How to Take Better Photos of Fast-Moving Kids on Your iPhone
You know those wild, blink-and-it’s-gone moments?
The running leap into the sprinkler. The mid-laugh head toss. The exact second your toddler actually smiled and looked at the camera.
Those moments happen fast, and that’s where Burst Mode saves the day.
This iPhone feature lets you capture a rapid sequence of photos with one press, so you can scroll through the frames later and grab the perfect one. No more relying on luck.
What Is Burst Mode, and Why Does It Matter for Parents?
Burst Mode takes a series of rapid-fire shots while you hold the shutter. It’s like flipping through a flipbook and picking that one frame where the light hits just right and your kid’s eyes are open.
You’ll want to use Burst Mode for:
– Running jumps into the pool
– Trampoline chaos
– Big reactions (meltdowns or magic!)
– Spinning dresses, sticky hands, water balloon wars
Because let’s face it, kids don’t hold still. Burst Mode keeps you from missing the best parts.
The Easier Way to Use Burst Mode (You’ll Thank Yourself)
You can use Burst Mode by dragging the shutter button to the left… but if you’ve ever tried to do that mid-chaos with one hand, it’s not the easiest.
Instead, here’s the move I recommend: Change a Setting to Make Burst Mode Easier
Use the Volume Up button to activate Burst Mode—no dragging required.
Here’s how to turn it on:
Go to Settings > Camera
Toggle on Use Volume Up for Burst
Now, when your camera is open, just press and hold the Volume Up button. Your iPhone will take a stream of burst photos automatically.
Easy. One-handed. Chaos-proof.
How to Review & Pick the Best Shots
Once you’ve snapped your burst, here’s how to sort the gems from the blinks:
Open the Photos app and tap your burst image
Tap “Select…” at the bottom
Swipe through the burst frames and tap to checkmark the ones you want to keep
Tap Done, then choose “Keep Only Favorites” to delete the rest
TIP: Do this right away while the moment is still fresh in your mind. Otherwise, your camera roll will fill with near-duplicates and mystery bursts.
Burst Mode won’t make your kid sit still, but it will help you meet them where they’re at—mid-motion, mid-laugh, mid-summer-mess.
The best photos don’t come from perfection. They come from presence and from knowing how to work with what you’ve got (aka an iPhone, one hand, and a whole lot of energy).
Here for you,
Jess
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