Every year, I plan to book a photographer in advance to take those print-worthy holiday shots, which I'll send to loved ones. But between busy schedules, surging fees and life in general, I always end up doing it myself. I've gotten surprisingly good at capturing almost pro-level shots with just my iPhone, Apple Watch, and a tripod. Here's how.

Level up your portrait mode

Portrait mode is what creates that blurred background effect in a shot, and it's my go-to camera mode for holiday photos, people and pets. This is what professional photographers call the "bokeh" effect, which adds contrast between the background and foreground, making your subject stand out. Just slide to the Portrait option at the bottom of the camera screen, tap on the subject, wait until the focus box and caption turn yellow, and then capture your shot. 

Though the iPhone uses software to mimic this effect — rather than adjusting the aperture and focus of the lens like a traditional DSLR — the result is still impressive and might not even be noticeable to most people. The edges of the subject can appear sharper, and the occasional limb or stray hair might get unintentionally blurred. But it's getting close to the real thing, and it's a great option for portraits if you're aiming for a professional look without the hassle of a DSLR.

The other benefit of using Portrait mode in your shots is that you can adjust the lighting, the focus and the intensity of the blur even after you've taken the shot. To edit, click on the slider icon on the lower right-hand side of your photo and flick on the f icon on the lower left. Now you can click anywhere on the shot to change the focus. 

To adjust the lighting on the subject, click the hexagon on the top left and then use the slider option on the bottom of the shot to preview each lighting option and adjust the intensity of the effect. You can also click on the F on the top left above the photo to diminish or intensify the blur.

Live Photo can save a group shot 

The biggest downside of using Portrait mode is that it requires your subjects to remain relatively still to lock in focus. And if you've ever worked with pets or young children, you know this is no small feat. Whenever I have squirmy subjects or a large group shot, I usually switch to Live Photo. You'll find this option in the top-right corner of the default Photo mode on your iPhone (it's the ripple icon with the concentric circles). Just tap the ripple icon until you see the word "Live" appear on the screen. 

Live Photo automatically captures about 1.5 seconds of footage before and after you press the shutter, giving you a short, three-second clip for each shot. In your camera roll, the image will appear as a regular photo, but if you long-press it, you'll see it come to life.

If the featured frame isn't ideal — say, someone blinked, or your toddler face-planted into the snow — you can go back (or forward) in time to select a better frame. To do this, tap the edit icon in the bottom-right corner, then select "Live" in the bottom left. Scrub through the footage and choose "Make key photo" when you find a more flattering shot. 

Keep in mind that the main frame is higher resolution than the rest of the clip, so if you select a different frame, you may notice a slight drop in quality. However, it's a small trade-off for turning a once unusable shot into something worthwhile.

Backlight can be good light

Whether you're using Portrait mode or Live Photo, good lighting can make or break your shot. I've always known that sunrise and sunset are the best times to take photos because they offer the most flattering light, with fewer harsh shadows. But it wasn't until a few years ago that this self-proclaimed iPhone photographer realized she hadn't been using the golden hour to its full potential.

Typically, placing your subject in front of a bright light source like a sunset isn't ideal. It's great if you're trying to be mysterious and artistic, but it's not the best approach for letting grandma delight over the adorable faces of her precious grandchildren. Hence, I'd position my subject facing directly toward the setting sun, even if that meant blinding them momentarily. Sometimes I'd pull it off, but other times the lighting would be too harsh and highlight every imperfection. 

Now, if there's no cloud cover, I break my cardinal rule and do the exact opposite by placing my subject in front of the sun. iPhone cameras have evolved to the point where they can actually compensate for the bright background and keep the subject well-lit too. The backlight creates an almost halo effect around the subject, softening facial features and giving the entire shot a more flattering, whimsical look.

Add a tripod to join the fun 

If you don't need to be in the shot, you can stop reading this section now. But if you want to join in on the action, you'll definitely need a tripod and a timer. You can get creative and use a couple of hair ties and a fence post (I've done it in a pinch), or you can invest $20 in a proper tripod and save yourself the headache.

Related: Best iPhone camera tripods and accessories

Once your tripod is set up, position everyone but yourself in the frame and lock the focus by pressing on your subject until the focus box turns yellow and the "AE/AF Lock" appears on screen. Then, tap the arrow at the top center of the screen, just below the selfie camera (or center-left if you're holding your phone in landscape mode). This will reveal a few icons on the opposite side of the screen.

Scroll left (or down, depending on the orientation of the shot) until you find the timer icon. Tap it. Now figure out how fast you can run, and set your deadline. Press the shutter and get in position. The flash on the camera will serve as your countdown. If you're in the default photo mode, your phone will take a burst of 10 shots to choose from. Portrait mode is less forgiving; you get only one shot to get it right, so you may have to run back and forth between the tripod to your group until you're out of breath or get the right shot.

If you're open to changing phone models, you may not need a tripod at all. The Pixel 9's Add Me feature uses augmented reality and AI to layer images together, meaning you can take separate photos and later combine them into one group shot.

Remote shutter on your wrist 

If you're not in the mood to work up a sweat, consider using a remote shutter. Most tripods come with one, but they're a hassle to pair — and I've yet to meet a remote I didn't lose. Maybe you're more responsible than I am, but my go-to hack is using an Apple Watch instead.

Set up your shot, take a leisurely walk to join the rest of your group for your photo op, and open the Camera remote app on your Apple Watch. The app mirrors exactly what's on your iPhone screen, so you can check your wrist to see if you've made it into the frame. You can even adjust the focus right from your wrist. Once you press the capture button, it defaults to a three-second timer, giving you just enough time to lower your wrist and strike a pose. 

Bonus: Nontech tips for parents

If I haven't stressed this enough, photographing small kids and pets is in a league of its own and requires superhuman patience. They very rarely will cooperate unless you're armed with props and bribes, and even then, they may erupt in tears (or whines) at any given moment. 

The best prop is one that can contain them, such as a wagon or a bench, but that still might not be enough to prevent them from wandering off. Keep kids' attention by giving them a specific task, like blowing a kiss to the camera or hugging a sibling. And if all else fails, keep a stash of candy or your pet's favorite treats in your pocket. M&M's work great as bribes for kids because they're discreet and can be consumed discreetly between takes. 

Most importantly, be ready to roll with the punches. Even if you follow every tip, there's always a wild card; unpredictable weather, wine stains or family drama can easily derail the perfect shot. When that happens, you can either master Photoshop (don't worry, I'll cover that in a future tutorial) or embrace the chaos and let the moment live on, perfectly imperfect, in your holiday card.