The iPhone has made photography more accessible than ever before. With this prevalence in society, it raises the question, how do I get my photos to stand out? Film Photography seems to be the answer. Thanks to technology, there’s a whole range of applications designed to imitate this effect. The iPhone apps listed below will make your photos look like vintage film.
Tip: before you apply filters, learn these iPhone photography tips to improve your raw material.
1. Dazz Cam
Price: Free | $4.99/year
Dazz Cam is a relatively new photography app inspired by the retro film cameras of the 80s. It claims to be the most realistic film emulator due to it being based on actual film proofs and vintage effects. There are a variety of different options for both film and video editing, and the developers intend to update the filters and launch new cameras from time to time.
Whilst the app is free, some of the cameras require a Dazz Cam Pro subscription to unlock. Despite this, the sheer quality of the texture, grain and color restoration in your photos makes this little pocket photographer a must for any film enthusiast. Dazz Cam’s user interface is simple and inviting, ultimately making it ideal for casual iPhone users who wish to take their photos to the next level.
When you’re done editing your photos, perhaps you can compile them into an impressive collage using collage photo apps for your iPhone.
Pros
- Simple user interface
- Many camera filters
- Supports video and photography
- New camera filters available in the future
Cons
- Unlocking all cameras requires pro subscription
- Many ads
- Individual film stocks unavailable
2. VSCO
Price: Free | $19.99/year
A list of iPhone photography apps wouldn’t be complete without VSCO. It’s often regarded as the go-to mobile photography app for iPhone users due to it’s extensive range of editing capabilities. In terms of film filters, VSCO has a range designed to emulate 35mm film. The amount of filters really sets this app apart from it’s competition. It’s clear that the developers have put much time into building a solid platform for users to express themselves through photography. Despite the app having a free photo editor, many of the film filters require an annual membership.
VSCO’s growing community and dedicated team make the yearly membership really worth it for those interested in taking their photography skills to the next level. The addition of video editing within the app makes VSCO an absolute game changer. If excessive photo editing is causing your device to heat up, learn how to cool down an overheating iPhone
Pros
- Variety of film filters
- Online community
- Supports video and photography
Cons
- Geared more toward professional photographers
- Interface takes a while to get used to
3. Dehancer
Price: Free | $149.99/year
Dehancer is by far the most interesting app on this list. The app boasts more than 60 film profiles, ranging from Kodak vision to Portra 400. Dehancer offers extensive filmic editing tools, like halation adjustment and gloom to make your photos glow like real analog snaps. However, the film print option is the most innovative feature to come out of this app, allowing you to select scientifically designed print profiles that embody their own unique latitude and characteristics.
It’s worth mentioning that Dehancer was originally a plug-in for Davinci Resolve, which means that if you’re a proficient editor, you can grade your video using a Mac. Unfortunately, the iPhone app isn’t the most user-friendly and can sometimes be a little buggy.
Pros
- More than 60 film profiles
- Extensive film editing tools
- Film print option
- Gloom and halation adjustment
- Works with photo and video
- Has Davinci Resolve plug-in for Mac
Cons
- Can be a little buggy
- Geared more toward professional photographers
- Interface takes a while to get used to
- Geared more towards professional color grading
Tip: if you’d like a super easy way to print your awesome photos like real film prints, learn how to print photos from your iPhone or iPad
4. Instagram
Price: Free
It’s likely that you know Instagram primarily as a social media platform – it’s the place you’re going to upload your cool snaps after you’ve edited them. Yet, it’s worth noting that Instagram has its own toolbox of features for editing your snaps. Along with the built-in photo editor, Instagram allows users to take photos using many of the filters designed by users. These inevitably include an array of retro film features for both film and video. Despite being incredibly accessible for users, the drawback is that the filters must be used with photos taken live within the Instagram app as apposed to photos in your camera roll.
You can also make the most out of the iPhone’s built-in features by learning how to use portrait mode effects.
Pros
- Large Community
- Intuitive social media platform
- Many filters
- User-uploaded filters
- Works with photo and video
- Simplistic design and interface
Cons
- The large number of filters can be overwhelming
- Has to be used with photos taken in the app
- Filters don’t emulate specific film stocks
- Geared more toward avid photographers
5. Prequel
Price: Free 3-day trial, then $4.99/week
Prequel specializes in emulating vintage polaroid photos and has quickly become a popular app with younger audiences on TikTok, due to its simple design. The disposable feature really elevates your snaps – unfortunately, that doesn’t quite justify the $4.99 weekly price tag required to unlock additional filters. The app allows you to edit photos taken directly within the app and from your camera roll; however, the coolest feature is easily the AI photo generator. It’s worth noting that Prequel is not designed specifically for film filters, and there are some really interesting effects available outside of the free three-day trial.
Pros
- Emulates disposable Polaroid
- Edit photo and video
- AI photo generator
- Edit photos taken within the app and camera roll
Cons
- Geared more toward younger audiences
- Filters don’t emulate specific film stocks
Spending too much time editing your photos can really drain your phone battery. Learn how to make your iPhone notify you when you’re at 80% battery.
6. TikTok
Price: Free
TikTok has truly taken the world by storm. It’s no surprise that this social media platform also offers its own variety of filmic filters. As TikTok is primarily a video-sharing platform, these filters could only be used to work with video. Thankfully, due to the recent update of a photo mode, you can utilize the effects on still carousel posts. The filters seem to be similar to Instagram in that they are primarily aimed at giving your content a retro look through the use of flares and grainy textures. Currently, there aren’t many filters designed to emulate specific film stocks, but with TikTok having such a large pool of users, it won’t be long until there are too many to choose from.
Pros
- Many filters
- User-uploaded filters
- Works with photo and video
- Simplistic design and interface
Cons
- Lack of professional film stocks
- Geared more toward younger audiences
- Large number of filters overwhelming
- Designed mainly for video
Frequently Asked Questions
Why emulate film photography with an iPhone?
Shooting on analog film is incredibly expensive in the 21st century. A single roll of film costs over $10 dollars. Then, you have to get it developed, which can cost an additional $5 to $10 dollars per roll. And if that isn’t steep enough, better film stocks cost more and are harder to get hold of. Shooting film is also very time-consuming as a practice. If you shoot 28 photos, there is no guarantee that all of your photos will look fine. It seems that utilizing technology to replicate the effect isn’t just easier but considerably more economical.
Why is the film look so popular?
The film look is clearly coming back into fashion for a multitude of reasons, mainly that the younger generation is chasing the nostalgia and retro aesthetic that film offers. It’s the same reason that the VHS and camcorder look is also popular among them. Alternatively, using film filters is a really easy way of making your snaps and videos stand out from the rest of the crowd on social media platforms.
Can you really tell the difference between film and digital?
It’s important to first identify the differences between film and digital. Digital photography tends to be very sharp with great reproduction of the highlights and not much contrast. Film photography tends to be much softer with more contrast in the shadows, and the highlights are often blown out due to how the technology exposes the image. Another key difference is the color texture and grain that is present in film photography. Whilst new technologies are fantastic at replicating these qualities, it seems that there is still something irreplaceable about shooting on real film.
All screenshots and/or photos taken by Daniel Bott.
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