Skip to main content

    How to Use Portrait Mode on iPhone

    Portrait Mode blurs the background of photos to make your subject stand out — the look of professional photography on your iPhone.

    3 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026

    1. Step 1. Open Portrait Mode

      Open the Camera app on your iPhone. Swipe through the camera modes at the bottom of the screen (Photo, Video, Slo-Mo, etc.) until you reach "Portrait." The camera switches to Portrait Mode and the viewfinder shows a depth-of-field preview.

    2. Step 2. Position Your Subject

      Point the camera at a person, pet, or object. Portrait Mode works best with subjects 2–8 feet away. The camera shows a status message at the bottom: "Natural Light" (good to go) or a prompt if the lighting or distance is not quite right, like "Move farther away" or "More light required."

      Quick Tip

      Quick Tip: The yellow box highlights your subject. Make sure it is on the person's face for the best result. On some models, look for a dial on the right side to adjust depth blur in real time.

    3. Step 3. Choose a Lighting Effect

      Swipe the lighting effects dial at the bottom of the viewfinder to choose your look: Natural Light (realistic), Studio Light (soft fill light), Contour Light (dramatic), Stage Light (subject on black background), Stage Light Mono (black and white, black background), or High Key Light Mono (subject on white background).

    4. Step 4. Take the Photo

      Tap the shutter button. Portrait Mode takes the photo and shows you a preview. The photo is saved with depth information — meaning you can go back and change the blur strength or lighting effect later in the Photos app.

    5. Step 5. Edit Blur Strength After the Shot

      Open the photo in the Photos app. Tap "Edit." At the top, tap the "Portrait" button (the f/ icon or depth icon). A "Depth" slider appears at the bottom — drag left for less blur, right for more. You can also change the lighting effect here. Tap "Done" to save your changes.

    Portrait Mode is a camera feature on iPhone that separates the subject from the background, blurring the background to create a shallow depth-of-field effect — the professional look you see in magazine photographs and formal portraits.

    The result is called "bokeh" (boh-keh), where the person or object you are photographing is crisp and sharp while the background becomes a soft blur. This makes subjects stand out dramatically and gives photos a polished, professional feel.

    Portrait Mode is available on iPhone 7 Plus and newer models. On iPhone X and newer, it works on both the rear camera and the selfie camera. So you can take Portrait Mode selfies too.

    After taking a Portrait Mode photo, you can adjust the blur strength — called "Depth Control" — right in the Photos app. You can make the background more or less blurry after the shot, or remove the blur entirely. The original depth information is saved with the photo.

    Portrait Mode also includes several lighting effects: Natural Light (the default), Studio Light (cleaner shadows), Contour Light (dramatic highlights), Stage Light (solid black background), Stage Light Mono, and High Key Mono. Try them all to see which suits the moment.

    Official sources

    Still stuck?

    A real person can walk you through it over the phone.

    Get help from a person

    Related guides