How to Take Underwater Photos with your iPhone That Stand Out

When it comes to capturing the magic beneath the waves with an iPhone it isn’t just about pointing and shooting. Taking pictures with your phone in an iPhone underwater case is an art form that combines technical know-how, creative vision, and the right gear.

 So, how do you take your underwater iPhone photography from casual snapshots to striking, print-worthy shots? To capture those perfect shots, you need to master several things simultaneously; these include composition, camera settings, subject choice, and equipment considerations.

The ProShot Dive 2.0 Case

Composition

The bottom line with any photography is that composition and subject selection are what separates a memorable photo from one destined to the great hard drive in the sky. The environmental conditions of water make composition challenging, but also present opportunities for some truly stunning images.

Rule of Thirds and Beyond

One of the easiest and simplest ways to add emotion, action, and perspective to your images is through using the rule of thirds. Simple tips to use the rule of thirds include:

• Imagine your screen split into a 3×3 grid. Ensure you place the subject of your photo at intersecting points or along gridlines.

• Try to position creatures or divers off-center on the two vertical lines to create tension and a sense of movement.

• Use negative space, these are areas of open water which help to draw the eye to the subject, giving it room to “breathe” in the image.

Layering and Depth

Having a layered image with a big depth of field is key to creating dynamic images with lots of action. Imagine, for a moment, an image of a small fish in the foreground, with a diver behind it and a large shark behind them. This image would be a masterpiece of tension, as it creates a sense of jeopardy for multiple elements. The keys to successful layering and depth include:

• Ensure you have a clear foreground, middle ground, and background to draw people deeper into each scene.

• A foreground element might be a swaying anemone or fish, while the mid-ground features the school of fish, and the sea floor or deep blue ocean creates and fills the background.

• Try to overlap the layers so that they blend naturally, guiding the eye gently through the composition.

Using Lines and Natural Frames

One of the best ways to improve the quality of your composition is to maximize what Mother Nature is giving you, from beams of light to pieces of rocks and coral. Clever ways to use lines and frames include:

• Beams of sunlight create stunning images, especially when you can position them to point directly at your subject.

• Wrecks, rocks, arches, and overhanging coral pinnacles create frames. Use them to focus attention on the subject within them.

Silhouettes and Contrast

Silhouettes and contrast can create some truly stunning images; they are particularly effective for bigger creatures that are easily recognizable by their shape.  Think divers, sharks, whale sharks, and manta rays. Tricks to make silhouettes and contrast work for you include:

• Dive a little deeper and position yourself so your subject is backlit against the bright surface light.

• You can also underexpose (more about settings later) your images slightly to show creatures as dark, dramatic shapes against a lighter background.

Minimalism and Color Blocks

Often, being a minimalist can create a truly outstanding image. Depending on your environment, opting for a minimalistic approach and utilizing color blocks can take your image to the next level.

• Try to use expanses of uniform watercolor, and place one small subject within the frame.

• A lone starfish or jellyfish against a monochrome background (sand or water) delivers a striking, minimalist composition.

Camera Settings

Today’s iPhones have cameras that are truly stunning image machines. However, they are tuned to create an image on land. Capturing standout underwater shots requires fine-tuning the iPhone camera's settings to maximize its potential.

Manual Exposure Control

Learning to use exposure to your advantage can help create a better image.

• Try lower ISO settings (e.g., ISO 50–100) to minimize noise in underwater images.

• Set shutter speed to no slower than 1/125s to freeze moving fish and compensate for movement.

• In low light, increase the ISO moderately (ISO 200–400).

White Balance and Color Profiles

Water has a massive impact on light underwater. Without proper color correction, you will lose most of the reds in your images. Without proper white balance, your images will appear washed out with a blue tint.

• Try to use manual white balance presets (e.g., “Sunny,” “Cloudy”) or custom Kelvin adjustments (around 5500K–6500K) to restore warm color tones.

• Alternatively, shoot in RAW, where you can correct white balance precisely in post-production without quality loss.

