Quick Tip 08 - iPhone Hack: Slow Shutter Effect Made Easy
If you’ve ever come across those dreamy, blurred shots and thought, “Damn, I wish I had the gear to pull that off,” say no more.
In this issue, I’ll show you exactly how to create that smooth, cinematic slow shutter look using only your iPhone, no paid apps needed.
And if you’re wondering what slow shutter even means, don’t worry I’ll break it down for you.
The Slow Shutter Effect
The slow shutter effect happens when you lower your shutter speed, meaning your camera’s sensor stays open longer and captures more movement within a single frame. Instead of freezing action, it turns motion into smooth trails or blurs, how strong the effect is depends on how long your shutter stays open. For instance, a 1/30s shutter adds a soft motion blur to someone walking, while a 1-second exposure can turn flowing water or passing lights into smooth, streaky patterns.
It’s an amazing way to add motion, atmosphere, or a sense of energy to your shots. Just keep in mind, the slower your shutter, the more extreme the effect will be.
In the example below, my fiancée stood perfectly still while the metro passed behind her. The moving train and people blurred beautifully, naturally drawing attention toward her and creating a soft, dreamlike look.
Example of the slow shutter effect, shot on an iPhone 16 Pro.
Important tip: I almost always balance the slow shutter effect by keeping at least one element in the frame perfectly still, like my fiancée in the shot above. If everything in your frame is moving and becomes blurry, the effect loses its purpose and just looks messy. The contrast between motion and stillness is what makes the shot powerful and intentional. The only time I go for a fully blurred frame is when I’m using it as a creative transition or for quick, dynamic cuts.
Now on to the technical part.
How to Unlock the Effect with your iPhone
Download the Dazz Cam app (not sponsored).
Select the Original V camera.
Click the FPS option on the bottom right corner and go for 12 or 18 FPS (you can experiment with this setting until you’ll find your preferred combination).
Close the settings menu.
Click on the ISO button to open up your exposure settings.
Slide your shutter speed all the way to the right, 1/12 for 12FPS and 1/18 for 18FPS (The lower the FPS the more extreme the effect) and the ISO to its lowest setting.
Voilà, you’re done!
Try experimenting with different settings until you find your sweet spot. My go-to is 18FPS with 1/18 shutter speed.
Tip: As your shutter lets in more light while shooting with this style you will have issues with over exposing your shots. You can fix that by either using an ND filter or shooting lower lit scenes.
Gear
Music & SFX
Looking for the perfect music or premium sound effects for your project?
Check out Musicbed! I get everything I need from them, so if you want to try it out yourself, you can sign up for the free 14-day trial below!
I’ve even got a playlist if you want to check out the music I use for my edits!
A Final Note
Thanks so much for being here, I genuinely appreciate every single reader.
If you ever have questions or ideas for future issues, feel free to shoot me a DM on Instagram!
Until next time,
Stefan
Minimal tools. Maximum creativity.
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