![[New] How to Take Long Exposure Shots with iPhone](https://thmb.techidaily.com/749e7224dc77351db9654f3d5b625401a4538e3e09d897a36274e3de6aadbd39.jpg)
[New] How to Take Long Exposure Shots with iPhone
![](/images/site-logo.png)
How to Take Long Exposure Shots with iPhone
How to Take Long Exposure Shots with iPhone in iOS 11 or previous
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Long exposure photography is a wonderful way to add the professional touch to your images. Using a much slower shutter speed, photographs are taken over a longer time period, creating effects that are nothing short of enchanting.
Previously the preserve of those who could afford to invest in a top of the range SLR, this type of photography is now within reach of many more of us, thanks to improvement in iPhone camera’s technology. Want to know how? Read on.
How to Take Long Exposure Shots on iPhone
When you take long exposure shots using a digital SLR, the physical shutter which captures the image stays open for longer. You can also fiddle with the aperture size, to make it easier to capture these images in different light levels. This process is meticulously replicated by the iPhone’s newest Photos app, so if you’re already on iOS 11, here’s how to use it:
Users on iOS 11
First of all, make sure Live Photos is switched on. Within the camera app, simply tap the circular button in the middle of the top menu bar to turn it on. Once activated, the button will turn yellow and the ‘live’ notification will be shown on screen.
Image resource: imore
Next, take a live photo. This is a moving image, a bit like recording with your video camera, but much shorter. Try to keep the iPhone steady as you take your shot, and choose to shoot something that is continually moving, but with a relatively stable background. Something like cars going down a street is a great place to start.
Image resource: iPhoneMod
Now bring up your live photo within the Photos app and bring up the effects selector. You can see this either by tapping ‘details’ or by simply swiping up whilst viewing the photo. There are lots of effects you can apply to your live photo, but the one we’re looking for here is ‘long exposure’. Simply tap this and your clever iPhone will make all the adjustments necessary to produce an awesome pro-looking photograph using long exposure.
Not a user of iOS 11?
If you don’t have iOS 11 yet (or can’t get it for your model), there is a way around this. Some developers have produced apps which mimic the extended shutter speed of Live Photos. This is achieved by combining multiple exposures of the same photograph, and then stitching them together with an overlain effect to create a simulated long exposure image.
There are a number of these apps available on the app store, each with its own set of pros and cons. Take a look at Slow Shutter Cam , Ultra Slow Shutter Cam PRO , Slow Shutter Insta and LongExpo to discover some of the most popular apps of this type. Try them out, and see what works best for you.
You may also like: iPhone Night Photography Tips: Take Night Photos with iPhone >>
Long Exposure Photography Tips
Getting amazing long exposure shots has been made as simple as possible, thanks to the geniuses at Apple, but you’re still going to need to plan for these shots carefully if you want to make them incredible. Here are some top tips for shooting better long exposure photos on iPhone:
- Use a tripod: A simple tripod will avoid the inevitable shake, which can really spoil a good shot. Basic models don’t break the bank, and will step your shots up a level with ease.
- Get a good phone attachment: The last thing you want is for your iPhone to hit the deck while you’re trying to attach it to the tripod, so choose an attachment system that is secure and easy to use.
- Use your ear buds: Using your white Apple earbuds with ‘volume shutter’ turned on allows you to activate the shutter without touching the phone. This further reduces the risk of a wobble and subsequently ruined shot.
- Photograph moving objects: Your Live Photo will translate better into a long exposure shot if you have something obviously moving in the image. Having a moving object against stationery surrounds works really well.
This feature is one of the most exciting and interesting uses of Live Photos to date, and is well worth checking out if you haven’t done so already.
What should you capture with your long exposure iPhone shots?
Long exposure shots are magical, giving a dreamy, almost ethereal quality to everyday situations. No doubt you’ll find your own amazing things to shoot, but to get you started, why not try a long exposure iPhone shot of:
- Flowing water: Live near a river or, even better, by the ocean? Perfect, because moving water can become truly enchanting when shot on long exposure. Play around with the time of day, light available and exposure length to capture some really gorgeous scenes.
Image resource: Photography Mad
- Light trails: Light is everywhere, and if you take your iPhone camera long exposure trick out of the house at night, you’ll find some amazing opportunities to shoot. Cars on the highway, Ferris wheels at the fair and even the stars in the sky can become something amazing with a longer exposure.
