iPhone 17 Pro/Max Best Camera Settings for Pro Photos 2025

Learn how to take stunning, professional-looking photos with your iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max using these expert settings and editing techniques. Avoid the overprocessed "phone look" and achieve natural, high-contrast results in any lighting, especially low light - straight from the iPhone 17 Pro/Max camera system.

iPhone 17 Pro/Max Camera Settings: High Efficiency vs Most Compatible Explained

Start in Settings → Camera → Formats.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Camera Formats

Choose High Efficiency (HEIF/HEVC) if your computer or phone is from the last 5 years, files are more compressed (like ZIP), saving significant storage with no quality loss.
Use Most Compatible (JPEG/H.264) only if sharing files with older devices (5+ years old) that might struggle to open HEIF.

Captured at 48MP on iPhone 17 Pro

This simple choice affects both photos and videos — one of the first and most important iPhone 17 Pro/Max camera settings decisions.

iPhone 17 Pro/Max Resolution & ProRAW: 48MP + JPEG-XL Lossy for Best Quality

Setting Photo Mode at 48MP

Set Photo Mode to the highest resolution available (48 megapixels on both Pro and Pro Max) for maximum detail, better cropping flexibility, and sharper results.

Enabling ProRaw & Resolution Control & Choosing JPEG-XL Lossy

Enable ProRes and Resolution Control to switch resolutions easily inside the Camera app. For ProRAW format, choose JPEG-XL Lossy, this modern compression delivers dramatically smaller file sizes than traditional RAW or even HEIF without any visible quality drop.

Shot with JPEG-XL Lossy Format

Steven Divish has tested every format and found JPEG-XL Lossy to be the clear winner for high-resolution shooting on the iPhone 17 Pro/Max.

Preserve Settings on iPhone 17 Pro/Max: Macro, Night Mode & More

Low-Light Photo Shot on iPhone 17 Pro

In Settings → Camera → Preserve Settings:

Toggling on mandatory Preserve Settings

Turn on Camera Mode, Macro Control, Exposure Adjustment, and Night Mode.
Keeping Night Mode preserved is especially useful in low light, overcast days, or fog, it gives you the option to manually activate computational photography when needed.
ProRAW & Resolution Control: Leave on if you frequently shoot RAW; turn off for casual daily use to avoid accidentally shooting large RAW files.

iPhone 17 Pro/Max Composition Settings: Grid, Level & View Outside Frame

Enabling Grid, Level, View outside the frame options

Enable these for stronger, more intentional framing:

Grid — classic rule of thirds guide
Level — ensures perfectly straight horizons
View Outside Frame — helps you see what will be cropped when using digital zooms or additional lenses

A well composed picture using Grid, Level Settings

These small but powerful composition tools make a huge difference in street, travel, and everyday photography on the iPhone 17 Pro/Max.

35mm Fusion Camera on iPhone 17 Pro/Max: Why This Is the Best Default Lens

Steven Divish recommends setting the default lens to 35mm (Fusion camera) on both iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.

Inspired by the Vivo X200 Ultra's native 35mm main sensor.
Delivers a natural, slightly compressed perspective, less wide-angle distortion than the default 24mm.
Ideal for people, portraits, animals, food, coffee, street photography, and most day-to-day scenes.
You can always switch back to wider lenses but 35mm is recommended as the starting point for more interesting, cinematic-looking compositions.

RAW vs HEIF on iPhone 17 Pro/Max: When to Use Each Format

Use HEIF Max (48MP high-resolution HEIF) for almost everything, excellent quality, small file size, and still allows light editing.

Shot on iPhone 17 Pro with HEIF Max 48MP

Switch to RAW only when you have an exceptional shot you plan to heavily edit (wallpapers, Instagram posts, or special moments) - RAW gives maximum flexibility but creates much larger files.

Shot on iPhone 17 Pro with Raw 48MP

iPhone 17 Pro/Max Night Mode: How & When to Use It in Low Light

Night Mode automatically appears in dim conditions (even if the sun is technically out but blocked by fog or clouds).

Activating Night Mode

Tap to activate, it uses longer exposures and computational stacking to brighten shadows and sharpen details handheld.
Preserve Night Mode in settings so it's always available when you need it.
Essential for moody, foggy, or evening street photography on the iPhone 17 Pro/Max.

