If you’re taking travel photos with your iPhone and want them to look better, you don’t need a DSLR or a full camera setup.
What makes the biggest difference is how you shoot: the lighting, the framing, the colours — and how you edit.
The tips below are simple and practical.
They’re based on real-world travel shots, and they’ll help whether you’re in a city, out in nature, or just exploring somewhere new.
1. Shoot in ProRAW (if your iPhone supports it)
If you’ve got an iPhone 12 Pro or newer, switch on ProRAW.
It captures more data from the sensor — so you get better detail, better dynamic range, and more flexibility when editing.
Go to:
Settings → Camera → Formats → Apple ProRAW
Then shoot with the RAW toggle on in the camera app.
It won’t make your shots look instantly different, but it gives you way more to work with later — especially if you’re using presets.
2. Don’t Shoot in Harsh Midday Sun
This one’s big.
Direct sun in the middle of the day creates harsh shadows, blown-out highlights, and flat colours — especially on iPhone.
Instead, shoot during golden hour — early morning or just before sunset.
The light is softer, warmer, and adds natural depth to your shot without needing any editing.
If you have to shoot during the day, find shade or backlight the subject.
3. Keep the Horizon Straight
A crooked horizon instantly makes a photo feel off.
Especially with landscapes or beach shots — it throws everything out of balance.
Turn on your iPhone’s grid lines (Settings > Camera > Grid), and use them to line up the horizon. It takes two seconds and makes a big difference.
4. Clean Your Lens
It sounds basic — but it’s one of the easiest ways to improve your photo quality instantly.
Travel means your phone’s probably been in your pocket, bag, or hand all day.
A quick wipe (shirt, sleeve, anything soft) clears the smudges and brings back that sharpness.
Blurry photos?
9 times out of 10, it’s just a dirty lens.
5. Use Leading Lines
Whether it’s a road, a trail, or the edge of a building — use lines in the scene to guide the viewer’s eye through the photo.
It adds structure and makes your shot feel more thought-out, even if it’s a quick snap.
6. Add People for Scale
If you’re photographing a huge mountain or a wide cityscape, it’s hard to tell how big it really is without something to compare it to.
Adding a person in the frame — even tiny in the distance — gives context and makes the place feel bigger.
It adds a story too.
7. Frame the Shot with Something in the Foreground
Shooting through something — like a doorway, a tree branch, or even a car window — adds instant depth. It creates layers in your photo and makes it feel more immersive.
It also helps highlight your main subject without needing to zoom or crop.
8. Look for Interesting Light, Not Just Views
Good travel photos aren’t just about what you’re looking at — they’re about how the light hits it.
Light reflecting off a wall, shadows from an awning, a glow on a building at sunset — these little moments often make for better photos than the typical “tourist shot.”
9. Get Closer Than You Think
If something catches your eye — a detail in the architecture, a texture on the ground, colours in a market — get closer.
Close-up shots add variety to your travel gallery.
They’re easy to overlook, but they help capture the full feel of a place.
10. Use Presets to Pull It All Together
Once you’ve taken the photo, editing is where everything comes together.
Our iPhone ProRAW Travel Presets were designed exactly for this — to keep things clean, natural and cinematic. They help your shots feel cohesive without over-editing.
Built specifically for iPhone travel photography
Works on Lightroom mobile + desktop
Includes 15 presets for landscapes, architecture, cities and more
→ Check out the Travel Collection on PlatSupply
11. Don’t Just Point and Shoot — Pause
When you’re in a new place, it’s easy to pull your phone out and shoot immediately.
But take two seconds to stop, look around, and adjust.
What’s in the background?
Where’s the light coming from?
Is there something distracting in the frame?
Slowing down helps you take fewer (but better) photos.
12. Mix Wide Shots with Details
Wide shots show the place.
Detail shots show the story.
Things like a market stall, a tile pattern, a coffee on a table.
These close-up moments add texture to your travel photos and make them feel more personal.
