Holi 2025: Tips to get best photos on iPhone 16 Pro this colourful festival

The festival of colour Holi marks the end of Winter and welcomes the arrival of the Spring season.

It is celebrated with great fervour by all young and old, where friends and family get together to splash Gulal colour powder and water around.

Holi creates lots of great photo opportunities and if you happen to own any of the two Apple iPhone 16 Pro series models, you can capture great memories. However, it is imperative to first know the key features of the iPhone's native camera app.

DH have received valuable tips from professional photographers on how to make the best use of the iPhone 16 Pro series this Holi festival.

One of the advantages of owning an Apple iPhone 16 Pro is that it comes with IP68 rating and the device survive accidental water splashes and also dip in the swimming pool up to a depth of six metres (around 19 feet).

Make sure to dry the iPhone for atleast an hour and try using dry cloth to clear water droplets in the ports before plugging it to the power point for charging.

Here are some valuable tips on how to get the best photos on iPhone 16 Pro series:

Make good use of the all-new 48MP Fusion main camera

"48MP Fusion Camera with zero shutter lag is perfect for high-speed Holi action. Whether it is gulal flowing in the air or a spontaneous burst of laughter, the iPhone 16 Pro Max ensures you never miss the perfect frame. Make use of 48 MP Fusion camera for capturing moments instantly with zero shutter lag, so you don’t miss fast-moving action. Try Portrait Mode: It blurs the background, keeping the focus on colourful faces for more striking Holi portraits. Maximise Colour Accuracy: The AI-powered HDR enhances exposure and makes every shade pop for truly vibrant shots," said Bobby Roy, a New Delhi-based digital creator.

Photography Styles

Step 1: Open the Camera app, tap the top right corner with yellow colour outlined box, and select Photographic Styles >> You will get five options- Standard, Cool Rose, Neutral, Rose Gold, Gold, Amber, Vibrant, Natural, Luminous, Dramatic, Quiet, Cosy, Ethereal, Muted B&W, and Stark B&W.

Users can customise the tone and warmth with the slider option below the styles. For punchy colourful photos, select either Rich Contrast or Vibrant options.

Macro Photos

Step 1: Open the camera app >> tap Photo >> select 0.5 ultra-wide angle mode >> get close-up shots with sharp focus as close as 2 centimeters distance from the subject.

Slo-mo 4K video recording

"Holi is chaotic in the best way. 4K 120 fps slo-mo video is a game-changer, letting you slow down the action to reveal every tiny detail in stunning clarity. Capture colour in motion: Film balloons bursting mid-air or colours colliding, then slow it down for a dramatic effect. Instant slo-mo edits. No extra apps needed. Just open the Photos app, select the moment, and slow it down effortlessly. Shoot in Dolby Vision. The cinematic video quality ensures that every splash of color feels immersive and lifelike, " said Siddhartha Joshi, a renowned travel photographer.

Ultra-wide mode to get group photos with great detail

"While 48MP Main Camera with zero shutter lag can be used for fast action shots, Ultra-Wide Camera with Autofocus is ideal for group shots and festival landscapes. With 5x Telephoto Zoom capture candid moments from afar without disrupting the scene. You can even use Camera Control that mimics a DSLR shutter with half-press focus and full-press capture. Use ProRAW for professional editing or HEIF for high-quality storage," said Gursimran Basra.

To get ultra wide-angle photos:

Open Camera >> tap Photo mode >> select '0.5' mode to get ultra-wide angle photo

To get Telephoto 5X Zoom images:

Open Camera >> tap Photo mode >> select '5X' to get optically zoomed images with zero-loss of quality.

Get smooth dramatic videos with Action Mode:

"Whether you’re filming people, scenes, or celebrations, Action Mode ensures stable and shake-free footage. Simply open the camera, tap the running icon to enable Action Mode, and start shooting. For a cinematic 360° shot, keep the subject in the centre and walk in a circular motion while filming—it creates an epic motion effect. Enhance Colours with Photographic Styles & HDR. Use Photographic Styles (found in the camera settings) to enhance colours while maintaining natural skin tones. Use Camera Control, Timer Mode or Apple Watch as a remote to take group shots without touching your phone, said Shakti Shekhawat, a travel photographer.'

Here's how to turn on Action mode:

Open the Camera app >> Switch to video mode >> Touch and hold the Shutter button to start recording >>Tap the Record button to stop recording

Here's how to use Cinematic mode:

Open the Camera app >> Switch to Cinematic mode >> Touch Shutter button to start recording

Portrait mode

With Portrait mode on the iPhone series, users get six options-- natural light, studio light, contour light, stage light, stage light mono and high-key light mono.

They deliver some stunning photos of a human face with a bokeh blur effect in the background.

Just open the camera app >> browse left to find Portrait and select any of the best-suited options.

Record high quality ProRes videos

Open Camera > > Select Video mode, then tap the ProRes Off button to turn ProRes on.

To start recording, tap the Record button, press either volume button, or click the Camera Control. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max can record 4K at 120 fps (frames per second) when connected to a compatible external storage device.

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.