Tips & How-to

Featuring upgrades introduced with the Galaxy S24 series

🌱It’s nature photography day! What better excuse to head outside, soak up the sunshine and put your phone’s photography skills to the test?

Snapping a portrait that actually looks like it was taken on a proper camera (you know, like one of those fancy DSLRs collecting dust in your dad’s cupboard) used to be tricky. But when the Galaxy S24 series launched, it brought some seriously smart upgrades to Portrait mode, using AI to level up your shots—and yes, those features still hold up beautifully now, even with newer models on the scene.

So what actually changed? Well, Samsung made things look more cinematic by boosting the blur on objects in front of your subject—not just behind them. Sounds simple, right? But just randomly cranking up the front blur makes everything look like it’s been badly Photoshopped. That’s where AI swoops in, calculating the distance and depth to give you that smooth, natural DSLR-like effect.

📷 Shot with focus locked on the subject.

🤓 Pro tip: Try placing something—like a coffee cup, flower, or curious cat—in front of the person you’re shooting. It’ll really help your subject pop, and the bokeh will look chef’s kiss.

📷 Touch AF used to focus on the background – notice the difference!

* Samsung does not make any promises, assurances or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the output provided by AI features.

Portrait Video Mode: Bokeh That Moves With You

Ever shot a video where the background looks like a chaotic mess and your subject blends in like a chameleon? Yeah—no more of that. With Portrait Video Mode, Samsung brought some serious filmmaking upgrades to your phone.

It uses two cameras and a clever AI model to calculate distance between you and everything else in view - frame by frame. That means the blur changes naturally depending on what is closest to the lens. No more jarring transitions or weird ghosting, just smooth, depth-filled shots.

🎥 Oh, and it gets better:

• Continuous zoom from 1x to 3x, so you can keep rolling without having to stop and reframe.
• Improved VDIS (fancy speak for image stabilisation) to keep your shots smooth even if your hands aren’t.
• Shoot in FHD or UHD at 30fps—because quality matters.
• Add some spice with built-in effects like:
  • Colour Point – Turn the background black and white while keeping your subject in colour.
  • Big Circle – Strong blur and dreamy bokeh lights.
  • Glitch – Add some artificial noise in the background.

 📹 Portrait Video Mode works great even on non-living things (plants, coffee, action figures… we don’t judge)

So whether you’re flexing your photography skills or just trying to make your dog look like a film star, these portrait features pack a punch. Got a snap you’re proud of? Drop it in the comments below and show us how you used Portrait Mode to capture the beauty of life – we can’t wait to see your masterpieces!

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