Most of us just open the camera, take the photo, and move on.
And the iPhone does a lot of work behind the scenes:
Brightening things.
Boosting colours etc.
So sometimes your photos can end up looking a bit fake.
Too bright, too sharp, too processed.
That’s because the iPhone decides what your photo should look like before you ever see it.
Great for quick shots.
Not great if you actually care how your photo turns out.
The one hack to get amazing photos on iPhone is simple:
Turn on ProRAW.
It gives you way more control — without needing to know photography.
What ProRAW Actually Does
Normally, your iPhone takes a photo and edits it automatically.
ProRAW skips the heavy editing.
It keeps the real data from the camera sensor, so you get a cleaner, more natural file to work with.
Think of it like cooking.
Regular iPhone photos = pre-made meal.
ProRAW = fresh ingredients.
You get to decide the final flavour instead of Apple doing it for you.
Why It Makes a Difference
The difference isn’t huge when you first look at the photo.
But you’ll notice it the moment you start editing.
With regular images, making big adjustments often breaks the file — details disappear, skin tones look strange, colours fall apart.
With ProRAW, you can push the exposure, fix lighting, or change white balance without ruining the image.
It just gives you more freedom to get things right.
How to Turn It On (and Save Storage Space)
Go to:
Settings → Camera → Formats
Then turn on:
- ProRAW and Resolution Control
- Under ProRAW Format, choose JPEG-XL (Lossy)
This setting gives you the same quality while keeping file sizes much smaller.
You’ll get all the benefits of ProRAW without your storage filling up.
When to Use It
You don’t need to shoot ProRAW all the time.
Use it when:
- You’re shooting something important
- You plan to edit the photo
- The lighting is tricky (bright sun, low light, etc.)
For quick photos or casual shots, regular mode is fine.
Editing ProRAW Photos
When you first open a ProRAW photo, it’ll look flat.
That’s normal — it’s meant to be the starting point, not the finished image.
We usually edit in Lightroom Mobile, using the presets from iPhone Creator Kit.
They’re designed specifically for iPhone photos, so colours stay clean and realistic without needing heavy edits.
The goal isn’t to make photos look “edited.”
It’s to make them look real.
Why ProRAW Is Worth Using
ProRAW isn’t some fancy trick — it just gives you a better file to work with.
You’re getting more of what the camera actually captured, instead of the phone deciding the final look for you.
The differences aren’t over the top, but they’re noticeable.
And that’s why it feels like the “one hack” for better iPhone photos.
You’re not changing how you shoot.
You’re not learning complicated settings.
You’re simply starting from a better place.
Over time, that small change really adds up.
That’s the same idea behind iPhone Creator Kit — use what the iPhone already does well, then add simple tools that help you get a bit more from it.
Nothing complicated.
Just small tweaks that actually make your photos look better.