Night Mode Shot - Before / After

iPhone 17 Pro/Max Best Accessories

For iPhone 17 Pro Max users looking to enhance their experience, essential accessories include Freewell’s protective case that blends sleek durability with style, Sherpa’s 1-second neutral density filters for capturing cinematic video, and anamorphic lenses to give footage a Hollywood-wide perspective. Complementing these are telephoto lenses for detailed distant shots and versatile grips that improve handheld comfort and stability.

Shot Using Steven Divish Anamorphic Lens

Additionally, for professional use, the Pro SSD Hub enables high-speed ProRes external recording, while the Genius Rig offers a comprehensive filmmaking solution, integrating mounts for lights, microphones, and monitors, transforming your iPhone into a mobile production powerhouse.

Steven Divish Anamorphic Lens Video

iPhone 17 Pro/Max Best Colors & Natural Contrast

The default HDR often lifts shadows too aggressively, creating flat, overprocessed "phone" photos.

Photography Styles Before / After

Use Photographic Styles in the Camera app to lower shadows live for richer blacks and better depth.
After shooting, adjust undertones, contrast, and shadows in the Photos app to restore mood and separation between foreground, midground, and background.
Extreme low saturation + high contrast = stunning black-and-white results with real depth.

Using Photography Styles to control contrast & saturation

Quick iPhone 17 Pro/Max Photo Editing Tips: Built-in Photos App (No Third-Party Apps Needed)

In the native Photos app:

Tap Edit → undertones slider: lower for more contrast, left/right for saturation control.

Using the Undertone Slider

Use individual sliders: drop shadows, increase contrast, adjust warmth (cooler for mystic, warmer for inviting).
These 5–10 second tweaks completely remove the typical overprocessed HDR look.

Original vs Edited Photo with iPhone 17 Pro Max Built-in Editing App.

iPhone 17 Pro/Max: Adobe Lightroom Mobile for Filmic, Pro Results

Use Lightroom Mobile (free version works great):

Adjusting Color on Lightroom

Auto tone often gives a strong starting point.
Light panel: boost contrast, lower highlights for better dynamic range.
Color: fine-tune temperature and tint for mood.
Effects: increase clarity (especially useful in low light), add texture, grain (for filmic/grungy feel), and light vignette.

Adjusting Exposure, Contrast & Highlights

These techniques are exactly what the creator uses to make iPhone 17 Pro/Max photos look like they came from a dedicated camera.

Masks: automatically select subject or background, then deepen shadows or increase contrast selectively (e.g., make a doggo or person pop against a softer background).

Before & After Masking

Master these iPhone 17 Pro/Max photography tips and settings, and you’ll capture breathtaking, natural-looking images in any light, no extra gear required. Keep experimenting and enjoy shooting!

Content Credit: Steven Divish

FAQs

What is the best default lens on iPhone 17 Pro/Max? The 35mm Fusion camera is recommended as default—it provides a natural, compressed perspective with less distortion, ideal for street photography, portraits, animals, and daily shots (inspired by the Vivo X200 Ultra).
Should I use High Efficiency or Most Compatible on iPhone 17 Pro/Max? Use High Efficiency for modern devices (last 5 years) to save storage with better compression. Switch to Most Compatible only for very old computers that can't handle HEIF files.
When to shoot RAW vs HEIF on iPhone 17 Pro/Max? Shoot HEIF Max (48MP) for most photos—great quality and editable. Use RAW only for special shots you plan to heavily edit, as files are much larger.
How to avoid the overprocessed HDR look on iPhone 17 Pro/Max? Use Photographic Styles to lower shadows live in the Camera app for richer blacks and depth. Post-shot, drop shadows or boost contrast in Photos app—embrace some clipping for natural results.
Best Night Mode tips for iPhone 17 Pro/Max in low light? Preserve Night Mode in settings for quick access. Manually activate in fog, dusk, or dim conditions—it sharpens handheld shots and recovers shadows naturally without overprocessing.
How to quickly edit photos on iPhone 17 Pro/Max without apps? In Photos app: Adjust undertones (lower for contrast), drop shadows, increase contrast, tweak warmth. Takes 5-10 seconds for dramatic, natural improvements.
Advanced Lightroom tips for iPhone 17 Pro/Max photos? Start with Auto, boost contrast/lower highlights, add clarity (for low light), texture, grain for filmic feel, and use masks to selectively edit subject/background.