Source: https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/

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Writing by Burak

# From the workbench.

Get more from the apps, or read the personal stories behind them.

18 articles

## App guides

Practical help for taking hands-free photos and making room for creative play.

[Guides 5 min read Auto Capture not taking a photo? Reasons and fixes If GestureCam’s Auto Capture keeps showing “Hold still…” or doesn’t start, the reason is almost always one of a few simple things. Here is how to find and fix each one. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/auto-capture-not-taking-photo/) [Guides 5 min read Family photo poses that work when nobody is behind the camera When the whole family is in the picture, nobody can direct the shot. These poses are easy to set up, easy to hold, and work with a timer, a hand gesture, or Auto Capture. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/family-photo-poses-hands-free/) [Guides 5 min read How to take a professional headshot at home with your iPhone You need a new profile photo and nobody is around to take it. Here is a window-light setup, the right phone height, and a way to get dozens of takes without touching the screen. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/self-portrait-headshot-iphone-at-home/) [Guides 5 min read How to take outfit photos by yourself with an iPhone Mirror selfies hide your face behind the phone and a timer gives you one rushed pose. This guide shows a full-length setup that takes a photo every time you settle into a pose. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/outfit-photos-by-yourself-iphone/) [Guides 5 min read How to take couple photos yourself, without a photographer Asking a stranger rarely gets the photo you hoped for, and a timer rushes you both. Here is how to set up couple photos yourself and get several relaxed takes in one go. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/couple-photos-without-photographer/) [Guides 5 min read How to take solo travel photos of yourself with an iPhone Travelling alone means coming home with landscapes and no photos of you. This guide covers a light kit, safe phone placement, and a hands-free way to get several good takes. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/solo-travel-photos-iphone/) [Guides 7 min read How to take a group photo where everyone is actually ready Most group photos fail because one person was still talking, turning, or fixing their hair. Here is a setup where the camera waits until the whole group has settled. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/group-photo-everyone-ready-iphone/) [Guides 6 min read Meet Auto Capture: iPhone photos that take themselves when you hold still GestureCam’s new Auto Capture takes a photo as soon as everyone in the frame holds still, then keeps taking more while you pose. No timer, no remote, no hand signal. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/auto-capture-iphone-photos-gesturecam/) [Guides 6 min read How to take a photo on iPhone without touching it Six ways to take an iPhone photo without touching the phone, from the built-in timer to Voice Control, AirPods, Apple Watch, and a palm gesture. What each needs, and which one fits your shot. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/take-iphone-photo-without-touching-it/) [Guides 5 min read How to Take Holiday Group Photos When You’re the One With the iPhone Every family has a photographer who is missing from the holiday pictures. Here is how to set up your iPhone, arrange the group, handle festive lighting, and join the photo yourself. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/holiday-group-photos-iphone/) [Guides 5 min read Best iPhone Camera Apps for 2027: Picks for Every Shooting Situation The right iPhone camera app depends on the moment you want to capture. Here are six picks for group photos, travel, video, selfies, and everyday shots, what each one costs, and direct download links. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/best-iphone-camera-apps/) [Guides 4 min read How to take hands-free photos on iPhone Use the iPhone camera timer for a simple group shot, or raise your palm in GestureCam when you want to start the countdown from inside the frame. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/hands-free-iphone-photos-gesturecam/) [Guides 4 min read iPhone camera timer or GestureCam? Choose your photo setup A practical comparison for solo portraits and group photos: start a timer at the phone, or signal when you are already in the frame. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/iphone-camera-timer-or-gesturecam/) [Guides 5 min read Offline drawing activities for kids on iPad Prepare a few coloring pages before a trip, then try three simple drawing prompts without Wi-Fi: invent a destination, decorate an animal, or build a picture together. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/offline-coloring-my-first-coloring-drawing/) [Play 4 min read 5 creative activities for My First Coloring & Drawing Turn one coloring page into a little story with five open-ended prompts: a tiny palette, a new season, a character, a texture, or a postcard. Read the guide](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/creative-coloring-activities-for-kids/)

## Behind the apps

The people, everyday needs, and small ideas that started these projects.

[Play 2 min read The joy of a blank canvas I originally made My First Coloring & Drawing for my nephew. That personal starting point shaped a little space for drawing, coloring, and play. Read the story](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/the-joy-of-a-blank-canvas/) [Building 2 min read Designing a camera that gets out of your way GestureCam began when I noticed that the iPhone camera lacked a palm-triggered shooting option I knew from Android. I wanted that option on iOS, so I built it. Read the story](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/designing-a-camera/) [Design 2 min read Good apps start small Finding the small, useful idea at the center of an app. Read the story](https://buraktahapeksen.com/writing/good-apps-start-small/)