Focus Modes and Depth-of-Field

Mastering your focus enables you to hone in on your subjects. Continuous autofocus tracks moving fish, but can wander in low-contrast areas. However, if you opt to lock focus on a key subject, you can then take time to recompose your shot. Finally, you can use simulated bokeh for close-up marine portraits or to isolate fish or coral details.

Burst Mode and Timed Shots

If you are shooting fast-moving subjects or schools of fish that dart left and right, then burst mode is your friend. Taking a burst of shots allows you to capture a massive number of images to find that one image. Alternatively, you may want to use a timer to allow divers to group together and get that perfect underwater group shot.

Choose the Right Lens Options

When it comes to lenses, consider using an ultrawide lens to capture sweeping reef landscapes or large creatures, such as whale sharks. Alternatively, the primary (wide) lens is ideal for balanced perspectives and sharper detail. Finally, Macro fans can use a clip-on to make capturing those macro shots like a breeze.

Flash and Natural Light

In an ideal world, you should always try to use ambient light near the surface (within 15–20 feet), and avoid using the onboard flash. If you are diving a little deeper, external strobes or lights are needed to bring out true colors.

RAW vs. JPEG

Your love of post-processing will determine whether to shoot in RAW or JPEG.  RAW files preserve the maximum amount of data and are best suited for post-production. On the other hand, JPEGs are smaller and ready to share immediately, but you can do less to them in post-production. One Caveat about shooting RAW is that the image size in MBs is massive.

Subject Choice

The truth of the matter is that no subject is better than another. Every subject from the humble sea star and nudibranch to a great white and octopus can star in a world-class pic. The key to subject choice is to stick to a few key principles when choosing a subject.

• Marine Life: Behavior and Habitat are key here, a picture of a fish doing something is far more interesting than just a fish! Always try to have your subject doing something.

• Seascapes: wide-angle shots that highlight drama are key here. Wide canyons, reefs teeming with life, or reefs blighted by coral bleaching all stand out in their own dramatic fashion.

• Macro Gold, the underwater macro world, is home to some of the most stunning creatures ever captured on film.  In fact, many photographers specialize purely in the Macro world.

• Humans make great subjects, especially in silhouette. A freediver hanging in the water column against the sun’s rays can create a truly emotive image.

The ProShot Dive 2.0 Case

For truly standout underwater photos, a specialized underwater iPhone housing transforms your iPhone into a photo machine. While there are many models on the market, one of the best is the ProShot Dive 2.0 Case. It provides your iPhone with robust protection, gives you full control, and is designed for iPhone users at all skill levels.

Features of the ProShot Dive 2.0 Case

The ProShot Dive 2.0 Case is compatible with every iPhone model, from the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max to older SE versions. Additionally, it boasts an impressive 130 feet (40 meters) depth rating, making it ideal for snorkeling, scuba diving, and freediving.

The rugged design features Custom silicone bumpers that reinforce the top and bottom edges. The floating hand grip means your iPhone won't sink if accidentally dropped underwater. Finally, the rugged design comes with a travel case featuring organized compartments and accessories, including a microfiber cloth, wrist strap, and more. The ProShot Dive 2.0 Case also comes with a dedicated O-ring cleaning kit and a tube of silicone grease. Also, the latest edition of the ProShot Dive 2.0 Case features an anti-glare filter to minimize surface reflections and glare in bright conditions.

Underwater Photos with your iPhone & The ProShotCase Camera App

The ProShotCase Camera App is the perfect tool to ensure your iPhone and ProShot Dive 2.0 Case work seamlessly.  The ProShotCase camera app unlocks full control via your phone’s volume buttons. You can use the buttons to cycle through modes, photo, video, slo-mo, zoom, and more, as well as capture the shot or start and stop video recording.

Final Thoughts

While we have examined the primary considerations that enable you to capture stunning underwater pictures with your iPhone, there are additional factors that can elevate your images and experience to the next level. Ensuring you have perfect buoyancy control before allows you to minimize camera shake and avoid disturbing marine life.

Scout dive sites in advance and time your session to optimize conditions for light, marine life, and environmental factors. Join forums, clubs, and workshops, learning from others' experiences is a sure-fire way to accelerate your photography skills!