Use standard Photo mode. Here's why the other modes don't help.

## Standard Photo mode: the default choice

For whiteboard photography, standard Photo mode is correct in almost every situation. It gives you the full resolution of the sensor, accurate color, and no mode-specific processing that can work against you. BoardSnap's VisionKit integration is designed to receive standard photos.

## Why not Portrait mode

Portrait mode uses the depth sensors to separate a foreground subject from the background and apply a simulated background blur. A whiteboard is a flat, distant object with no foreground/background separation — Portrait mode either fails to apply the effect or applies it incorrectly, sometimes blurring the board edges. It also reduces the effective resolution of the capture. Never use Portrait mode for whiteboards.

## Why not Panorama mode (usually)

Panorama mode is useful when the board is very wide — say, a 10-foot conference room board that you can't back away from. But for a standard-size board you can get fully in frame, Panorama adds stitching artifacts and can blur content at seams. Use it as a last resort for wide boards only.

## Why not Document Scanner (Apple Notes)

Apple Notes has a built-in document scanner that auto-detects and straightens documents. It works, but it's optimized for paper documents — the crop and correction are tuned for 8.5x11 proportions. BoardSnap's VisionKit integration is specifically calibrated for whiteboards (wider aspect ratios, variable sizes, vertical orientation). Use BoardSnap's native capture for consistently better results.

## What about the native Camera app vs. BoardSnap's in-app camera?

You can shoot in the iOS Camera app and import the photo into BoardSnap, or use BoardSnap's native camera capture directly. The native capture is slightly more efficient — you see the VisionKit quad overlaid in real time, confirming the board is properly detected before you snap. Either path works.

## One more thing: exposure lock

If the room is unusually bright or dark and auto-exposure is behaving oddly, long-press on the whiteboard in the iPhone viewfinder to lock focus and exposure on the board surface. This stops the camera from re-exposing for the darker walls around the board.