There’s no denying it: the rise of iPhone photography is nothing short of unstoppable. It’s a revolution, a redefinition of everything we thought photography was supposed to be. And let’s just get it out of the way right now: the iPhone has absolutely decimated the compact camera market. It wasn’t a fair fight. The point-and-shoot cameras we used to carry on vacations or to family events have been relegated to a nostalgic memory. Why? Because the iPhone became the camera we didn’t have to think about. It was always with us, always ready, and always capable of capturing the moment. That’s a lethal combination—and one that reshaped the photography landscape forever.
Here’s a number to chew on: over 92% of the 1.8 trillion photos taken annually worldwide are captured on phones. Let that sink in. Trillion. With a “T.” Dedicated cameras—DSLRs, mirrorless systems, and others—barely make a dent in comparison. Sure, they’re tools of precision and artistry, but their annual unit sales are a sliver of what Apple moves in iPhones alone. And why wouldn’t they be? For most of us, the best camera is the one we have with us, and the iPhone has made sure it’s always in our hands.
We’re not just taking more photos—we’re pointing our cameras at entirely different things. Back in the day, photography was mostly about milestones: birthdays, vacations, weddings, graduations. You brought the camera out of its case for the big stuff. Now? We’re shooting our morning coffee, the way the light hits the sidewalk, a random stranger’s dog, the sky after a rainstorm. We’re documenting the in-between moments, the unspectacular things that somehow feel spectacular when framed in the viewfinder. And that’s the magic of the iPhone camera: it invites us to celebrate the everyday.
I’ve spent decades immersed in photography—from analog to digital, and now mobile—and I’ve never seen a shift like this. The iPhone hasn’t just changed what we shoot; it’s changed when we shoot, where we shoot, how we shoot, and even why we shoot. Photography used to be about preserving memories. Now, it’s about creating experiences. We’re not just taking photos to look back on them later; we’re taking them to be present in the moment, to see the world more deeply and feel it more vividly.
“To photograph is to hold one’s breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality,” Henri Cartier-Bresson once said. But here’s the thing: the iPhone lets us breathe. It lets us exhale into our creativity, capturing fleeting realities without overthinking. It’s intuitive. It’s effortless. And that’s why it’s so powerful. The tools disappear, and all that’s left is the art.
Think about the way the iPhone camera has transformed life—every part of it. We used to bring cameras to specific events. Now, we bring our cameras—our phones—everywhere. We’re capturing spontaneous, unexpected moments in ways we never could before. And the quality? It’s stunning. Computational photography has turned these tiny devices into visual powerhouses. They’re less phones now and more cameras—with the ability to make calls.
There’s something so intimate about this shift. The iPhone camera has turned photography upside down. It’s no longer about heavy gear, perfect lighting setups, or hours spent editing. It’s about instinct, impulse, and intuition. It’s about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. And in that way, it’s democratized photography. Anyone can be a photographer now. The barriers to entry have all but disappeared. And the result? A world more connected, more visually expressive, and more alive.
“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera,” Dorothea Lange said. And isn’t that exactly what the iPhone camera has done? It’s taught us to see—really see—the beauty that’s always been around us. It’s taught us to slow down, to pay attention, to notice the details that might have otherwise slipped by. The texture of a tree bark. The way shadows play on a wall. The fleeting smile of a stranger. These moments are everywhere, and the iPhone reminds us to catch them while we can.
What’s more, the iPhone camera has changed the way we share our lives. Social media platforms have become galleries of personal expression, fueled by the images we create. We’re not just capturing memories for ourselves anymore; we’re sharing them with the world, inviting others to see what we see, feel what we feel. It’s a beautiful, collective act of storytelling.
And yet, there’s something deeper at play here. The iPhone isn’t just a tool for taking pictures; it’s a tool for living. It’s helping us experience life in ways that are richer, deeper, and more visual. When we stop to take a photo, we’re not just freezing time—we’re fully inhabiting it. We’re saying, “This matters. This moment is worth noticing.”
“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever,” Aaron Siskind said. And while the medium has shifted from film to pixels, the sentiment remains. Every photo we take is a testament to our curiosity, our creativity, our desire to connect. The iPhone has simply made it easier—and more profound.
I’ll be honest: I’m in awe of what the iPhone camera has done for photography. It’s turned it on its head, shaken it up, and opened it wide. And as someone who’s been doing this for decades, I find that exhilarating. There’s no going back. The rise of iPhone photography is unstoppable, and we’re all better for it.
So, here’s my challenge to you: lean into it. Embrace this revolution. Use your iPhone to see the world more clearly, to tell your story, to find beauty in the chaos. Don’t overthink it. Don’t worry about perfection. Just shoot. The moments are waiting for you. All you have to do is show up and let your camera—your iPhone—do the rest.
Because the truth is, this isn’t just about photography. It’s about life. It’s about being present, being curious, being bold. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s this: the iPhone has given us the tools to live a little louder, a little brighter, a little more beautifully. And that, my friends, is unstoppable.
Click.
Jack.