Image resource: WallDevil
- Motion blur: To give the sense of something really moving fast, a motion blur can be a captivating effect. From vehicles on the city street to a galloping horse, allowing the moving object to blur whilst everything else around it stays in focus can add a dose of drama to your shots.
Image resource: Digital Photo Secrets
- Low light photography: With a longer exposure, things which were previously un-snappable are suddenly within your grasp. Beautiful fountains at night, bridges, buildings… anything which would previously have been little more than a shadow can now become part of your collection, simply by extending the exposure length.
Image resource: Nikonites
Play around, try different things and get to know how variations in settings can change the outcome of your shots. Tinkering with exposure length is great fun, and will almost certainly result in some totally Facebook-worthy additions to your gallery.
To conclude
Using a digital SLR is looking less and less appealing these days, as Apple push the boundaries of what a phone can do ever further. If you’re not using a device that supports Live Photos, try a workaround using a specifically developed app so that you can join in the fun too.
With the iPhone camera long exposure shots could really up your game on social media. Whether you’re a budding travel photographer, a wannabe stock photo entrepreneur or simply an Instagram lover who wants to impress their friends, have a play with the technology available to you and see what you can create. Long exposure shots are massively popular right now, so grab your iPhone and get snapping!
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Long exposure photography is a wonderful way to add the professional touch to your images. Using a much slower shutter speed, photographs are taken over a longer time period, creating effects that are nothing short of enchanting.
Previously the preserve of those who could afford to invest in a top of the range SLR, this type of photography is now within reach of many more of us, thanks to improvement in iPhone camera’s technology. Want to know how? Read on.
How to Take Long Exposure Shots on iPhone
When you take long exposure shots using a digital SLR, the physical shutter which captures the image stays open for longer. You can also fiddle with the aperture size, to make it easier to capture these images in different light levels. This process is meticulously replicated by the iPhone’s newest Photos app, so if you’re already on iOS 11, here’s how to use it:
Users on iOS 11
First of all, make sure Live Photos is switched on. Within the camera app, simply tap the circular button in the middle of the top menu bar to turn it on. Once activated, the button will turn yellow and the ‘live’ notification will be shown on screen.
Image resource: imore
Next, take a live photo. This is a moving image, a bit like recording with your video camera, but much shorter. Try to keep the iPhone steady as you take your shot, and choose to shoot something that is continually moving, but with a relatively stable background. Something like cars going down a street is a great place to start.
Image resource: iPhoneMod
Now bring up your live photo within the Photos app and bring up the effects selector. You can see this either by tapping ‘details’ or by simply swiping up whilst viewing the photo. There are lots of effects you can apply to your live photo, but the one we’re looking for here is ‘long exposure’. Simply tap this and your clever iPhone will make all the adjustments necessary to produce an awesome pro-looking photograph using long exposure.
Not a user of iOS 11?
If you don’t have iOS 11 yet (or can’t get it for your model), there is a way around this. Some developers have produced apps which mimic the extended shutter speed of Live Photos. This is achieved by combining multiple exposures of the same photograph, and then stitching them together with an overlain effect to create a simulated long exposure image.
There are a number of these apps available on the app store, each with its own set of pros and cons. Take a look at Slow Shutter Cam , Ultra Slow Shutter Cam PRO , Slow Shutter Insta and LongExpo to discover some of the most popular apps of this type. Try them out, and see what works best for you.
You may also like: iPhone Night Photography Tips: Take Night Photos with iPhone >>
Long Exposure Photography Tips
Getting amazing long exposure shots has been made as simple as possible, thanks to the geniuses at Apple, but you’re still going to need to plan for these shots carefully if you want to make them incredible. Here are some top tips for shooting better long exposure photos on iPhone:
- Use a tripod: A simple tripod will avoid the inevitable shake, which can really spoil a good shot. Basic models don’t break the bank, and will step your shots up a level with ease.
- Get a good phone attachment: The last thing you want is for your iPhone to hit the deck while you’re trying to attach it to the tripod, so choose an attachment system that is secure and easy to use.
- Use your ear buds: Using your white Apple earbuds with ‘volume shutter’ turned on allows you to activate the shutter without touching the phone. This further reduces the risk of a wobble and subsequently ruined shot.
- Photograph moving objects: Your Live Photo will translate better into a long exposure shot if you have something obviously moving in the image. Having a moving object against stationery surrounds works really well.
