“Frames” App Brings Organized Metadata to Film Photography

Many photographers still treasure the look and feel of film photography. Personally, I still use my dad’s old Zenit and thoroughly enjoy the experience that once was the only known to me. However, the lack of metadata is challenging, especially with older cameras like that. But there’s now an app for that called Frames. It offers a practical solution without stripping away the analog charm.

What is the Frames app?

Digital cameras automatically store data like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and lens type with every shot. Film photographers, on the other hand, often rely on notebooks or phone notes to log that information. The braver ones rely on their memory, but I personally can’t rely on that. Frames makes this process seamless and much more user-friendly. Developed with the analog workflow in mind, the app provides a modern way to track shot details and organize film rolls while staying true to the tactile nature of film photography.

How Frames Works

The Frames ecosystem includes two apps: one for iOS and another for macOS. The mobile app acts like a digital field notebook. It lets you log each shot, choose from a custom gear library, and input settings like exposure, lens, and location. Rolls are neatly organized, and autofill features make logging faster without reducing control.

Once the film is scanned, the desktop companion app helps you match those scans to the corresponding shot data. It embeds the info into the image files using standard EXIF fields, making them readable in other software like Lightroom.

Designed with Film Photographers in Mind

Rather than trying to digitize the film process, Frames supports it. “Frames respects the value of deliberate shooting, handcrafted images, and long-term documentation,” the app developer Vincent Tantardini says. “Whether you shoot casually or build large personal archives, the app gives you the confidence that your work is recorded, organized, and ready for the future.”

Vincent also emphasizes that Frames isn’t about turning film into digital. It’s about enhancing the analog experience with tools that make film photography more manageable and archival.

Availability

Frames is available for iOS and macOS. You can find more about the app and download it via Film Photography App – Frames website or on the App Store (Mac version here). For anyone serious about film photography, it may be a welcome update to a long-neglected part of the craft. Hopefully, the Android version is coming soon, too, as I’m personally eager to try it!

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