How this Professional Photographer Documented His Ramadan 2026 with iPhone 17 Pro Max

A visual diary of Malaysian photographer Muhd Hidayatullah’s Ramadan 2026 between home and Cambodia, as captured on his iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The month of Ramadan has come and gone and we’re now well into our Hari Raya celebrations. For many, this means looking back on a month of reflection and prayer. But for professional photographer Muhd Hidayatullah, it was also a month of welcoming new people, new surroundings, and new experiences. 

However, in his month of rituals and rumination, he also had to make space for a work call he could not pass up. This meant spending part of his Ramadan in a new country, documenting humanitarian work at the last minute. On top of that, the photographer also opened himself up to new connections by starting a cosy portrait studio in his home for anyone who wanted to get in their family photos for the year. 

Luckily for us, he documented it all on his iPhone 17 Pro Max and shared some of his snaps, so you can have a peek into his days. “All three lenses—Main, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto—are now part of the 48MP Fusion Camera,” explains Hidayatullah. “So, whether I am working with a wide shot of the Mekong to a close-up of my wife at the studio, the quality stays consistent. The detail, the colour, the sharpness, it’s all there, no matter which lens I reach for.” Take a look at his photographic masterpieces below!

THE FIRST DAY

This year’s Ramadan fell almost concurrently with Chinese New Year, making it extra special for Malaysians, where our multiculturalism is constantly celebrated. Hidayatullah cites the simultaneous occasions as even more reason to document his days during this Holy Month. “Ramadan came around and I welcomed it with an open heart this year. It started simple, and I even took a photo of the clock showing exactly when we could break our fast that first day,” recounts Hidayatullah. “You know that feeling when you watch the minutes tick by, anticipating that first sip of water. Then, naturally, the sunset photo came next. That moment when the sun dips and you know Ramadan has truly begun.”

PORTRAITS TO LAST A LIFETIME

Ramadan and Raya are the perfect excuses to immortalise meaningful memories, with family portraits being a main part of celebrations. Pre-empting the Raya rush, Hidayatullah made use of his iPhone 17 Pro Max and his space. 

“I set up a small portrait studio at my place this Ramadan. It was just a simple set for anyone who wanted photos of themselves or their family in traditional Malay clothing,” he shares. “Friends, family, and neighbours came and we even welcomed strangers for photoshoots. Watching them light up when they saw their own portraits—that was the good stuff.”

“At the studio, I made sure to get a close-up shot of me and my wife,” adds the photographer. “Nothing fancy. Just us. The kind of photo you’ll be glad to have years from now. As a photographer, I’ve always been particular about gear, but as a husband who loves taking photos of his wife, I need something that delivers every single time and the iPhone 17 Pro Max just hits the spot for me. For a photographer alone, that’s huge. And for a husband who wants to capture his partner looking her best, that’s everything.”

RAMADAN IN CAMBODIA

In between the Raya prep and running his own photography studio, Hidayatullah also answered work’s call. “In the middle of everything, I got a call. A humanitarian project in Cambodia needed someone to document their work. A few days later, I was on a plane,” recalls Hidayatullah.

“Suddenly, I’m experiencing Ramadan somewhere completely different: Kampong Cham, along the Mekong River,” he continues. “Same fasting, same prayers, but everything else, new. The faces, the language, the landscape. I met locals who welcomed me like family. We couldn’t always speak the same language, but we shared meals as the sun went down over the river.”

Throughout his days in Cambodia, Hidayatullah continued to document everything he saw, from landscapes to locals. Using the different lenses on the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 48MP Fusion Camera, he managed to capture details and colours that popped, no matter the lighting conditions.

ONE MORE TIP

If there was just one thing that Muhd Hidayatullah would like you to try with your iPhone camera, it would be Photographic Styles. “Both Original and Mono Photographic Styles are my go-to for any photo or portraits,” he shares.

He elaborates further, saying, “The Mono style for black and white is just perfect, timeless and classic. Try and add a Photographic Style to any photo on iPhone—Natural or Mono— and it will just look amazing every time.”

For more technology-related reads, click here.