iPhone Settings for Northern Lights Photography
TL;DR: iPhone Settings For Northern Lights
Use Night Mode every time
Set Night Mode exposure to the maximum time allowed
Keep the phone completely still (tripod or solid surface)
This is a big one - the less the camera moves, the better the picture. Prop you phone up on a rock or something - this will make a big difference!
Use the main wide camera (no zoom)
Turn Flash OFF
Turn Live Photos OFF
Slightly lower exposure if the sky looks gray or washed out
Take multiple photos as the aurora changes!!!
HAVE FUN!!
Here’s the Breakdown!
Photographing the Northern Lights is one of those experiences where expectations and reality don’t always line up. What your eyes see and what your phone captures can be very different, especially in low light.
The good news is that modern iPhones are surprisingly capable of photographing the aurora if you know how to set them up properly. The key is understanding what the camera is doing automatically and how to give it the best chance to succeed.
Below is a practical breakdown of the iPhone settings and techniques that actually matter when photographing the Northern Lights.
Use Night Mode Every Time
Night mode is essential for Northern Lights photography on an iPhone.
When the aurora is visible, your phone should automatically switch into night mode. You’ll see the night mode icon appear at the top of the screen with a suggested exposure time.
Do not rush the shot.
Longer exposure times allow the phone to gather more light and reveal color and movement that may not be obvious in real time.
Increase the Night Mode Exposure Time Manually
By default, the iPhone suggests an exposure time, but you can often push it longer.
Tap the night mode icon and slide the exposure time to the maximum allowed. This is especially important when the aurora is faint or the sky is very dark.
Longer exposures:
Bring out more color
Capture more detail in the sky
Make the aurora appear stronger than it does to the naked eye
The tradeoff is motion blur, which is why stability matters.
Keep the Phone Completely Still
Stability is critical.
Even slight movement during a long exposure can soften the image or smear the lights. If you have a small tripod, use it. If not, rest your phone on a solid surface like a railing, rock, or backpack.
If you’re holding the phone by hand, you’re limiting how long the exposure can be before blur becomes an issue.
Turn Off Flash and Live Photos
Flash will not help. The Northern Lights are far too far away, and flash will only illuminate anything close to you and confuse the exposure.
Live Photos can also introduce unnecessary processing. Turning it off gives you more predictable results when shooting in low light.
Use the Wide Camera, Not Zoom
Stick to the main wide camera.
Avoid zooming, even slightly. Digital zoom reduces image quality and makes it harder for the phone to gather light. If you want more sky in the frame, physically step back or tilt the phone upward instead.
Wide framing also helps show the scale and movement of the aurora across the sky.
Lock Focus and Exposure When Possible
If your iPhone allows it, tap and hold on the screen to lock focus and exposure.
This prevents the camera from constantly adjusting as the lights shift, which can cause flickering exposure or inconsistent color from frame to frame.
Locking exposure gives you more consistent results, especially when shooting multiple photos in a row.
Adjust Exposure Slightly Down if the Sky Looks Washed Out
Sometimes the phone will brighten the image too much, turning the sky gray instead of black.
If this happens:
Tap the screen
Slightly lower the exposure using the brightness slider
This helps preserve contrast and keeps the aurora colors from looking washed out.
Shoot Multiple Photos
The Northern Lights change constantly.
Shoot multiple frames rather than relying on a single photo. Some moments will be stronger, greener, or more dynamic than others, and subtle differences in exposure can make a big impact.
You’ll often find that one or two images stand out dramatically compared to the rest.
Don’t Expect What You See on Social Media
This is important.
Many Northern Lights photos you see online are:
Shot with dedicated cameras
Taken with very long exposures
Heavily edited afterward
Your iPhone can capture beautiful images, but it’s normal for them to look more subtle than professional camera shots. Focus on capturing the experience, not competing with heavily processed images.
Final Thought
An iPhone is capable of capturing the Northern Lights if you let it do what it’s good at: long exposures, clean processing, and simplicity.
Night mode, stability, patience, and realistic expectations go a long way. With the right setup, your phone can produce images that bring back the memory of the moment, even if they don’t look exactly like what you saw online.
