Modifying this control will update this page automatically

iPad User Guide

Edit Portrait mode photos on iPad

In the Photos app, you can change and adjust the lighting effects, depth of field, and focus point of images you take in Portrait mode.

Change the Portrait Lighting effect

You can apply, change, or remove the Portrait Lighting effects in Portrait mode photos. You can also edit portraits taken on other devices.

  1. Go to the Photos app 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Tap a Portrait mode photo to open it, then tap 👁 the Edit button
    .

  3. Tap 👁 the Lighting Intensity Off button
    at the top of the screen.

    The Lighting effects appear on the right side of the screen.

  4. Touch 👁 the Portrait Lighting button
    ,     then slide your finger up or down 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.

  5. Drag the slider up or down to adjust the intensity of the lighting effect.

  6. Tap Done.

    👁 The Edit screen of a Portrait mode photo. The photo is in the center of the screen and on the right side of the screen are the Portrait Lighting effect options. Stage Light is selected and there is a slider to adjust the level of the effect. On the left side of the screen are the Portrait, Adjust, Filters, and Crop buttons. The Portrait button is selected.

Note: To remove Portrait Lighting from a photo, tap 👁 the Edit button
, then tap Portrait at the top of the screen.

Blur the background in portraits

On models that support Depth Control, use the Depth Control slider to adjust the level of background blur in your portraits.

👁 The Edit screen of a Portrait mode photo. A portrait photo is in the center of the screen. On the right side of the screen is a slider to adjust the Depth Adjustment setting. On the left side of the screen are the Portrait, Adjust, Filters, and Crop buttons. The Portrait button is selected.

  1. Go to the Photos app 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Tap a Portrait mode photo to open it, then tap 👁 the Edit button
    .

  3. Tap Portrait on the left side of the screen, then drag the slider on the right to adjust the background blur effect.

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

  4. Tap Done.

Change the focus point of a portrait

On your iPad, you can change the subject (or focus point) in a portrait taken on an iPhone 13 or later, with iOS 16 or later using Depth and Focus Control. When you select a new subject, the depth of field (or 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 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Tap a Portrait mode photo to view it in full screen, then tap 👁 the Edit button
    .

  3. Tap a new subject or focus point in the photo.

  4. Tap Done.

Remove the portrait effect

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

  1. Go to the Photos app 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Open a photo taken in Portrait mode.

  3. Tap Portrait on the left side of the screen, then tap Portrait Off.

Thanks for your feedback.