To "live a photo" on an iPhone typically means interacting with a Live Photo to see it animate. Live Photos are a feature that captures a few moments of video and sound alongside a standard still image.
What are Live Photos?
Live Photos capture 1.5 seconds of movement and sound before and after you press the shutter button, creating a short, dynamic moment instead of just a static picture. This feature adds life to your memories, making them feel more immersive.
How to View or "Live" a Live Photo
Once you have taken a Live Photo, viewing it is simple. You can easily identify Live Photos in your Photos app by a specific icon.
Here's how to make a Live Photo animate:
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Browse your library and find a photo you believe is a Live Photo.
- Identify the Live Photo Icon: As noted in the reference, in the upper right corner of a Live Photo's thumbnail or when viewing the photo, you can see a little icon that "is like a circle with dots around it." This icon is the indicator for Live Photos.
- Press and Hold: To "live" or play the Live Photo, simply press and hold firmly on the image on your screen. The photo will animate for a few seconds, showing the captured movement and playing any sound.
How to Take a Live Photo
If you want to start capturing these living moments, here's how to enable Live Photos in the Camera app:
- Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
- Look for the Live Photo icon (the circle with dots) near the top of the screen.
- Tap the icon to turn Live Photos on or off.
- When the icon is yellow or colored, Live Photos are on.
- When the icon is white with a slash through it, Live Photos are off.
- Once Live Photos are on, take a picture as you normally would by tapping the shutter button. The Camera app will capture the Live Photo moment.
More Ways to Use Live Photos
Beyond simply viewing them, you can also edit Live Photos:
- Change the Key Photo: Select the best frame from the Live Photo's short animation to be the main still image.
- Add Effects: Apply effects like Loop, Bounce, or Long Exposure to change how the Live Photo plays.
- Share: Share Live Photos with others. They can be viewed as animated images on other Apple devices or shared as videos on other platforms.
Live Photos add an extra dimension to your photography, allowing you to capture and relive moments with movement and sound. Just look for the distinctive circle-with-dots icon in your Photos app!
