The end of the year is a fun time to take holiday photos. But sometimes capturing all the "moments" can be a challenge. To better capture holiday moments, I attended an Apple hosted event to learn about the advanced cameras of the iPhone 13 smartphones.

Note: I was invited as media to the event. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

During the event we visited different stations for holiday related activities including decorating cookies with Akim Vann, crafting ornaments with Caroline Kaufman, and customizing holiday cards with Josh Cochran.

While the kids took part in the activites, the adults learned how to use the iPhone 13 camera and video setting, including Photographic Styles to help personalize the look and feel of photos, capturing detailed close-ups with macro photography, taking videos with the Cinematic mode, and more!

I was able to quickly learn the settings and how best to use them when taking photos and videos. With a few simple adjustments, I was able to get clear photos with amazing effects.

While I had the iPhone 13 Pro for the event, and primaily use that for my photos and videos, most of the tips and features can be used on all iPhone 13 models.

iPhone Tips to Capture Holiday Moments

Cinematic mode (available on all iPhone 13 models)

With Cinematic mode, anyone can capture cinema-style moments in video. It allows you to switch your focus among subjects, while creating a depth of field effect for a new dimension in video, giving the user the ability to even choose the extent of the background blur before, and even after capture (which is only possible with iPhone).

• Cinematic mode will automatically rack focus to the most prominent subject in the video.
• For full control, tap to move the focus point while recording, and double tap to track a subject.
• Choose the level of background blur, before or after you shoot by tapping the f in the upper lefthand corner.
• Cinematic mode works on the Wide and Telephoto cameras on the rear, and the TrueDepth camera on the front.
• Note: Cinematic mode records in 1080p resolution at 30fps.
• The depth of field effect, including the level of bokeh and where the focus is applied, can also be edited after capture.
• Note: Cinematic mode can be edited in Photos, iMovie, and Clips for iOS, and on Mac with Photos, iMovie and Final Cut with macOS Monterey.

Portrait mode (available on all iPhone 13 models)

Portrait mode is perfect for capturing family and friends this holiday season, while creating a beautiful background blur effect with decorations like pine trees and string lights. You can adjust the bokeh or blur effect by tapping the f in the upper lefthand corner, either as you’re setting up the shot or in post.

• On iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, Portrait mode is available on the Wide and front cameras.
• With iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, Portrait mode can be used with the front, Telephoto and Wide cameras.

Macro photography (available on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max)

Macro photography and video, powered by the new Ultra Wide camera, comes for the first time natively to iPhone, letting you get even closer to subjects with incredible detail, as close as 2cm. Macro offers a stunning option for capturing the fine details and textures of holiday decorations and treats.

• Place the primary point of focus near the center of the frame, as that’s where the sharpest focus is when shooting in macro.
• Although enabled by the Ultra Wide (.5x) camera, try shooting at 1x for tighter framing—iPhone will automatically switch cameras as you get close while maintaining the 1x framing.
• Macro focus works in video, including time-lapse and slo-mo.
• Note: when shooting slo-mo at 240fps, focus locks when you start recording so ensure iPhone 13 Pro is in position before hitting record.
• Tap to focus works for macro photos and videos to set a specific focus point.
• Note: tapping to focus in video before recording will lock focus once recording begins.
• When shooting in macro, ensure your hand or iPhone don’t block your lighting source.
  

Let Memories in the Photos app do the work

Memories introduces a new interactive experience with a new look and combines Apple Music tracks to personalize your memory with.

For a quick and easy way to rediscover special moments with your loved ones, use the Memories feature in the Photos app on iPhone, iPad or Mac to automatically transform a collection of photos and videos of your library into a mini movie.

Using machine learning, the Memories feature will recognize significant people, places, or events in your library, then presents them in curated collections, edited for you and set to music.

To personalize your memory, tap to bring up controls, then tap the mixes button and swipe to quickly audition different pairings of song suggestions and a cinematic film look to add a mood that elevates each memory.

About iPhone 13 Line

A Guided Tour of iPhone 13 & iPhone 13 Pro | Apple



Earlier this year, Apple introduced iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max which are equipped with the most advanced camera systems ever on iPhone, perfectly versatile for capturing all of your special moments.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini boast an advanced dual-camera system with a new Wide camera with bigger pixels and sensor-shift optical image stabilization, offering major improvements in low light photos and videos.

iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max bring new camera lenses and sensors for all three rear cameras —Telephoto - 77mm (3x), Wide - 26mm (1x) and Ultra Wide - 13mm (0.5x) — offering massive improvements and new capabilities to photo and video.

iPhone's ease of use, unobtrusive form factor and universal familiarity allows the technology to melt away, creating a connection between the subjects and those behind the lens.

Learn more, visit - www.apple.com/iphone