intensity.
Fix the Shadows
If you feel like your photo has too many dark areas that you'd like to illuminate without taking away from the more highlighted parts of the image, you could try adjusting the shadows. Personally, I prefer this to the Exposure tool, which brightens or darkens the entire photo.
To fix the shadows and darker areas of your image, select the Edit button, check that you're on the Adjust tab, and scroll till you reach the Shadows tool. You can then move the slider forward or backward to see what works best for your photo.
Alternatively, you can also use this tool to introduce more depth by darkening the shadows. You can see how different the image below looks by changing the Shadows slider.
Adjust the Sharpness or Use Noise Reduction
If you feel like your image is lacking definition, or like theres too much noise (which is more likely to happen for images shot in low-light conditions), you can adjust the sharpness or reduce the noise.
Increasing the sharpness will make the details pop and give it a more crisp and defined look. On the other hand, if the image is too grainy, use the Noise Reduction tool to smooth the details out.
You'll find both the Sharpness and Noise Reduction tools within the Adjust tab after hitting Edit. Just move the sliders around till you're satisfied with the balance in the image.
Use the Vignette Tool to Add Focus
This is another one of my preferred editing tools, given how easily it can add more focus to a subject. But Ill admit its one of the most overused photo effects that can really make a photo look amateurish with a tunnel-like appearance that takes away from the natural vibe of the photo; so don't go too heavy with it.
If you want to draw the viewers attention more to the subject, counter any distracting details on the edges of the image, or add a slightly vintage feel to the image, the vignette effect is a great option to try. To test it out, you'll need to hit Edit and Adjust and then navigate right to the end of the options until you see Vignette.
While these adjustments can significantly improve the overall appeal of your photos, the easiest way to end up with good photos that only require minimal corrections is to master your iPhones camera settings. Combining good photography techniques with the editing features present within your Photos app will help you achieve professional-quality images that still look natural.
