Frames, the Minimal Logbook App for Analog Photographers

Analog photography is the art of capturing images on film, using light-sensitive emulsion to create a physical negative. Unlike digital, which relies on sensors and pixels, film has a unique texture, depth, and unpredictability that many photographers love. Each shot requires intention—you can’t just delete and retake. You have to think about light, composition, and exposure before pressing the shutter.

The magic of film lies in its imperfections. Grain, light leaks, and subtle color shifts give photos character that digital often lacks. Film also forces you to slow down. With a limited number of exposures per roll, you become more deliberate, making every frame count. The darkroom process adds another layer of craftsmanship—developing and printing by hand feels rewarding in a way that editing on a screen never will.

Digital is convenient, but film is tactile and immersive. It’s not just about the final image; it’s about the experience. The sound of the shutter, the smell of chemicals, the anticipation of seeing your developed photos—these things make analog photography special. In a world of instant results, film keeps the art of photography alive.

Frames is a thoughtfully designed note-taking app created exclusively for analog photographers and created by Vincent Tantardini. Whether you're shooting with a vintage 35mm SLR, a trusted medium format rangefinder, or even a large format field camera, Frames helps you capture and organize all the vital details of your shots — right as you take them. Forget juggling notebooks or trying to remember which frame matched which setting; with Frames, everything stays organized and synced to your film rolls in real time.

From shutter speed and aperture to focal length, film stock, and location, Frames makes it easy to record every setting that matters — all within a clean, distraction-free interface tailored for the film shooting experience.

But Frames doesn't stop at note-taking. Once your negatives are developed and your images scanned, the companion macOS app lets you effortlessly embed your recorded metadata into the JPEG files. Your analog images now carry digital context — making them easier to archive, search, and share. It's a seamless way to bridge the timeless joy of film with the convenience of digital organization.

Film photography is about intention. Every shot counts. But remembering the precise settings days or weeks later can be difficult. Frames solves this by becoming your companion on set, helping you:

• Capture metadata in real-time

• Organize shots by film roll and camera

• Review geotagged locations on an interactive map

• Reapply EXIF metadata to JPEG scans easily

Whether you shoot street, portrait, or landscape film, Frames supports your creative process with smart tools built for analog precision.

• 📷 Log shutter speed, aperture, ISO, lens, and notes per frame

• 🗺️ Map integration for visual geolocation tracking

• 🎞️ Manage gear, film stocks, and shooting folders

• 🔁 Add EXIF metadata to your lab-scanned images

• 🌐 Available on iOS and macOS, with 16 language localizations

• 💾 Offline-friendly and privacy-focused — your data stays on your device

• 📤 Export sessions, share via AirDrop, or archive your rolls

Frames is built for:

• Film photographers who want to stay organized

• Analog camera collectors with detailed shooting habits

• Photo labs or archivists needing proper digital metadata

• Content creators sharing film images online with embedded EXIF info

From beginners using their first Point-and-Shoot to professionals with a Leica M6 or Hasselblad, Frames adapts to your workflow.

Unlike generic photography apps that cater mostly to digital workflows, Frames is built from the ground up for analog photographers. It’s not just compatible with film—it celebrates it. Whether you're shooting 35mm, medium format, or large format, Frames understands the unique challenges and pleasures of analog photography: limited exposures per roll, the importance of light metering, manual focus nuances, and the careful deliberation behind each shot. 

Frames helps you log critical information at the moment of capture—camera settings, lens details, film stock, exposure, geolocation, and personal notes—so that nothing gets forgotten by the time your scans come back. But it doesn’t stop there. The Mac companion app allows you to seamlessly embed this metadata into your digitized images, preserving the story behind each frame.

By bridging the gap between tactile, manual shooting and the convenience of digital archiving, Frames gives film photographers a modern tool that respects the craft’s heritage. No fluff. No distractions. Just everything you need to stay organized, reflect on your process, and future-proof your archive.

Learn about the last update by reading this post.

Discover a new level of organization and control in your film photography.

👉 Frames: Analog Photography Notes and EXIF Data integration
👉 Download Frames for iPhone on the App Store

👉 Download Frames for Mac on the App Store