The iPhone As A Serious Camera

I’m sure you can relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed by the rate of technological change that has occurred in photography over the past twenty years. As a full-time photographer, I’ve had to constantly adapt, but fortunately I like trying new things and exploring different ways of thinking and creating.

But it’s still been a massive challenge, both in terms of learning and being open to changing my perspective. None have been as surprising or unexpected as the iPhone and its evolution into a serious camera. I resisted at first, but I now use it alongside my DSLRs as an equally capable tool, and decide what to use based on the situation, without worrying about image quality.

I don’t remember when I first started using an iPhone to take photos—probably when they first became available—but it was always to capture quick “snapshots” without any expectations whatsoever beyond that. I had my “serious” cameras for serious photography, and I kept those two categories of image making separate and distinct based on what I wanted to accomplish.

Then around seven or eight years ago I started noticing the quality of the images I could capture with my iPhone 11 were quite good, especially when I discovered that you could capture in the raw format. Raw capability on the iPhone? Why? A “phone” will never compete with a proper DSLR as a serious tool for serious photographers…or so I thought at the time.

Even then however, I was making 11″x17″ prints from my “phone” camera that really surprised me in terms of how good they looked. And I knew then and there that it was only a matter of time before that gap would narrow to the point where it would transform photography…if it hadn’t already.

A few short years later I upgraded to an iPhone 12 Pro, and the improvements over the 11 were very noticeable, both in terms of the hardware and software. The iPhone now had four cameras (three on the back, and one on the front) to let you capture at different focal lengths without sacrificing image quality. The built-in camera app now had some very sophisticated processing to create amazing looking images (computational photography) using technologies like SmartHDR and Deep Fusion.

With my iPhone 12 Pro and Lightroom’s mobile app, I could capture 12MP images in the DNG format for easy import into Lightroom Classic for editing. Now I was regularly making 13″x19″ prints from my iPhone while scratching my head in amazement that this was possible.

Of course, I was still using my DSLRs regularly for all of their strengths; more reach in terms of focal length, long exposures, better shadow separation, and better perceived image quality overall. But…it wasn’t always so obvious or easy to distinguish between the two, especially with landscapes. I regularly challenged students to identify the iPhone print when it was mixed in with my other DSLR prints, and rarely would anyone guess correctly, if ever.

This became crystal clear for me during a commercial shoot I had at sunrise, and I used both my Canon 1DS Mk III and iPhone 12 Pro to capture a wooded scene. While my Canon struggled with the dynamic range, the iPhone’s SmartHDR feature managed to balance the intense contrast between the sky and the foreground beautifully. The client loved and chose the iPhone photo to use in their marketing campaigns, and while I was happy, I felt conflicted about not having used my “pro” camera.

I only upgrade every few years and so I skipped the 13 and 14 Pro, which introduced a dramatically better camera (or cameras.) In late 2023 I decided to get the iPhone 15 Pro and its 48mp camera, and my mind has been blown once again. Not only was the image quality much better, but I also started using Apple’s new raw format, called “ProRaw,” which was actually introduced in late 2020, but I only started using with this new iPhone.

Unlike a native raw file, which just captures the direct sensor data, ProRaw lets you capture 48MP images with Apple’s computational processing included. This means your files take advantage of the advanced processing while still being editable like a raw file. You still have access to the sensor data though, which means most of the benefits of raw files are preserved, like shadow and highlight recovery, white balance adjustments, and greater latitude overall.

For example, shoot an image in low light hand-held, and the iPhone captures hundreds of images then blends them all together to provide both a sharp and a properly exposed ProRaw file—all in a fraction of a second.

There are still some features of the iPhone camera that are only available in jpeg or heif formats. Portrait mode is my absolute favorite, which creates a beautiful, blurred background for your subject, then lets you choose the focus point after the capture while adjusting the amount of blur (or the aperture setting) using so called “depth maps.”

Now I know what some of you may be thinking, “that’s not proper photography—where’s the craft in that?” Or perhaps you think that those who use iPhones are not serious photographers, because if they were they’d be using real cameras, “like me,” (or like the real photographers of the past.)

I know this because I’ve thought all of these things myself, and sometimes still do. And that raises the age-old question: is it the hammer or the carpenter that makes the difference?

“The most important part of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.” – Ansel Adams

It reminds me of the silly question that went around years ago wondering if Ansel Adams would use Photoshop if he were alive today. For me that question is both obvious and irrelevant in two ways.

First, I absolutely think Adams would use Photoshop, why not? Was he not using the latest darkroom techniques available in his time, and innovating new ones as well? Do you really think he would eschew digital in favor of film? Even the great Clyde Butcher, known for his amazing film based large format landscapes of the Everglades, has added digital cameras to his toolbox.

And second, even IF he preferred to use traditional methods, how does that make it the right tool for you? We each need to decide what works best for what we’re trying to accomplish, given our experience, skill level, and artistic vision. Guides and mentors are always valuable and important in our development, but not when they prevent us from seeking our own path.

“A great teacher is one who realizes that he himself is also a student and whose goal is not to dictate the answers, but to stimulate his student’s creativity enough so that they go out and find the answers themselves.” -Herbie Hancock

All new technologies have always been met with negative predictions of their dangers, from the printing press to the internet, to the advent of digital recording, another transition I personally experienced up-close in my music career many years ago. Many decried its use, claiming it wasn’t as valid or as virtuous as analog recording. I couldn’t understand either claim since for me it was just another tool—different yes, but less virtuous?

And so here I am again two decades later wondering if the iPhone is a valid tool for the serious photography that I’ve devoted the last 20 years of my life to. And once again, my answer is an unequivocal yes. Why? Because nothing has really changed in terms of the reasons why I’m compelled to make photographs. Not because of the gear or the technology, or because of how others will perceive my “seriousness” from that perspective.

I make images to share a story, a perspective, my way of seeing and experiencing the immense beauty of the natural world. The better I get at composition, at improving my vision, at really “seeing,” the better my images will communicate all of my feelings to others. The tools I use are part of the process, not the end goal.

On a recent workshop, I had a very enthusiastic student who only had an iPhone 15 Pro Max in his “camera bag.” Was he compromised in certain situations? Yes, but so was everyone else when he managed to capture stunning close-up shots of delicate flowers that were out of reach for those with traditional camera setups. And most importantly, I could see and feel the enthusiasm in his images. Should that be diminished once you discover the camera he used?

Now let me be clear—I don’t think for a second that we should stop using our expensive gear. Nor am I suggesting that the iPhone is better in any way. This is not about what’s better or worse, but about the possibilities and potential of current technology to help us as artists say what we want to say. If film helps you do that in a way that is satisfying for you, then by all means use film. Same for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.

What I’m advocating for is accepting the fact that technology is here to stay and focusing on the tools rather than the vision is not a path to meaningful images. If you develop your compositional skills and your vision, your images will resonate with others regardless of the camera (or phone) you use. Don’t hide behind the gear out of fear. In a world where everyone has the same access to amazing technology, only your voice and your story will make a difference.

The evolution of iPhone cameras has transformed my approach to photography. While my dedicated cameras remain invaluable for many applications, the iPhone has proven to be a powerful, versatile tool that complements my artistic vision. Let’s embrace new technologies, as I’m sure Ansel would, and focus on the creative ways that new technologies can let us make meaningful images.