The Portrait mode made its debut with the iPhone 7 Plus in 2016, and since then, it has been a standout feature on every iPhone model. This mode, known for its ability to detect depth and create stunning background blur, has now received a significant upgrade in the latest iPhone 15 series. With ‘next-gen portraits,’ you can transform ordinary photos into portrait mode masterpieces on iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max. You can even adjust the focus to different subjects or areas of the frame post-capture. Read on to learn how to apply portrait effects and blur backgrounds after taking a photo in the Photo mode on iPhone 15.
Prerequisites to Turn a Regular Photo into a Portrait Mode Photo
First, it’s essential to understand that not all photos can be converted into Portrait mode. Your iPhone needs to capture depth information for the portrait effect to be applied. This information is automatically recorded when the iPhone 15 detects people, dogs, or cats in the frame. Depth information is also stored when you manually tap on the frame to focus on a subject.
Some key points to note:
- Depth information is saved exclusively for photos taken on an iPhone 15 model. This means you can convert a photo taken on an iPhone 15 into a portrait mode photo on any iPhone. However, the reverse is not possible – you can’t turn a photo taken on any other iPhone into a portrait mode photo using your iPhone 15.
- You can use the next-gen Portrait feature with your iPhone’s main, telephoto, or front camera.
- This feature also works with Live Photos. However, depth information is saved only for the key photo in your Live Photos burst, meaning that the background will be blurred for the primary image.
How to Turn a Regular Photo into a Portrait on iPhone 15
The ‘next-gen Portrait mode’ is exclusive to iPhone 15 series and allows you to apply a soft and artistic bokeh effect to the background, drawing focus to your subject after the photo has been taken. If you own an iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, or 15 Pro Max, you can effortlessly turn a regular photo into a Portrait after capturing it. Here’s how:
- Launch the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Open the photo you want to convert into a portrait.
- Tap on “Portrait” in the top-left corner. By default, “Portrait Off” is selected.
- Finally, tap on “Portrait,” and your photo will instantly feature a blurred background.
How to Edit Portrait Effects in Photos
After turning a regular photo into a portrait, you can further refine the background blur and adjust the intensity of the lighting effects. Here’s how:
- Tap on “Edit” in the top-right corner to access the editing window.
- Use the Depth Control slider to increase or decrease the background blur’s strength.
- For photos with multiple subjects, tap on the subject you want to focus on. The yellow autofocus box will shift accordingly.
- You can also apply filters or crop the photo using the editing options available at the bottom. Additionally, the “Adjust” option lets you fine-tune brightness, contrast, shadows, highlights, and other elements.
- Once you’re satisfied with your edits, tap on “Done” in the top-right corner.
If you ever want to undo all portrait effects and revert to the original photo, open the photo again, tap “Edit,” and hit the “Revert” button.
How to Disable Auto Portrait Capture on iPhone 15
While the auto-capture of depth information is a handy feature for turning regular photos into portraits, it does consume extra storage space. If you prefer not to capture depth information in your photos, you can disable this feature in your iPhone’s camera settings. Here’s how:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on “Camera.”
- In the Camera settings, disable the toggle for “Portraits in Photo Mode.”
You can always opt to capture photos in Portrait mode by opening the Camera app and tapping on “Portrait.”
Keep in mind that the next-gen Portrait mode is exclusively available on iPhone 15 models. Other iPhones, even those running iOS 17, cannot access this feature.
Have you tried ‘next-gen Portraits’ on your iPhone 15?
