Edit Portrait mode photos on iPhone

You can apply, change, or remove the Portrait Lighting effects in portraits.

1. Go to the Photos app on your iPhone.

2. Tap a Portrait mode photo to open it, then tap .

3. Tap Portrait at the bottom of the screen, then tap at the top of the screen.

   The Portrait Lighting effects appear at the bottom of the screen.

4. Touch , then slide your finger left or right to choose a lighting effect:

   • Natural Light: The face is in sharp focus against a blurred background.

   • Studio Light: The face is brightly lit, and the photo has an overall clean look.

   • Contour Light: The face has dramatic shadows with highlights and lowlights.

   • Stage Light: The face is spotlit against a deep black background.

   • Stage Light Mono: The effect is like Stage Light, but the photo is in classic black and white.

   • High-Key Light Mono: The effect creates a grayscale subject on a white background.

   Note: On iPhone XR, only the front camera supports Natural Light, Studio Light, and Contour Light.

5. Drag the slider left or right to adjust the intensity of the lighting effect.

6. Tap Done.

To undo edits after you save, tap , then tap Revert to go back to the original lighting.

Use the Depth Control slider to adjust the level of background blur in your portraits.

1. Go to the Photos app on your iPhone.

2. Tap any Portrait mode photo to view it in full screen, then tap .

3. Tap Portrait at the bottom of the screen, then drag the Depth Control slider to increase or decrease the background blur effect.

   A black dot marks the original depth value for the photo.

4. Tap Done.

You can change the subject (or focus point) of a portrait using Focus Control. When you select a new subject, the background blur automatically adjusts so the new subject appears sharp and in focus. Make sure that the new subject isn’t blurred or too far in the distance.

1. Go to the Photos app on your iPhone.

2. Tap any Portrait mode photo to view it in full screen, then tap .

3. Tap Portrait at the bottom of the screen, then tap a new subject or focus point in the photo.

4. Tap Done.

On supported models, photos with a person, dog, or cat taken in Photo mode can become portraits in the Photos app.

1. Go to the Photos app on your iPhone.

2. Tap any photo taken in Photo mode to view it in full screen, then tap .

3. If portrait effects are available, tap Portrait at the bottom of the screen.

4. Use the Depth Control slider to increase or decrease the level of background blur in the portrait.

5. Tap Done.

To undo edits after you save, open the photo, tap , then tap Revert.

You can remove the portrait effect (background blur) from a photo taken in Portrait mode.

1. Go to the Photos app on your iPhone.

2. Tap any Portrait mode photo to view it in full screen, then tap .

3. Tap Portrait at the bottom of the screen, then tap Portrait at the top of the screen to turn off the portrait effect; tap it again to turn it back on.

4. Tap Done.