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Fix the lighting and shadows on iPhone pictures
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This wikiHow teaches you how to increase and decrease the exposure level of Shadows in a photo, using the editing mode in your iPhone's Photos app.

Editing Shadows Out of Photos on iPhone

Open the Photos app and tap the photo you want to edit. Tap Edit and swipe left to view the available effects. Tap the Shadows effect. Swipe right to decrease the Shadows level. You can also apply Exposure, Brilliance, and Highlight effects to get rid of shadows.[1]

  1. The Photos app looks like a colored pinwheel icon inside a white box on your Home screen.
  2. This will open the image in full-screen mode. You can open any image from your Moments, Memories, iCloud pictures, Camera Roll, or from an Album.
    • If the Photos app opens up to an image in full-screen mode, tap the back button in the upper-left corner to browse all your images.
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  3. This button looks like three horizontal sliders next to the Trash button in the lower-right corner of your screen. It will open your photo in image-editing mode.
  4. This button is located next to the Done button in the lower-right corner of the image-editing screen. It will bring up a menu of three editing options including Light, Color, and B&W.
  5. This will show you a sub-menu of editing options for Light.
  6. The Shadows editing slider will appear below the image at the bottom of your screen.
  7. This will increase exposure in the darker and dimmer parts of your image. All shadowy parts in your photo will now appear brighter than they were in the original photo.
  8. This will decrease exposure in the darker and dimmer parts of your image. Shadowy parts in the photo will now look even darker and dimmer than they were before.
  9. This is the yellow button in the lower-right corner of your screen. It will save your edits.
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References

  1. Reina LeGrand. Photographer. Expert Interview

About This Article

Reina LeGrand
Co-authored by:
Photographer
This article was co-authored by Reina LeGrand. Reina LeGrand is a Photographer based in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is the owner and Lead Photographer of Bougie Boudoir Studio, a luxury boutique boudoir studio with locations in Castle Rock, CO, and Scottsdale, AZ. Reina primarily shoots in the AZ studio but works out of both studios. At Bougie Boudoir, Reina and her team celebrate the beauty and spirit of women through photography and believe that a Boudoir or Glamour Portrait Shoot is one of the most fun and life-affirming things a woman can do for herself. Their goal is for every one of their clients to feel comfortable and safe. This article has been viewed 70,164 times.
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Co-authors: 2
Updated: April 14, 2025
Views: 70,164
Categories: IPhone
Article SummaryX

1. Open your iPhone's Photos app.
2. Tap on a photo.
3. Tap the three sliders icon at the bottom.
4. Tap the dial button at the bottom.
5. Tap the arrow icon next to Light.
6. Select Shadows.
7. Swipe left to make Shadows brighter.
8. Swipe right to make Shadows darker.

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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 70,164 times.

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