How to take the perfect rain photo on Xiaomi smartphone: from settings to post-processing

Rain is one of the most challenging conditions for mobile photography. Droplets blur the picture, low light spoils details, and Xiaomi's automatic mode often misplaces exposure. But with the right settings, even budget models like the Redmi Note 12 or Poco X5 can take stunning shots with drops, puddles and wet reflections.

In this article, 7 proven techniques for rain shooting on Xiaomi, including hidden MIUI camera features, manual settings and life hacks for post-processing. We will learn how to avoid blurring, correctly focus on moving drops and even shoot rain videos without noise. All tips work on models from Mi 10T to Xiaomi 14 Ultra – the main thing is to know the nuances of your firmware.

⚠️ Warning: Shooting in the rain without protection can cause moisture to enter speakers or connectors. IP53 (for example, Xiaomi 13T) Protection is limited – avoid direct jets and prolonged exposure to water.

If your Xiaomi doesn’t support manual settings, use third-party apps like ProCam X or Open Camera, which give you control over shutter speed and ISO, which is critical for rainy shooting.

1. Preparation of the smartphone: protection and basic settings

Before you go outside, check three key points: moisture protection, free space on the memory card and the relevance of the firmware. Even if your Xiaomi is IP53 certified (splash protection), this does not guarantee security in the event of a rainstorm.

Update the Camera app via Google Play or GetApps — newer versions often improve the algorithms for shooting in difficult conditions. For example, MIUI 14 added low-light optimization, which is useful for cloudy days.

• 🛡️ Body protection: Use a case with rubber plugs for connectors (for example, Spigen Rugged Armor). IP-Certificate (e.g. Redmi) 9A) Take an umbrella or package.
• 📱 Clean the lens: Wipe the camera with microfiber - drops on the glass will create additional blur. Avoid alcohol-containing wipes: they will damage the protective coating.
• ⚡ Battery charge: Shooting in wet weather consumes energy faster due to active stabilization and processing. Charge your phone to at least 70%.
• 🔧 Default settings: Turn off HDR It's automatic -- it can create artifacts on moving droplets. → Settings → HDR → Off.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi overheats during shooting (relevant to Poco) F4 GT or Black Shark), limit continuous video recording time to 5 minutes. overheating degrades quality and can lead to emergency shutdown.

2.Selection of shooting mode: which is best for rain

Xiaomi's automatic mode rarely handles rain: it overstates exposure, trying to "lighten" the gray sky, and blurs the droplets. Instead, use specialized modes:

Best Options for Static Staff:

• 🌧️ Professional Mode (Pro): Allows manual settings ISO, Ideal for shooting puddles with reflections or static droplets on leaves.
• 📸 "Portrait" with background blur: Unexpectedly works well for large drops in the foreground (e.g., on glass). f/2.0 lower.
• 🌊 "Long Exposure: Available on flagships (Xiaomi) 13 Pro, Mix Fold 3). Allows you to create the effect of a “steel” from falling drops (exposure) 1/2–2 sack).

For dynamic scenes (people under umbrellas, cars in the rain):

• 🎥 "Video" in" 4K@30fps: Video footage is often clearer than photos in motion. Use Ultra Steady stabilization (available on Poco) X4 Pro and newer).
• 🔄 "Serial shooting": Press the down button - from 10 to 20 frames at least one will be sharp.

💡 Secret trick: If your model has a "Document" mode (for example, in the MIUI 13), try it for the droplets on the window. It turns off the post-processing, preserving the water's natural colors.

Check it out. IP-phone-certificate

Clear the camera lens

Disable automatic HDR

Select the "Professional" or "Long exposure" mode

Charge the phone to 70%+-->

3. Manual camera settings: ISO, shutter speed, focus

In Pro mode, key parameters are available that determine whether you get a clear picture of rain or a blurry porridge.

🔍 How to set up a focus:

1. Tap the screen at the point where you want to focus (for example, on a drop on a sheet).
2. Hold your finger for 2 seconds to block the focus (the icon will appear). 🔒).
3. In manual mode (MF), set 0.5-1.0 for macro shooting drops or ∞ for long-range plans.

