Capturing the Northern Lights with just an iPhone was always on my list, and when the sky put on a show last night in the UK, that’s all I had. iPhones don’t offer all the manual controls of a DSLR, but with a few tricks and the right apps you can still get beautiful aurora shots.
If you want to see the lights in the best settings, consider booking a Northern Lights trip to a dark, scenic location.
Avoid light pollution by heading far from town lights. Parks, woods, and lakes make great backdrops. The darker it is, the better the contrast between the aurora and the night sky.
Because Night mode uses long exposures, your phone must be steady. Use a small phone tripod or rest your phone on a stable surface like a rock. A Bluetooth remote or a 3–10 second timer helps reduce blur from pressing the shutter.
Night mode is useful, but long-exposure apps give you more control. Try Slow Shutter Cam, ProCam, or NightCap Camera to set exposure and ISO manually.
HDR can help when the aurora is bright against a dark sky by merging multiple exposures to keep more detail. You can turn HDR on in your camera settings.
Include foreground elements—silhouetted trees, reflective lakes, or mountains—to add depth and context. Try both portrait and landscape orientations to see which works best.
Cold weather drains batteries fast. Bring a power bank and keep your phone in an inner pocket when not shooting. Dress warmly and wear gloves; you might be out for a while. I wasn’t very prepared one night—just a fleece and crocs—and it made a difference.
A little editing goes a long way. Use Lightroom, VSCO, or the iPhone’s editing tools to tweak brightness, contrast, and color. Lightroom is great for RAW files and noise reduction—it’s what I use.
Don’t forget to look up and enjoy the show with your own eyes. It’s easy to get caught up in taking photos, but the real experience of watching the lights is unforgettable.
With practice and patience, your iPhone can capture the magic of the Northern Lights. I used an iPhone 15 Pro for my photos and edited them in Lightroom to boost the colors. If you’re thinking of upgrading, watch for mobile deals around Boxing Day.
