Inside the booth
Stop autofocus hunting between booth frames
A camera can refocus on a hand or backdrop instead of the eyes.
If one frame is sharp and the next is soft, the phone may have changed its focus target. Repeating gestures, reflective objects and low contrast can all make a focus system choose a different plane.
Check where focus landed
Compare the eyes, hands and background in every original capture. If one background edge is sharper while the eyes soften, focus moved rather than the entire camera becoming blurred. Review the focus indicator or selected point if the camera app exposes it.
Evidence: Platform technical documentation
Give the system a stable target
Set focus on a face at the marked subject position before the sequence. Reduce objects crossing close to the lens and keep the guest plane consistent. Use focus lock only if the seating distance remains fixed and the lighting supports that choice.
Test movement and light separately
Capture a still sequence, then repeat with the normal hand gestures under the same light. If still frames are sharp, movement or target switching is implicated. If all are soft, clean the lens and inspect camera distance and focus calibration.
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- Apple Developer, AVFoundation Photo Capture DocumentationPlatform technical documentation