Critical detail: on models with a telephoto lens (for example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra) avoid zooming in the rain - drops on the front glass of the lens will spoil the frame.

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If your Xiaomi supports RAW format (such as Mi 11 Pro), shoot in.DNG – this will give more options to fix the exposure in Lightroom.

4. Composition of frames: what to remove and how

The rain itself is not a subject, but an instrument for creating an atmosphere. A good shot is built on contrasts: clear drops against a blurred background, dark silhouettes on light puddles, reflections of neon in wet asphalt. Here are 5 working compositions:

• 🌿 Outdoor drops: Leaves, flowers or spider webs with water balls. Use macro (Flower mode on Redmi).
• 🚶 People under umbrellas: Take pictures from a low point (hold your phone to the ground) so umbrellas cover the sky and create a "frame" for shots.
• 🚗 Cars in the rain: Focus on splashes from wheels or drops on glass. Best done in Serial mode.
• 🏙️ Urban reflections: Wet asphalt, puddles by neon signs or lanterns. Use Night Mode for bright colors.
• 🪟 Drop windows: Shoot from the inside of the room, focusing on individual drops. Light them up with a flashlight for the glowing ball effect".

🎨 Rule of thirds: Enable the grid in the camera settings (Settings) → Grid, and place key elements (drops, umbrellas) at the intersection of lines. For symmetrical reflections in puddles, center the object.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid shooting against the sun through the rain, which creates strong highlights on the Xiaomi lens that are difficult to remove in post-processing. If the sun is still in the frame, cover the lens with your hand or umbrella.

5. Rain video shooting: stabilization and sound

Video rain on Xiaomi requires a special approach: not only the picture, but also the sound. The noise of drops, winds and urban sounds create the atmosphere, but the automatic microphone often suppresses them, considering them as "noise".

Video settings for rain:

• 🎬 Permission: 4K@30fps for static scenes (puddles, drops) or 1080p@60fps for dynamics (people, machines).
• 🔊 Sound: Turn off Noise Reduction in the microphone settings (Camera) → Settings → For pure sound, use an external microphone (e.g. Boya) BY-M1), plugged USB-C.
• 🌀 Stabilization: Enable Ultra Steady (available on Poco) X5 Pro and newer) or use an impromptu tripod (for example, put your phone on the bridge parapet).

💧 The effect of "slow rain": shoot a video in the 1080p@120fps, and then slow down in 4 The drops will look like Hollywood movies.

⚠️ Warning: When shooting videos in the rain, avoid sudden camera movements - Xiaomi autofocus can "lose" the object, and the picture will blur.

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For rain video, correct exposure is critical: under-contain the frame at 0.3–0.7 EV (use the exposure slider) to keep the details in drops.

6 Post-processing: how to save blurred footage

Even with the perfect settings, some of the rain photos will need to be reworked. Here's a step-by-step plan for Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed:

1. Exposure correction: Increase the shadows by +20-30 to show details in drops. Reduce the light by -10-15 so the sky doesn't "knock out."
2. Increase definition: Add Sharpness to +40–50, but mask it around the edges (in Lightroom use the Range of Field mask). Increase Microcontrast by +15–20 to work out the textures of drops.
3. Color correction: Reduce the saturation of the blue channel by -10 to remove the cold shade of the cloudy sky. Add a warm tone (Temperature + 1000-1500) for "cozy" rain.

Noise reduction:

• Use Denoise in Snapseed (no more than 20%), otherwise the drops will merge.
• For RAW-apply AI Denoise in Adobe Camera Raw.

🖌️ Local edits: In Lightroom highlight the drops with a brush and increase the Exposition to +0.3-0.5 to make them light up. Add Dehaising for puddles (+15-20) to remove turbidity.

Unique life hack: to enhance the effect of rain, add artificial drops with overlays (for example, the set "Rain Overlays" in Photoshop Express).

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced photographers on Xiaomi make mistakes when shooting rain.-5 Failures and How to Correct Them:

• 💦 Drops on the lens: Wipe the glass before shooting with microfiber. If the drops hit during recording, use the Healing tool in Snapseed.

🔄 If the shot fails: Try converting it to black and white (monochrome in Snapseed).It hides color artifacts and accentuates the texture of droplets.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions