How to Take Great Long Exposure Photos on iPhone

Long exposure photography is a fun and creative way to capture the beauty of motion in your images. Adding some drama or interest to otherwise dull scenes is also great. You don’t need an expensive camera or a fancy lens to take long exposure photos. All you need is your iPhone, and this guide will show you how to use it for long exposure photography.

What is a Long Exposure Photo?

Long-exposure photographs are created by using a slow shutter speed. This allows more light to enter the camera sensor, which results in a brighter image. With a long exposure, moving objects become blurred while stationary ones remain sharp. This is because the camera sensor records them as they move during exposure.

How to Get Long Exposure on iPhone

There are two ways to get long exposure on iPhone. The first uses the built-in camera app, and the second uses a third-party app. We’ll cover both methods below.

Using Live Photo for long exposure

The Live Photo feature on iPhone lets you capture 1.5 seconds of video before and after the photo is taken. When viewing your Live Photos, you can tap anywhere on the picture to bring up a 3-second loop of the video clip. This lets you capture a moment in time and use it to create a long exposure effect.

To use Live Photo for long exposure, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Camera app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on the Live Photo icon at the top right corner of the screen. This will make sure that you’re taking a Live Photo.

Step 3: Take a photo as usual by tapping the shutter button. The photo will be saved in your Photos app after you snap it.

Step 4: Open your Photos app and select the photo you just took. Tap “Live” in the upper left corner of the screen, and choose the Long Exposure option. You’ll see that the photo has now been converted into a Long Exposure image.

Using a third-party app for long exposure

Live Photo can’t adjust exposure on its own, so if you want to change the shutter speed on iPhone, the easiest way is to use a third-party app. There are many options, including Slow Shutter Cam, NightCap Camera, Spectre Camera, and ProCamera.

Slow Shutter Cam is the most popular of the bunch and is straightforward to use.

1. Open up the Slow Shutter Cam app.
2. Tap the Gear icon in the lower-left corner of the screen to open the settings menu. Select Capture mode (Motion Blur, Light Trails, and Low Night) from the pop-up menu. Tap the slider to choose Shutter Speed and ISO, etc.
3. Tap the Aperture icon to take a photo. After taking a picture, in the preview screen, tap Save. If unsatisfied with the image, tap Clear to re-take the photo.

Tips for Taking a Long Exposure Photo on iPhone

There are a few things to keep in mind when taking long-exposure photos on iPhone:

• Use a tripod or another stable surface to keep your iPhone still during the long exposure. Tripods are a must if you want to take great long-exposure photos on your iPhone. Tripods also help prevent camera shake, making your photos look less blurry and professional.
• Use the self-timer. If you want to take photos without moving the camera, use the built-in timer on your phone.
• Use a remote shutter release. You can use a Bluetooth shutter remote to take photos without touching the device. Remote controls are inexpensive and can be found at most camera stores or online. If you have two iOS devices, use the remote shutter app to take pictures from one device while using the second as a remote.
• Use headphones as a camera shutter button. If you use an iPhone 6s, you can also use headphones as a shutter release.
• Use ND filters. A neutral density (ND) filter may be helpful if you shoot long daytime exposures. An ND filter reduces the amount of light coming into your camera so that you can take longer shots without overexposing them. You can buy an ND holder for your iPhone or hold it in front of the lens like a regular filter.

Ideas for Long Exposure Photography

There are many ways to take long exposure shots with an iPhone. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Go out at night and find something interesting to shoot, like a building lit up by neon lights. If you’re in a city, it can be pretty easy to find some pretty cool things to capture.

• Take pictures of people walking in a crowded area, such as on the sidewalk during rush hour. It will help you to get shots that are more dynamic and that show the energy of the city.

• Try shooting moving water, such as a waterfall or stream. You can get incredible water shots when it hits a rock or splashes up against the shore. The best way to do this is to put your camera on a tripod and set it up so it’s facing the direction of the water.

• Try taking pictures of fireworks with a slow shutter speed so that the sparks appear frozen in midair. This will give you an image that is both colorful and surreal.

• Try to capture a moving car or vehicle, such as on the highway or at an intersection. This is a great way to get pictures; you don’t have to worry about moving around. Just focus on getting the shot framed correctly and adjusting your exposure level.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, you have many options for shooting long exposures with your iPhone. So grab your iPhone and get out there! You might be surprised how much you can do with your iPhone camera. To learn more about Live Photos, read this guide on how to turn a Live Photo into a long exposure. Try these other iPhone photography tips for even more creative options!