Most people who spend the extra dollars on the Pro version of iPhones likely appreciate the extra camera features the devices offer for photography. The 17 Pro is no exception. It is sophisticated enough to serve as your only camera, or as a highly capable complement to your mirrorless.

In order to get the most out of this impressive image capture device, you'll want to make a few adjustments to its settings. Here's a look at the tweaks I recommend.

Configuring the iPhone 17 Pro for Photographers

Running iOS 26, there are some key settings that photographers will want to look at in order to get the best quality from their iPhones.

Configure the Camera Control Button

System Settings - Settings > Camera > Camera Control

This is where you can configure the physical Camera Control button that's located on the right side, down below the power switch. There's no "perfect configuration" because every photographer has his or her particular style. That being said, I will share my settings and explain why I chose them.

For Launch Camera, I chose Apple's Camera App. Even though I use other apps as well, such as Halide and Leica LUX, I still prefer Apple's app for the default. I turn off Require Screen On. This saves me a step for quick grab shots. All I have to do is single-click the Camera Control button, and I'm ready to shoot.

Under Controls (Settings > Camera > Camera Control > Controls), I do turn on Camera Adjustments. But for Customize (right below Camera Adjustments), I turn off everything except for Exposure, which is far and away the most common setting I use. With a light press on the Camera Control button, I can swipe to the left and right to tweak the exposure, then hard-press the button to take the shot. Simple and efficient. BTW: Exposure provides up to 2 EVs of compensation in either direction (-2.0 to +2.0 EV).

And finally, I do like Lock Focus and Exposure. So I turn that on as well.

Photographic Styles

App Settings - Photographic Styles - Settings > Camera > App Settings

These are presets that are configurable, allowing you to adjust the tone mapping to your personal preferences. The newest style, Bright, should be quite popular and is worth a look. Many photographers also like Amber.

The other styles include Standard, Gold, Rose Gold, Neutral, and Cool Rose. Regardless of which Style you choose, consider it a starting point. Then tap the Customize button and fine-tune the look to your taste. Once you're happy, tap the blue checkmark to save the setting.

File Formats

Formats Settings - Settings > Camera > Formats

Let's start at the top of the menu.

For Camera Capture, choose High Efficiency - The HEIF/HEVC format is fantastic for non-RAW photography. The quality is excellent, and the file sizes are compact. The other option, Most Compatible, is the JPEG format. Compatibility was once an issue when HEIF was new, but it is widely supported these days, and I highly recommend it.

Photo Capture - Choose 24MP. The other option, 12MP, only saves you 1MB per shot (2MB vs 3MB). Go with 24MP and capture all the information your camera is capable of recording.

ProRAW & Resolution Control - Turn it on and select JPEG-XL Lossy for the format. This combination provides top-notch RAW files with great-looking JPEG previews, but at a reasonable file size.

JPEG-XL Lossy is supported on iOS 17 and later, and macOS 14 and later. A 12MP file is only 11MB, and a 48MP file weighs in at 20MBs. Via your favorite image editor, you can override Apple's default processing and apply edits that better represent your style.

Preserve Settings - Settings > Camera > Preserve Settings

I turn on all of the settings (those I want preserved) except for Exposure Adjustment, Night Mode, and Action Mode. I want those three to return to default after I take a picture.

Composition and Photo Capture

Settings > Camera > Composition

There are five options here: Grid, Level, Mirror Front Camera, View Outside the Frame, and Indicators. Personally, I like Level and View Outside the Frame. Choose what works best for you.

Photo Capture - Settings > Camera > Photo Capture

This is where you can turn on the 28mm and 35mm Fusion Camera options. To be honest, I've gone back and forth on this. If you have them turned on, with the 24mm camera setting as the default, then you can access the 28mm and 35mm focal lengths by tapping on the 1X indicator on the viewing screen. Doing so cycles through the three focal lengths.

There is a drop in resolution when you use the 28mm and 35mm settings. For example, I get 48MP (8064x6048) at 24mm, but at 35mm the resolution is 24MP (5712x4284). If you like the 28mm or 35mm perspective, then you may want to turn one or both on. I like 35mm myself, and have that currently enabled to complement the 24mm angle of view.

Portraits in Photo Mode - Settings > Camera > Portraits in Photo Mode. I enable this setting because it automatically captures depth information for my portrait-styled compositions, allowing me to apply portrait effects later in post-processing.

Prioritize Faster Shooting - Settings > Camera > Prioritize Faster Shooting. Unless you're an action photographer, I recommend turning this setting off so that you get the best quality possible with every tap of the shutter button.

And Finally! Lens Correction, Macro Control, Lens Cleaning Hints, and Save Captures to Photo Library... turn them all on.

So, set up your iPhone, then get out there and take some great pictures!

