This iPhone Trick Will Save You So Much Time

First Impressions

I grabbed the iWALK Small Portable Charger(which I got for $30), and the first thing I noticed was the size. The whole thing is smaller than my iPhone, meaning that it'll fit in just about any size bag and works with a lot of stadium concert rules!

It comes in multiple colors like pink and teal, but I got it in white.

The Timeline

I left for the concert at 2pm with a fully charged phone. I had to use Spotify, Google Maps, Uber, and my camera all before Taylor even came out, which means that by the time Gracie Abrams and Phoebe Bridgers had finished their opening acts (around 8 pm), my phone was on death's door.

The portable phone charger went right into the port and kept my phone alive for the rest of the night! It also didn't interfere with the audio in any of my recordings, which was super important to me.

Final Thoughts On This Portable Phone Charger

This product really surpassed my expectations because of how much power you get from such a small device. I've used it multiple times, and every time I do, my phone ends up fully charged, meaning I have enough battery for another round of adventures and antics.

I'll definitely have it in my bag all summer long. You can search on the internet for some other portable phone chargers for your summer, but this is definitely my favorite.

1. Before shooting, make sure you're working with the best quality.

Some of the iPhone camera’s default settings don’t set you up for the best picture quality, and you may not even realize it until you adjust your camera’s resolutions. A lot of the newer iPhone models automatically switch between several different lenses based on the situation you’re shooting in, which can result in blurry or low-quality pics. To eliminate a blur, go to Camera > Macro Control On. This disables the iPhone camera from switching lenses so you have more control in snapping the best, clearest images!

For high-quality video, enable 4K on your phone’s camera. All you need to do is go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then select 4K from there. From now on, your videos will be sharp, clear, and perfect for sharing.

2. For selfies, hold the iPhone camera slightly above your line of sight.

Instead of holding your phone straight across from your face, raising it slightly above your line of sight, angled down, gives your selfies a more flattering angle. If you prefer to snap pics of your “better side” only, this tip comes in hot, allowing you to easily play around with different angles. Don’t be afraid to try shooting from different perspectives either! Moving yourself (and the camera!) around can help you find the #1 scene to take a selfie in.

When considering the background of your selfie, aim to eliminate any visual distractions. Posing against a solid background is extremely helpful in making sure all eyes are on you.

As far as selfie lighting goes, stray away from direct sunlight — you’ll be caught squinting, and that’s no fun for The ‘Gram. Diffused light (posing in shade, or on a cloudy day) supplies just enough light to flatter your image!

3. Use the Rule of Thirds. For the significant others that need some iPhone picture training, tell them to take some notes here.

The rule of thirds is your BFF when taking pics of others. To begin, ensure your iPhone camera’s grid is on. Go to Settings > Camera > Grid On. When you open the camera, you can now see the frame is divided into 9 equal rectangles – or 3 columns and rows – whichever way you think about the thirds, the grid will guide you in the picture-taking process!

You want to place your subject (the person you’re photographing) at the intersection of the grid lines. A good rule of thumb is making sure their eyes land around the top horizontal line. This gives them enough headroom, ensuring their head isn’t “chopped off” by the edges of the image frame, also leaving space at the bottom of the frame to accommodate for any full-body pics.

The grid is essential for non-people pictures, too. It’ll aid your composition skills for pics of beautiful latte art, sculptures, and more by eliminating background distractions and pulling attention solely to the subject.

4. Wide angle lens not cutting it? Try the iPhone camera's panorama mode.

@kienquancreates Easy iPhone camera hack #cameratutorial#iphonecamerahacks#photomagic#photography101♬ 原聲 - ABCandE

Whether you’re trying to capture vacay pictures with big landmarks, or just an artsy city skyline pic, sometimes the wide angle feature on the iPhone camera doesn’t give you enough space to work with. This panorama hack is the ultimate solution, so you don’t have to settle for weirdly cut-off images.

Start on your iPhone’s panorama feature, then turn your phone sideways and move it slowly upwards to capture tall buildings and vistas! You can stop the panorama feature at any time, so you’re not stuck with an image that has less-compatible dimensions.

5. For cool, motion-filled pictures, use the iPhone's long exposure feature.

Long exposure is a fun effect you can use to up your Insta game. These images capture slowed-down motion for added effect – think moving cars, walking crowds, and even sparkler photos or fireworks (light painting). To begin shooting long exposures on the iPhone, first take a picture on Live Mode. Once you’ve got an image you like, go to the Photos app. In the top left corner of your image, you can change the capture from Live to Long Exposure and see that the moving objects in your picture are blurred and add a unique component to your photo.

6. Hack the iPhone camera's Portrait Mode.

@rambosphotos I used to hate portrait mode before I found this little feature aswell #iphonetricksandtips#iphoneportrait#iphonecamerahacks#phonephotographytips♬ original sound - Rosie ⋆ London Photographer

In photography, the f/stop controls how wide your camera’s aperture is, which affects the depth of field (fancy speak for blurred backgrounds). The iPhone camera chooses the f/stop for you when live shooting in Portrait Mode, but you can take control of f/stop to alter the amount of background blur after the fact. Just take a photo in Portrait Mode, then Edit > f/stop on the top left of the screen. A lower f/stop number results in narrow depth of field (more blur, good for eliminating visual distractions), while larger numbers result in wide depth of field (less blur).

