Holi 2025: The festival of Holi is a photographer’s paradise with its explosion of colours amidst joyful faces and fleeting moments. For iPhone users across India, especially those with the latest iPhone 16 series, capturing these moments has never been more exciting. Some of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro features have been designed for challenging photography environments such as the festival of colours. Here are some tips and tricks to master the iPhone camera, just in time for Holi.
Protect your device: Despite your iPhone’s impressive Water & Dust Resistance rating, we recommend investing in a quality waterproof case for extra protection against colored powders.
Also Read: How to rescue your water damaged phone after the festive celebration
Clean your lens: Keep a microfiber cloth handy to wipe away any stray gulal that might blur your shots.
Check your storage: Clear unnecessary photos to make room for new shots. Also, consider ProRAW for professional editing or HEIF for high-quality storage while conserving space.
Charge up: Keep a portable power bank handy to keep your iPhone running through hours of photography.
Rule of Thirds: Place your subjects off-center for more dynamic compositions. The iPhone’s grid feature makes this simple to achieve.
Get Low or High: Change your perspective to capture unique angles of the celebration.
Look for Contrasts: Seek moments where bright colors meet against different backgrounds and the iPhone camera will enhance these contrasts naturally.
Backlight for Drama: Position yourself with the sun behind your subjects to create dramatic silhouettes with halos of colored powder.
“Try Portrait Mode,” suggests photographer Bobby Roy. “It blurs the background, keeping the focus on colorful faces for more striking Holi portraits.” He also recommends maximizing color accuracy: “The AI-powered HDR enhances exposure and makes every shade pop for truly vibrant shots.”
“Holi is chaotic in the best way,” says Siddhartha Joshi. “4K 120 fps slo-mo video is a game-changer, letting you slow down the action to reveal every tiny detail in stunning clarity.”
Siddhartha recommends capturing color in motion: “Film balloons bursting mid-air or colors colliding, then slow it down for a dramatic effect.”
To slow down the video, just open the Photos app and select the moment that you want to be in slow-motion.
“Shooting in Dolby Vision ensures that every splash of color feels immersive and lifelike,” he adds.
Gursimran Basra offers insights on leveraging the full camera system: “While the 48MP Main Camera with zero shutter lag is perfect for fast action shots, the Ultra-Wide Camera with Autofocus is ideal for group shots and festival landscapes.”
She particularly values the zoom capabilities: “With 5x Telephoto Zoom, you can capture candid moments from afar without disrupting the scene.” For those who miss DSLR controls, she suggests using Camera Control “that mimics a DSLR shutter with half-press focus and full-press capture.”
“Capture Smooth Action with Action Mode,” advises Shakti Shekhawat. “Whether you’re filming people, scenes, or celebrations, Action Mode ensures stable and shake-free footage. Simply open the camera, tap the running icon to enable Action Mode, and start shooting.”
“For a cinematic 360° shot, keep the subject in the center and walk in a circular motion while filming to create an epic motion effect,” Shakti recommends.
The final tip is to not get so caught up in photography that you miss experiencing the festival yourself!
