iPhone guide · released September 2023
How to get better photos from your boyfriend with iPhone 15 Pro & 15 Pro Max
Get better photos from your boyfriend on iPhone 15 Pro (3x) and 15 Pro Max (5x): the right telephoto for portraits, 2x for outfits and an Action button shortcut.
By InstaBF · Updated · Specs from Apple’s published tech specs
Quick answer
On iPhone 15 Pro, ask your boyfriend to use the 3x telephoto for portraits; on 15 Pro Max, use 5x if there is space, or 2x if not. Use 1x or 2x for full-body outfit photos.
The iPhone 15 Pro & 15 Pro Max cameras, and what each one is for
| Zoom | Camera | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5x | Ultra Wide 12MP, 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 | Scenery. |
| 1x | Main 48MP, 24 mm, ƒ/1.78 | Full-body and low light. |
| 2x | Telephoto (optical quality) 12MP, 48 mm | Half-body portraits. |
| 3x / 5x | Telephoto 15 Pro: 12MP, 77 mm, ƒ/2.8 · 15 Pro Max: 12MP, 120 mm, ƒ/2.8 | Close portraits. |
Selfie camera: 12MP TrueDepth camera. Buttons: Action button (no Camera Control).
The Pro and Pro Max have different telephotos
This is the one generation where the two Pro models differ. The 15 Pro has a 3x (77 mm) telephoto, which is easy to use for portraits in normal spaces. The 15 Pro Max has a 5x (120 mm) telephoto that needs much more distance.
If you have a Pro Max and only a small space, ask him to use 2x instead.
The Action button as a camera shortcut
Set the Action button to open the Camera. Your boyfriend presses it and is ready to shoot without hunting for the icon.
Which lens to use for each shot
Full-body outfit
1x or 2x
2x if there is room to back up, 1x from 2–3 m if not.
Close portrait
3x (Pro) / 5x (Pro Max)
Phone at eye level, step back until you are framed from the shoulders up.
Candid
3x / 5x
He stays still, you move. Shoot a burst.
Set up your iPhone 15 Pro before you hand it over
- Settings > Action Button > Camera.
- Turn on Settings > Camera > Grid and Level. The grid gives your boyfriend lines to line you up with, and the level shows when the phone is straight.
- Wipe the lenses with a soft cloth. A fingerprint on the lens is the most common reason a phone photo looks hazy.
- Open InstaBF, frame the shot yourself and lock it. Your boyfriend lines his live view up with your saved frame instead of guessing.
What to tell him
“Use 3x, step back until my shoulders fit and hold the phone at my eye level.”
iPhone 15 Pro questions
What is the difference between the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max cameras?
The 15 Pro has a 3x (77 mm) telephoto and the 15 Pro Max has a 5x (120 mm) telephoto. The other cameras are the same.