7. Use the iPhone camera's wide angle for cool 'fit pics.

The best part about this picture-taking tip is you can execute it by yourself. For the best outfit pics, use the .5 wide angle option on the iPhone’s back camera. Place your phone down low (can touch the ground), making sure you’re in-frame with some test shots. Once you've found the best perspective, pose by kicking a leg out towards the camera, reach your hand toward it, or lean down to look at the camera lens. Capturing with the wide angle setting adds a level of distortion to your pics for added personality. Happy Instagramming, bestie!

What is special about A24 movies?

There are many things that make A24 movies stand out: stunning visual composition, original style, bold plot lines, mind-bending themes, and their support of indie talent (both directorial and for actors), but most of all, A24 movies are special because they stray from the status quo. The studio has built up a passionate fan base of film-lovers, which also contributes to their reputation.

Does HBO have A24 films?

Yes, HBO has over 100 A24 movies available for streaming. The studio struck a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery in December 2023 to bring its entire collection of new releases to HBO, Max, and Cinemax. Any new A24 movies that come out will also be added to the platforms for a set period of time.

Are there any upcoming A24 movies?

Yes, A24 has a lot of movies slated for the future. These are the upcoming A24 movies we know of:

• MaXXXine (July 2024) – Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon
• Sing Sing (July 2024) – Colman Domingo
• Eddington(no release date) – Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Austin Butler, and Pedro Pascal
• Janet Planet (no release date) – Julianne Nicholson and Zoe Ziegler
• Civil War (no release date) – Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Cailee Spaeny, Karl Glusman, and Sonoya Mizuno
• We Live In Time(no release date) – Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield
• Y2K (no release date) – Jaeden Martell, Julian Dennison, Rachel Zegler, Lachlan Watson, Mason Gooding, The Kid Laroi, Eduardo Franco, Miles Robbins, Fred Hechinger, Alicia Silverstone, Tim Heidecker, and Daniel Zolghadri
• Death of a Unicorn (no release date) – Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega
• A Different Man (no release date) – Sebastian Stan, Adam Pearson, and Renate Reinsve
• The Front Room (no release date) – Brandy, Kathryn Hunter, Andrew Burnap, and Neal Huff
• I Saw the TV Glow (no release date) – Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Phoebe Bridgers, Danielle Deadwyler, Amber Benson, Conner O’Malley, and Fred Durst
• The Legend of Ochi (no release date) – Helena Zengel, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, and Finn Wolfhard
• Mother Mary (no release date) – Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, and Hunter Schafer
• Opus (no release date) – Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino, and Tatanka Means
• Talk 2 Me (no release date) – sequel to A24's Talk to Me
• Wizards! (no release date) – Pete Davidson, Naomi Scott, Sean Harris, Orlando Bloom, and Franz Rogowski.
• The Backrooms (no release date)

Which A24 movies have won awards?

A24 has been nominated for 55 Academy Awards with 16 wins total thus far.

• 2016: Best Actress for Brie Larson’s performance in Room, Best Documentary Feature Film for Amy, and Best Visual Effects for Ex Machina.
• 2017: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Moonlight.
• 2021: Best Supporting Actress for Yuh-jung Youn’s performance in Minari.

In 2023, A24 gathered more critical acclaim than ever before, being nominated for 18 Oscars. Everything Everywhere All at Once won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. The Whale won Best Actor and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Has A24 made TV shows?

Yes, A24 has made a handful of TV shows since founding the studio in 2012. The shows include: The Curse, At Home with Amy Sedaris, Beef, The Carmichael Show, Euphoria, I'm Sorry, Irma Vep, Mo, Mr. Corman, Ramy, and Ziwe.

My Top 5 A24 Movies You Need To See To Believe The Hype

The Whale (2022)

This A24 movie is a total tearjerker, but it's 1000% worth the box of tissues, IMO. The plot introduces Charlie, a morbidly obese English teacher who’s grown to be extremely reclusive and self-destructive due to his appearance and overall mental health.

In the movie, Charlie aims to reconnect with his abandoned daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), and we watch their tense relationship develop as Ellie primarily consults Charlie for help on her English homework.

Despite efforts to help Charlie turn his life around – by Liz (his primary caretaker), Thomas (a local missionary), and Ellie – he spirals.

The Whale is an absolute emotional roller coaster of a movie and one of Brendan Fraser’s best works I’ve ever seen. It can be grotesque at times, but no detail, either plot-wise or visually, is in there for fluffing up the timeline.

It’s a must-watch considering its positive critical acclaim with over 20 awards won.