This feature is one of the most exciting and interesting uses of Live Photos to date, and is well worth checking out if you haven’t done so already.
What should you capture with your long exposure iPhone shots?
Long exposure shots are magical, giving a dreamy, almost ethereal quality to everyday situations. No doubt you’ll find your own amazing things to shoot, but to get you started, why not try a long exposure iPhone shot of:
- Flowing water: Live near a river or, even better, by the ocean? Perfect, because moving water can become truly enchanting when shot on long exposure. Play around with the time of day, light available and exposure length to capture some really gorgeous scenes.
Image resource: Photography Mad
- Light trails: Light is everywhere, and if you take your iPhone camera long exposure trick out of the house at night, you’ll find some amazing opportunities to shoot. Cars on the highway, Ferris wheels at the fair and even the stars in the sky can become something amazing with a longer exposure.
Image resource: WallDevil
- Motion blur: To give the sense of something really moving fast, a motion blur can be a captivating effect. From vehicles on the city street to a galloping horse, allowing the moving object to blur whilst everything else around it stays in focus can add a dose of drama to your shots.
Image resource: Digital Photo Secrets
- Low light photography: With a longer exposure, things which were previously un-snappable are suddenly within your grasp. Beautiful fountains at night, bridges, buildings… anything which would previously have been little more than a shadow can now become part of your collection, simply by extending the exposure length.
Image resource: Nikonites
Play around, try different things and get to know how variations in settings can change the outcome of your shots. Tinkering with exposure length is great fun, and will almost certainly result in some totally Facebook-worthy additions to your gallery.
To conclude
Using a digital SLR is looking less and less appealing these days, as Apple push the boundaries of what a phone can do ever further. If you’re not using a device that supports Live Photos, try a workaround using a specifically developed app so that you can join in the fun too.
With the iPhone camera long exposure shots could really up your game on social media. Whether you’re a budding travel photographer, a wannabe stock photo entrepreneur or simply an Instagram lover who wants to impress their friends, have a play with the technology available to you and see what you can create. Long exposure shots are massively popular right now, so grab your iPhone and get snapping!
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Also read:
- 2024 Approved The Essential E-Steps Your Pathway From Preparation to Production in a Reviews Channel
- The Edge Enhancements in Windows 10 Release for 2024
- [New] The Easy Way to Modify iPhone Photo Dimensions
- In 2024, The Ultimate Guide to Legally Sharing Tunes on Instagram
- In 2024, The Photographer's Roadmap to Stunning HDR Portraits
- [New] Swift Signature BG Cleansing Secrets Revealed
- [New] The Frame Fixer Query Solutions
- The Art of Eliminating Backgrounds in Photography for 2024
- Thorough Investigation Into Simple HDR Imaging for 2024
- 2024 Approved Unleash the Power of Online Livestreams with Us Today
- 2024 Approved Unraveling Tales The Top Storytelling Channels on YT This Year
- 2024 Approved Top 8 Premium & Gratis Mobile Video Mosaic Tools for Android
- Strategizing the Open Door to Market Success for 2024
- 2024 Approved Syncopate Screen A Beginner's Guide to Mobile Video Making
- [Updated] Ultimate Black Battery Compatibility with GoPro Hero5
- [New] Ultra-Quick Photo Inspector App
- 2024 Approved Ultimate Guide to the LG BP350 Visual Experience
- [Updated] OBS & Zoom Synchronization Techniques for 2024
- Audiovisual Experts' Choices The Ultimate Video Editing Gear
- New In 2024, Top 10 Free and Best Text-to-Speech Generators
- [New] Secure, Quick, & Free Screen Captures on Windows 8
- In 2024, Navigating the Process of Enlisting Videos on YouTube Shelves
- [New] 2024 Approved The Art of Visual Anonymity in Videos
- [New] 2024 Approved Crafting Captivating IGTV Cover Images (Thumbnails)
- How to Change GPS Location on Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G Easily & Safely | Dr.fone
- [Updated] Harmonic Havens Expert Picks of Ringtone Download Sites
- 2024 Approved Sustaining a Dynamic Facebook Experience
- In 2024, Premier Free Android Recording Apps (No Ads)
- Title: [New] How to Take Long Exposure Shots with iPhone
- Author: Mark
- Created at : 2024-06-04 16:14:40
- Updated at : 2024-06-05 16:14:40
- Link: https://some-guidance.techidaily.com/new-how-to-take-long-exposure-shots-with-iphone/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.