Master macro shots in your iPhone photography

This guide is brought to you by Dan Mold – a Cambridgeshire-based, prize-winning photographer and author with over 13 years of photojournalism experience. Dan is also a former Adobe-certified Photoshop guru, so you know his tips are worth trusting when it comes to getting the most out of your images.

Close-up photography is a brilliant genre to get into, with many modern cameras and even smartphones having close-up, or “macro”, capabilities. The term “macro” comes from the Greek word for “large”, so macro photography refers to the ability to make small tiny details appear much larger in a photograph.

Macro photography means getting closer to your subject and focusing more closely than usual to render smaller subjects full-size on your phone’s screen. This opens up all sorts of practical applications – from capturing fine details of pets like their eyes and paws, to the intricate textures of plants and flowers, such as the veins of a leaf or the delicate surface of a flower’s stamen. By getting closer to your subject, you unlock a whole new world of photographic possibilities.

Using the Macro mode

When you get very close to your subject, your iPhone will automatically switch to Macro mode in the default Camera app. A yellow flower icon appears in the bottom-left corner of the screen in standard Photo mode, indicating that Macro mode is active and allowing for close focusing. You can tap this icon to disable Macro mode if needed.

Note that the flower icon appears only in Photo mode, not in Portrait or Pano modes. For video, Macro mode is available in standard Video mode, but not in Cinematic, Slo-Mo or Time-lapse. That said, it’s unlikely you’ll need macro for those modes.

On the iPhone I had to hand, with Macro mode turned off, I could focus as close as around 16cm. With it enabled, I could focus just a few centimetres away – enough to fill the frame with fine textures. It’s also worth noting that Macro mode doesn’t seem to work with the ultra-wide lens; it only functions at the standard 1x zoom and above.

External macro lenses

I’ve been very impressed with the built-in macro capabilities of my iPhone 14 Pro, and newer models are even better. However, if you have an older iPhone and find its close-focus abilities lacking, you can attach a clip-on macro lens. These adapters force the camera to focus more closely.

They work in a similar way to changing lenses on a DSLR or mirrorless camera. While you can’t physically swap out your iPhone’s lens, a budget-friendly clip-on adapter is a great way to add new functionality. Of course, placing extra glass in front of the lens may slightly degrade image quality, but it’s a compact and cost-effective alternative to carrying a large camera, and it’s a fun way to explore macro photography.

I recommend 3-in-1 clip-on lens kits, which often include macro, wide-angle, and fisheye options – offering great value. These simply attach to your iPhone’s main camera and enable much closer focusing. A top tip: always make sure both your iPhone lens and any clip-on adapters are clean and free from dust or fingerprints, as these can affect image quality.

Working with a limited zone of sharpness

When shooting extreme close-ups, you’ll find that depth of field becomes very shallow. In simple terms, your zone of sharp focus will be narrow, making it tricky to keep your entire subject sharp from front to back.

This can be a creative benefit if you want a softly blurred background, but it’s less ideal when you need edge-to-edge sharpness. In such cases, you might need to pull the camera back slightly or use a technique called focus stacking – taking several photos at different focus distances and blending the sharpest areas in post-production for a single, fully focused image.

Close focus on older and newer iPhones

For several generations now, Apple’s iPhones have offered impressive close-focus performance. For example, the iPhone 14 focuses at 1:2 (half life-size), while the iPhone 14 Pro Max reaches 1:1 (life-size). This trend continues in newer models – but even older iPhones can still deliver fantastic macro results.

What makes this remarkable is that it places the iPhone in the same league as professional macro lenses, which are designed to focus extremely close. While dedicated macro lenses still have superior optics, it’s impressive that this capability is built into a smartphone – no extra accessories required.

How to avoid blurry photos

When focusing closely, your images become more prone to camera shake. The closer you are, the more noticeable even tiny movements become. To reduce blur, you’ll need to keep your iPhone very steady – either by holding it carefully or by using a mini tripod or beanbag for support.

Many iPhone models, even older ones, feature image stabilisation – either optically through the lens, via sensor-based IBIS (in-body image stabilisation), or through digital methods. The iPhone 14 and later models offer Enhanced Stabilisation, which combines sensor-shift with digital processing. While digital stabilisation is more useful for video, it can be enabled or disabled in the Camera app settings.

Another way to minimise camera shake is to use a faster shutter speed. However, as the native Camera app doesn’t allow manual control of shutter speed, you’ll need a third-party app such as ProCamera, Camera+ 2 or Halide. Also, ensure your subject is well-lit – brighter conditions naturally encourage the camera to select a faster shutter speed.

Tips and tricks

Macro photography can be more challenging than other styles due to the increased risk of shake and the shallow focus. After taking a shot, don’t just pocket your iPhone – pinch to zoom in the Gallery app and check that the focal point is sharp. If not, try again until you’re satisfied.

Avoid shooting in poor lighting. Good macro photos require adequate, even lighting. Outdoors, this can simply mean waiting for a bright day. If the light is too harsh, you can diffuse it using a “scrim” – a translucent material placed between the sun and your subject. Alternatively, consider adding your own light source. Small LED lights – some with bendable arms – let you position the light exactly where it’s needed. Ring lights, which surround the camera lens, are often favoured in macro photography because they produce soft, even illumination with minimal shadows.