Beau is Afraid (2023)

Beau Is Afraid follows Beau (Joaquin Phoenix), a severely anxious man, and his journey to get back to his mother. He embarks on an unusual odyssey through everything from crime, injury, love, and most of all, grief.

The general tone of the movie is very surreal, and the beautiful visuals and wonky plot line work together to create a sense of wonder.

I really enjoyed Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in this wacky, very A24-esque film, and probably felt every emotion ever while watching it. It ranges from violent to tender, and it’s very intriguing because due to Beau’s anxiety, you can’t clearly tell what’s real and what’s not.

Phoenix was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work with Beau Is Afraid.

Midsommar (2019)

A lot of A24 movies follow an explicitly surreal vibe, and Midsommar starring Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor is definitely no exception. Ari Aster steps in as director for this film, giving it his own twist of horror and dark comedy.

Midsommar centers around dysfunctional couple Dani (Florence Pugh) and Christian (Jack Reynor) who are invited to rural Sweden to celebrate the midsummer festival with some friends with family ties there.

What they don’t know is that they’re essentially staying there with a cult. Aaand things get even more complicated when their friend group gets dosed with psychedelic mushrooms in the midst of the midsummer ceremonies.

The Bling Ring (2013)

Written and directed by Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, Priscilla), The Bling Ring is one of my favorite A24 movies. I had a phase of pure obsession once, where I probably watched it 5 times in a month.

The Bling Ring is based on a real story, and it’s just such a period piece, encapsulating the culture of fame and celebrity in early 2010’s Los Angeles with pretty spot-on accuracy. It’s packed with tons of visual details from the zebra-print clothing to the flip phones that speak to the trends of the time. Not to mention, the soundtrack is bomb.

Following a squad of bored, fame-obsessed teens who keep tabs on LA-based celebs from the likes of Paris Hilton and Audrina Patridge to break into their homes while they’re away, The Bling Ring shines a light on the real-life group’s tactics as well as each teens’ obsession with money and fame (and the problems it ultimately causes).

The cast features a stacked ensemble: Emma Watson, Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Taissa Farmiga, Claire Julien, Georgia Rock and Leslie Mann.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (who also directed Poor Things with Emma Stone), The Killing of a Sacred Deer is an absurd tale of a family who begins to fall mysteriously ill after they connect with Martin (Barry Keoghan), a boy whom Steven (Colin Farrell) the father of the family had been friendly with since Martin’s father died.

All A24 Movies To Watch Now

• 20th Century Women
• Aftersun
• After Yang
• A Ghost Story
• All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
• American Honey
• Amy
• Beau Is Afraid
• Barely Lethal
• Backstabbing for Beginners
• Bodies Bodies Bodies
• The Ballad of Lefty Brown
• The Blackcoat's Daughter
• The Bling Ring
• The Captive
• Causeway
• The Children Act
• Climax
• Close
• C'mon C'mon
• The Death of Dick Long
• De Palma
• Dicks: The Musical
• The Disaster Artist
• Dream Scenario
• Earth Mama
• The Elephant Queen
• Eighth Grade
• Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts
• The End of the Tour
• Enemy
• Equals
• The Eternal Daughter
• Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Ex Machina
• The Exception
• False Positive
• The Farewell
• First Cow
• The Florida Project
• First Reformed
• Free Fire
• Funny Pages
• Ginger & Rosa
• Gloria Bell
• God's Creatures
• Good Time
• The Green Knight
• Green Room
• High Life
• Hereditary
• Hot Summer Nights
• How to Talk to Girls at Parties
• Instinct
• In Fabric
• The Inspection
• The Iron Claw
• Into the Forest
• It Comes at Night
• Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind
• The Kill Team
• The Killing of a Sacred Deer
• Krisha
• Lady Bird
• Laggies
• Lamb
• The Last Black Man in San Francisco
• The Last Movie Star
• Lean on Pete
• The Lighthouse
• Locke
• The Lobster
• The Lovers
• Low Tide
• Love Lies Bleeding
• Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
• The Monster
• Men
• Menashe
• Midsommar
• Mid90s
• Mississippi Grind
• Mojave
• Moonlight
• Morris from America
• My Mercury
• Native Son
• Never Goin' Back
• Oasis: Supersonic
• Obvious Child
• Occupied City
• On the Rocks
• Open Wide
• Outlaws
• The Rover
• Pearl
• Past Lives
• Pi
• A Prayer Before Dawn
• Problemista
• Red Rocket
• The Sea of Trees
• Share
• Showing Up
• The Sky Is Everywhere
• The Slice
• Slow West
• Son of a Gun
• The Souvenir
• The Souvenir Part II
• The Spectacular Now
• Star at Noon
• Stars at Noon
• Stephen Curry: Underrated
• Stop Making Sense
• Swiss Army Man
• Trespass Against Us
• The Tragedy of Macbeth
• Tusk
• The Vanishing of Sidney Hall
• Val
• The Whale
• When You Finish Saving the World
• While We're Young
• White Noise
• Woman Walks Ahead
• Woodshock
• X
• You Hurt My Feelings
• Zola
• The Zone of Interest