How to take great macro photos with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max

The iPhone 14 can take some absolutely amazing macro photos. You can get really close to the subject and capture incredible detail, detail that the eye just doesn’t see.

The iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max uses the Ultra Wide camera to capture macro photos, and this camera allows you to get super close — up to 2 centimeters — into your shot .

Likewise: The one super simple yet overlooked way to enhance your iPhone photos

You can not only take macro photos but also macro live photos and macro slow motion and time lapse videos. The process of getting the most out of the iPhone is the same as taking good macro photos.

Apple has made the macro photo process easy.

Open the camera, get very close to the subject and take the photo.

Easy.

Well, usually.

If the photo looks very blurry, it may be because your iPhone hasn’t automatically switched to the ultra wide camera.

In macro mode, this icon is displayed on the screen.

Tapping it will turn off macro mode, making your close-up photo blurry.

If this switch doesn’t happen automatically, tap Settings > Camera and make sure macro control activated. This allows the iPhone to automatically switch to the ultra-wide camera when needed.

Also note that in macro mode, any zoom setting beyond 0.5 is a digital zoom (in other words, a crop of the original shot). Quality suffers, but it’s comfortable, so choose what’s important to you.

Good macro photos require three things

• get close
• A steady hand (or something to hold the camera)
• Lots of light

If you plan on taking macro photos, there are a few things you can do to improve your close-up shots.

First is something to steady your hand. A tripod or clamp may work. I don’t like mounting my iPhone on tiny tripods because it makes them top-heavy. Instead, I use a larger tripod (there are a lot of downsides here, like size and weight and complexity) or a clamp – like this one Ulanzi super clamp — which I can attach to a suitable surface.

How do I mount my iPhone to a tripod or clamp? Use this really versatile Ulanzi ST-03 phone holder. That easily fits the giant iPhone 14 pro maxeven if it’s in a clunky case.

I highly recommend this phone holder and you can use it to mount all types of smartphones on all types of clamps and tripods. I’ve had mine for a few years and it’s impeccable.

While most people can get away with natural light, decent lighting can make a world of difference.

When using natural light, move around the subject as you shoot to find the best angle. You’ll be surprised at how much difference the angle of the incoming light makes to the final photo. Adjusting your angle can also give you unwanted reflections from shiny surfaces.

If you want to add light then there are a number of excellent LED lights available. Ideally you want one where you can change the brightness of the light, as you often need less light than you think.

One light I’ve used is this Aputure Amaran MC LED light.

When you want to eliminate all ambient light, a light box — essentially a box that you place items in so you can control the light — comes in very handy. These take a little getting used to, but can give you amazing professional results.

The light box I used is the Neewer 20″ x 20″ Photo Studio Light Box.

The best tips for better macro photos

1. Macro photos show every bit of dirt and dust and scratches on the subject, things you don’t notice with the naked eye, so it’s a good idea to take the time to clean things up (I use a dust blower). You can use Photoshop to clean up the image if you want a truly flawless, professional finish.
2. Hold the camera as still as possible.
3. Take lots of photos from different angles.
4. Examine the photos for annoying reflections and change your angles to remove them.
5. Remember that it is digital zoom, if you use the zoom to get closer and it degrades the picture.