A glowing jack-o’-lantern is easy to photograph when it stays put. A trick-or-treater rushing between houses is another story, especially after sunset, when the iPhone camera may need more time to capture enough light.

Ahead of October 31, iPhone owners can improve their Halloween shots by choosing the right settings for moving subjects, posed costumes and illuminated decorations. Recent testing has also revealed a potential downside to the iPhone 18 Pro’s new manual camera controls: more control over shutter speed can mean noisier photos in low light.

The challenge is balancing brightness with sharpness. Night mode can brighten a dark porch, but longer exposures increase the risk of motion blur. For moving subjects, faster capture and better lighting may produce more useful results.

Best iPhone camera settings for Halloween

Start with what you’re photographing.…