How to take the best photos at Fashion Week: 8 tips and tricks from the top iPhone photographers

AUTO FOCUS + EXPOSURE CONTROL

When to use: Spaces with bad lighting

Tip: Exposure control can help capture a crisper shot, which is extremely helpful in low light places like the runway. If you know you will be taking a series of photos in the same light, Molly Torian advises to focus on a certain point on the stage and tap it on the screen to lock focus and exposure. To adjust the exposure on your iPhone, tap on the area of interest and slide your finger up or down (a little sun icon will appear on the 6) before snapping your pic.

SLO-MO

When to use: Capturing the movement and outfit details on the runway

Tip: iPhone photographer Patrick Janelle says to keep your phone still and let the motion come from the moment that you’re filming. If you do need to move the camera, do so slowly in landscape mode for the best results.

Be sure to time it out so you can see a specific look coming down the runway to start the slo-mo in time.

BURST MODE

When to use: On the runway

Tip: Fernando Colon says a good trick for capturing models on the runway is to lock your focus on that one area of the runway that you plan to shoot. Then wait until the model walks through your focused “zone” before taking your shot. After locking exposure and focus, use burst mode to get a rapid sequence of shots (10 photos per second) by just holding the shutter in the Camera app. You’ll likely have one perfect snap, which you can check out afterwards in photos.

HDR

When to use: Street style snaps

Tip: HDR is a great tool for when the sun is behind you.

iOS FILTERS + EDITING TOOLS

Time of use: Quick lighting and colour adjustments

Tip: Use the filters built in the Photos app of your iPhone for quick adjustments, including decreasing background noise and muting distractions. Case in point: This front-row image featuring Anna Wintour was converted from colour to black and white to take our attention away from the pink sweater on her lap.

VIDEO MODE

When to use: On the runway

Tip: Take videos in landscape mode for the best results. And don’t forget to adjust the camera settings to enable “Record Video at 60 FPS” to capture 1080p HD video. If you want to take a picture while you are recording, grab it by tapping the white circle to the left of your record button.

TIME-LAPSE

When to use: Capturing slow processes like the application of a model’s make-up

Tip: Secure your iPhone on a mini tripod and record the subject or event with the Time-Lapse mode in the iPhone Camera app. Turn on airplane mode to avoid interruption. Try using an external battery pack (Mophie makes great batteries) if phone is low on power, especially since time-lapse means you’ll have to leave the phone on for quite a long time.

GRID

Time of use: At all times

Tip: Katja and Mal Sherlock suggest using the grid feature to help you follow the rule of thirds for a well-balanced and interesting shot. Start off by finding the best angle and the key character in the fashion show. Remember to look at the big picture and understand what to include and what to exclude from your shot to reduce noise.