Selfies with the rear cameras on iPhone Duo
Open the phone and the cover screen sits on the outside, next to the rear cameras. Switch on the live mirror and you can frame yourself with them.
Better selfies on any phone
Whatever camera you use, a few habits separate a good selfie from a rushed one.
Face the light
Turn toward a window or step into open shade, so soft light falls on your face. A bright window behind you will leave you in shadow unless you correct the exposure.
Mind the distance
Wide lenses held at arm's length exaggerate whatever is closest to them, usually your nose. Step back, zoom in a little and the picture looks more like you.
Look at the lens, not yourself
Your eyes read as "looking at the camera" when you actually look at the lens. Looking at your own face on a screen pulls your gaze away. A short glance at the screen to check the frame, then back to the lens, is the way to go.
Keep it steady
Prop the phone on a shelf, a stand or a tripod instead of holding it with a wobbly arm. Wipe the lens first: pocket smudges soften every photo. Then use the timer so you are not touching the phone when the shutter fires.
Shoot several frames
Blinks happen. Shoot several frames and pick the one where everyone looks like themselves.
How it works on iPhone Duo
Here is the idea. With the iPhone Duo open and the AnyFront camera running, the cover screen sits on the outside, next to the rear cameras, facing the person you are photographing. That could be you. AnyFront's live mirror shows the shot on that screen, so you can see your own framing while the rear cameras take the picture.
- Open the phone and start AnyFront's camera.
- On the inner screen, open the Cover Screen sheet, switch on "Show on cover screen" and pick the Mirror tab.
- Choose your lens. AnyFront offers every lens the iPhone has, such as 0.5x, 1x and 3x on the models that have them.
- Set up the phone somewhere steady and set the timer.
- Press the shutter, step into your spot and watch the mirror to check your framing before the shot is taken.
Because the cover screen sits right beside the cameras, a glance at the mirror keeps your eyes close to them. The cover screen is available only while the phone is unfolded, the app is open in front of you and the camera is running. Folded, the iPhone Duo works like a regular phone and AnyFront runs on the outer display as a normal camera.
The manual camera is free on every compatible iPhone, and the cover-screen extras are a one-time unlock on iPhone Duo. See the cover-screen camera page for more, and the FAQ for the practical details.
Swap the mirror for a toy
Taking a selfie with a toddler, a baby or a dog? Switch the cover screen from Mirror to a photo, a video or one of the animations, without leaving the camera. See how it works in our guides to photographing toddlers and kids, getting a baby to look at the camera and getting a dog or cat to look at the camera.
Manual controls for self-portraits
Set focus before you step in
The timer will not wait for the camera to figure out where you will be. Before you press the shutter, tap to focus and expose on the spot where your face will be (a chair back or an outstretched hand works as a stand-in), then use AE/AF lock. When you step into place, the focus is already there.
Check the eyes with focus peaking
Focus peaking highlights the edges that are in focus. Use it on your stand-in position before you step in, and take one test frame afterwards, zoomed in on your eyes. If the wall behind you is sharper than your face, adjust the focus and try again.
Exposure compensation and the histogram
If your face looks dark because of a bright window behind you, raise EV. If your forehead glows, watch the zebras and lower it. The live histogram shows at a glance whether you are losing shadows or highlights.
Grid and level
Turn on the grid and level so the horizon, doorframe or wall stays straight. It matters when a phone is propped at a slight angle.
Lens choice
For single portraits, try stepping back and using a longer lens such as 3x, where the model has one. For group shots in a small room, 0.5x fits more people in. Either way, you can switch lenses without leaving the camera.
Quick checklist
- Soft light on your face, not behind you.
- Phone propped steady, lens wiped.
- Mirror tab selected in the Cover Screen sheet.
- Lens chosen: 1x for most, 3x or 0.5x where you have them.
- Tap to focus where your face will be, then AE/AF lock.
- Timer set before you press the shutter.
- Check the mirror, look at the lens, shoot several frames.
- Test frame checked, with your eyes sharp.
The short version
The rear cameras, the live mirror and the timer together turn the iPhone Duo into a self-portrait rig. Set the focus, prop the phone, press the shutter and walk into the frame. The features page lists every control used here.