Live Photo Glossary & FAQ
Everything you need to know about the tech behind your moving memories.
Live Photo
A format created by Apple that captures 1.5 seconds of video and audio before and after you press the shutter button. The result is a dynamic image that animates when you press and hold it.
HEIC (High-Efficiency Image Container)
The default image format used by modern iPhones. HEIC files offer better compression than JPEG (taking up less space) while maintaining higher image quality. In a Live Photo, the still image portion is typically a HEIC file.
HEVC (H.265)
High-Efficiency Video Coding. This is the video compression standard used for the 3-second motion clip attached to a Live Photo. It provides high-quality video at relatively low file sizes.
Key Photo
The specific frame from the 3-second video clip that represents the static image in your camera roll. You can change the Key Photo in the iOS Photos app if you prefer a different frame from the clip.
Long Exposure Effect
An iOS effect that blends the entire 3-second motion clip of a Live Photo into a single, still image. This creates a motion blur effect similar to a long exposure shot on a DSLR camera, perfect for waterfalls or traffic lights.
Loop Effect
An iOS effect that turns a Live Photo into a continuously repeating video loop. The system automatically stabilizes the footage and blends the end of the video into the beginning for a seamless transition.
Bounce Effect
An iOS effect that plays the Live Photo forward and then immediately backward in a continuous loop, similar to a Boomerang on Instagram.
.LIVP File Format
A container format (essentially a ZIP file) often used by third-party apps or cross-platform transfer tools to bundle the HEIC image and MOV video together so they don't get separated during transfer.