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,029, Dec. 9, 2025. Today's theme is, "Year-End Organizing Checklist for Photographers." I'm Derrick Story.

It's easy for photographers to be distracted by holiday sales as the year closes. Black Friday discounts and Cyber Monday deals are indeed tempting. But instead of focusing on acquiring new gear, this is a great time of year to manage what we already have. And that's what we're going to talk about on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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Year-End Organizing Checklist for Photographers

Over the course of the previous 11 months, many of us bought new accessories, cameras, and lenses. Most likely we traveled to beautiful destinations and filled our SD cards with thousands of images. And if we're lucky, we even made a few dollars along the way.

December is the perfect time to organize and account for all of that activity. Have you documented the serial numbers for your new gear? Is your backup system up to date? Do you know where your receipts are? Do you have any plans for next year?

This podcast can serve as a handy checklist to make sure your photography-house is in order as we prepare to embark upon 2026. Let's start with image backup and archiving.

Protect the Work You've Done

I think in terms of calendar year when organizing my images. In part, this is how my brain works. So I soon will be closing out 2025 and starting anew with 2026.

This year's images have been backed up along the way. But December is the time to test your system to make sure it's as robust as you believe it is. And that's item one on our checklist: Test Your Backup System.

I have my images organized on an external RAID drive and on a portable SSD. My favorite shots are saved in iCloud as an additional layer of convenience and protection. I can access my Cloud account from any of my devices as long as I have an internet connection.

For the connected drives, I use Peakto to account for them and provide a friendly user interface for managing the shots. I like it because it brings everything together from various locations into one easy-to-view location.

I put my system to the test by creating a list of shots that I want to find, and then search for them. This is a strict Pass/Fail activity. If I don't recover 100 percent of the photos I have on my list, then I troubleshoot the system until I reach perfection.

Serial Numbers and Updated Insurance Riders

It doesn't do any good to insure equipment that you've sold. December is the time to review your insurance riders to delete items that you no longer own, and to add gear that you've acquired over the year. In addition to the policy itself, I keep an inventory list separately as well.

Is your accounting woefully out of date? Shore it up now.

It feels great to have everything itemized. Plus now you have a platform to add additional information such as purchase date, price, and even a photo of the item with a short description.

If you experience theft, fire, flooding or some other loss, your inventory will help facilitate a fast recovery.

Print Your Best Pictures

We have no idea what the future has in store for us. Hard drives and computers could go the way of the dodo bird. A massive solar storm or cyber attack could erase everything. AI bots could go rouge. I know this sounds very sci-fi, but we just don't know.

Archival prints are immune from all of this. We don't need a device to view them. They have a long shelf life. And they are beautiful.

If you were to make six prints every year of your best stuff, chances are good that you would have an entire exhibit archived by the time you retire. Think about it... if you wanted, you could erase every device you own and still have a collection of images left for posterity.

Start this year by making at least 6 of the largest prints your printer can output. Store them in an archival box and mark the outside clearly. Then next December, do it again.

Identify the Gear That You're Not Using

Our photography, like everything else, evolves over time. We find new areas of interest and perhaps become less enamored with previous favorites. Our gear will reflect those changes.

We're pretty good about adding new items to accommodate fresh interests. But the old stuff tends to migrate to the back of the closet, out of sight.

Since we have to pull everything out anyway to account for it in our inventory, why not use this opportunity to designate lesser-used items for sale? Not only does this save space and simplify inventory control, but those extra dollars can go into future purchases for new things we need.

Make Plans for the New Year

Once you have your 2025 under control, it's time to think about the coming year. Do you have a project that you've been thinking about? Now is the perfect time to sketch it out, add milestones, and set your goal.

Is there a destination that you've wanted to photograph? December is a great time to research best times to visit, create budgets, and start discussions with your travel partner.

Blocking out space on the calendar for your adventures and goals not only increase the likelihood of them materializing, but it also reveals the open spaces you have for other activities. It's a lot easier to agree to attend a family gathering in July when you know that month is open.

Plus, what a great feeling to have events to look forward to.

Final Thoughts

Photographers living north of the equator may think of December as an uninspiring time of short, cold, days. But there's great opportunity to plant seeds for the coming year.

Set aside some time to work on this checklist. And have a great 2026!

December Checklist for Photographers

• Protect the Work You've Done - Test your backup system.
• Serial Numbers and Updated Insurance Riders - Account for your gear.
• Print Your Best Pictures - Create your device-independent archive.
• Identify the Gear That You're Not Using - Reclaim space and generate income.
• Make Plans for the New Year - Block out chunks of time for your craft.

This Week in the News

The best (and worst) photo gifts DPReview readers have ever received as featured on DPReview.com

10 More Crazy Photography Facts You (Probably) Didn't Know as featured on FStoppers.com

Viltrox teases new conversion lenses for Fujifilm X100 cameras as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.