If you spend any time online looking up infrared photography, especially on YouTube or Instagram, you would think the whole process requires a laboratory, a converted camera, a shelf full of filters, and a degree in optical engineering. Influencers love to make it look complicated. They talk about wavelengths, filter stacks, channel swaps, false color workflows, RAW converters, and software plug-ins that sound like they were designed for NASA.
It’s no wonder most people assume infrared photography is beyond their reach.
It’s not.
In fact, with an iPhone and one filter, you can create stunning infrared photographs that look like they came from a specialized camera system. You don’t need expensive gear. You don’t need to study charts. You don’t need a new app. You don’t need to spend hours processing files.
If you can screw a filter onto a lens and use the Photos app, you can shoot infrared.
You got this.
That’s the message I want to get across more than anything. iPhone infrared photography is far more accessible than most people think. And once you understand a few key ideas, the rest becomes simple, intuitive, and honestly… a lot of fun.
Let me show you how I do it.
Camp Lucy, Dripping Springs
I recently spent an hour wandering around Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas. If you don’t know it, Camp Lucy is a gorgeous Hill Country property—oak trees, stone paths, chapel buildings, rustic fences, vineyards, gardens, rolling terrain. It’s the kind of place people choose for weddings, events, and weekend escapes. The textures and scenery are wonderful in normal light, but when you photograph it in infrared, the whole place transforms. The grass turns white. The trees glow. The stone structures take on a dramatic contrast. It feels like stepping into a dream version of the Texas Hill Country.
And I shot every one of those images with my iPhone 17 Pro Max and a single filter.
No tripod.
No special apps.
No advanced post-processing.
Just walking, looking, shooting.
Hoya R72 Infrared Filter
To shoot true infrared with an iPhone, you do need one essential piece of gear: an infrared filter. I use the Hoya R72.
Why?
Because the iPhone has a very strong internal infrared-blocking filter built into its camera system. Without an external IR filter, the phone simply won’t record enough infrared light to create the classic glowing foliage and dark sky look. The Hoya R72 lets infrared wavelengths through while blocking most visible light. It gives the iPhone just enough infrared signal to work with, while still allowing a little red light through so you can see and compose your shot.
There are cheaper filters out there, but the Hoya R72 is a proven, high-quality option. It produces consistent results and a recognizable infrared look.
Air-Tight Filter Adapter
The filter itself is only half the equation. The key is how you attach it.
You MUST have an air-tight, light-tight adapter that seals the filter against your iPhone lenses. Any light leak—even a small one—will flood the sensor with visible light and ruin the infrared effect. You’ll end up with washed-out images and uneven exposure.
Think of it like wearing sunglasses with a crack in the corner. Even a tiny gap lets bright light in and destroys the experience.
While not ideal, for these shots I used what I had with me: the Neewer PA144. It’s not perfect, but it held the filter tight enough to block most stray light. A better, more secure, and more expensive option would be the Freewell Hybrid Filter Kit. That system offers a custom-fitted mounting solution that seals tightly around the camera and prevents leaks.
But here’s the takeaway:
Use what you have.
Make it work.
Upgrade later if you love the process.
What You Will See in the Viewfinder
The moment you attach the Hoya R72, your iPhone viewfinder will shift to a deep red or rose color.
This surprises people.
They think something is broken. It isn’t.
What you are seeing is the small amount of visible red light that still passes through the filter. The infrared wavelengths are invisible to your eye and to the display, so the phone shows you only the tiny slice of visible red that makes it through. That red preview is actually helpful. It means:
• the filter is working
• the camera can still autofocus
• you can still compose your scene
If you ever attach an infrared filter and the screen goes nearly black, that means the filter is blocking too much visible light for the iPhone to function. You won’t be able to frame your shot.
With the Hoya R72, the red preview is perfect.
If you can see it, you can shoot it.
Conversion to Black & White
After you capture your infrared image, the next step happens in the Photos app.
Open the photo
Tap Edit
Go to Adjust
Pull the Saturation slider all the way to zero
That single move instantly converts your red infrared capture into a basic black and white image. It won’t look finished yet, but it will give you the right starting point for editing. You don’t need a special preset. You don’t need an app. You don’t need a filter menu.
Just remove the color.
Adjustment Sliders
Once the image is black and white, the fun begins.
How much you adjust depends on your style, but I can tell you this:
With infrared, less is more.
If you push too far, the image breaks. The glow disappears. The foliage turns chalky. The sky loses depth. The whole photograph can become muddy or harsh.
Here’s a simple starting point:
Highlights down
Brilliance up slightly
Black Point up slightly
Definition up slightly
That’s usually all I do.
Those small adjustments recover detail in the bright foliage, add depth, and give the image a clean, graphic feel. The goal is not perfection. The goal is mood and tone.
If it looks good, stop.
Final Touch
Once you’re happy with the tones, add one more thing:
Vignette.
Set it to 100%.
Infrared images—especially on the iPhone—often have a natural bright center from the way infrared light passes through the lens. Adding a vignette balances the frame and makes the glow feel intentional. It pulls the viewer’s eye toward the subject and gives the photograph a finished look.
And that’s the process.
No mystery.
No intimidation.
No lab work.
Just an iPhone, a filter, a secure adapter, and a few simple editing steps.
Infrared photography doesn’t have to be technical or overwhelming. It can be as simple as stepping outside, attaching a filter, and seeing the world in a new way.
If you’ve ever wanted to try infrared, don’t let influencers scare you off.
You can do this.
And you might just fall in love with what you discover.
