How to photograph high-speed subjects with an iPhone?

Capturing super fast-moving subjects—like a race car—with the iPhone’s native camera often results in a blurry image. This happens because you can’t manually control the shutter speed; the iPhone automatically adjusts it based on the lighting conditions.

In bright light, the iPhone tends to use a faster shutter speed, which helps freeze motion. But in low light, it slows down the shutter, making it harder to capture sharp images of fast action.

To get around this, using a third-party camera app that lets you manually control settings—especially shutter speed—can make a big difference.

Here’s a breakdown of tips and techniques to help you get started to capture and freeze the action:

1. Use Burst Mode

On iPhones: Swipe the shutter button to the left and hold to activate burst mode or use the volume up button to activate burst mode.

Why it helps: Burst mode takes a rapid series of photos, increasing the chances of capturing the perfect moment mid-action. Image resolution is higher too.

2. Use Live Photos + Frame Selection

Live Photos record 1.5 seconds before and after your shot.
Go to Photos > Edit > Key Photo and select the frame where the subject is sharpest.

Best for: Slightly slower high-speed movement or when you're not sure of the exact timing.

3. Shoot a Video, Then Grab a Frame

Shoot in 4K (ideally 60fps) to ensure each frame is sharp.
Later, extract a still frame from the video (you can use Photos, iMovie, or apps like Frame Grabber).

Best for: action like sports, pets, or quick gestures.