As a professional photographer, I have always been fascinated by the power of a blurred background in a photo. It can add depth, drama, and focus to a subject, making it stand out beautifully. Fortunately, with the iPhone’s portrait mode, you don’t need a fancy camera to achieve this effect. In this article, I will show you how to blur a photo on iPhone using several methods.
Blur Background on Your iPhone Using Portrait Mode
The easiest way to blur a photo on iPhone is to use the portrait mode. This mode uses the dual-lens camera system to create a shallow depth of field, which blurs the background and makes your subject pop. Here’s how to use it:
- Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
- Swipe left on the camera modes until you see “Portrait” mode.
- Position your subject within 8 feet of the camera.
- Tap on your subject to focus the camera.
- Press the shutter button to take the photo.
Once you’ve taken the photo, you can adjust the amount of background blur by editing it. Here’s how:
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Select the photo you want to edit.
- Tap on “Edit” in the top right corner.
- Use the slider at the bottom of the screen to adjust the amount of background blur.
- Tap on “Done” when you’re finished.
Change Background Blur in Portrait Photos on iPhone
If you’ve taken a portrait photo using the iPhone’s portrait mode, you can change the level of background blur after the fact. Here’s how:
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Select the portrait photo you want to edit.
- Tap on “Edit” in the top right corner.
- Tap on the “F” icon in the top left corner to access the “Portrait” mode settings.
- Use the slider at the bottom of the screen to adjust the amount of background blur.
- Tap on “Done” when you’re finished.
Keep in mind that changing the background blur after the photo has been taken may not produce the same results as adjusting the blur before taking the photo.
Blur Background By Getting Closer to Your Subject
Another way to blur the background in a photo on iPhone is to get closer to your subject. The closer you are to your subject, the shallower the depth of field will be, which will result in a blurred background. However, this technique only works if you have a relatively fast lens, such as the one found on the iPhone 7 Plus and later models.
To use this technique, follow these steps:
- Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
- Position yourself close to your subject.
- Tap on your subject to focus the camera.
- Adjust the exposure by swiping up or down on the screen.
- Press the shutter button to take the photo.
Use a Third-Party App to Blur Photo Background on iPhone
If you want even more control over the background blur in your photos, you can use a third-party app. There are many apps available on the App Store that allow you to create a shallow depth of field effect, add bokeh, and more. One of the most popular apps for this purpose is Focos.
To use Focos, follow these steps:
- Download and install Focos from the App Store.
- Open Focos and grant it permission to access your photos.
- Select the photo you want to edit.
- Tap on “Edit” in the bottom right corner.
- Use the sliders at the bottom of the screen to adjust the amount of background blur and bokeh.
- Tap on “Save” when you’re finished.
Use Blurred Vignette Effect to Bring Your Subjects in Focus
Finally, you can use a blurred vignette effect to draw attention to your subject and blur the background. This technique is particularly useful for portraits and still life photos. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
- Position your subject in the center of the frame.
- Tap on your subject to focus the camera.
- Swipe down on the screen to activate the control center.
- Tap on the “Filters” icon.
- Swipe left on the filter options until you see “Vignette.”
- Adjust the amount of vignette by using the slider at the bottom of the screen.
- Press the shutter button to take the photo.
