If you love that nostalgic, imperfect feel of disposable camera photos — soft tones, a little flash, a bit of grain — you don’t need to go out and buy an actual film camera.
Your iPhone, with a few simple tweaks, can get surprisingly close.
The key is how you shoot — and how you edit.
Here are 10 simple tips to help you get the disposable camera look on iPhone — and make your photos feel like they were taken on a throwaway camera from the ’90s.
1. Shoot on Your Main Camera (Not Ultra-Wide)
The main lens on your iPhone (the 1x lens) is the highest quality — and closest in focal length to a real disposable camera.
Avoid using the ultra-wide (0.5x) or telephoto (3x) when going for that film feel.
They introduce distortion or too much compression.
Stick with the main lens, shoot handheld, and don’t overthink it — part of the charm is in the imperfections.
2. Use Flash — Especially for Portraits
Disposable cameras were flash-heavy.
Indoors, at night, even in the day — that front-facing flash look is iconic.
On iPhone, toggle the flash on manually (not auto).
It helps flatten the image slightly, adds that overexposed pop on the skin, and creates those sharp shadows that scream point-and-shoot.
Works especially well when you’re photographing friends, parties, or indoor scenes.
You’ll get a bit of harshness in the shadows, but that’s kind of the point.
3. Add Grain When Editing
One thing that instantly makes a photo feel like film?
Grain.
Not noise — grain.
In Lightroom or your editing app, lightly add grain in the effects panel.
You don’t need much — just enough to soften the digital sharpness of the iPhone sensor.
It softens the image and makes it feel more organic, especially in portraits.
4. Expose a Bit Lower
Film holds onto highlights better than digital — it doesn’t blow out as fast.
To mimic that, tap to focus and drag down on the exposure slightly when shooting.
It helps avoid overly bright areas and gives a more balanced look.
Especially helpful if you’re using flash or shooting in strong light.
5. Don’t Worry About Perfect Framing
Part of what makes film feel natural is that it’s often a little off — slightly tilted, someone half out of frame, backgrounds that aren’t totally clean.
You don’t need to over-compose.
Let the shot feel casual.
If it’s too perfect, it’ll feel more edited than it needs to be.
6. Shoot in Good Light (Or Backlight Your Subject)
Golden hour works well — soft light, long shadows, warm tones.
But if you’re shooting during the day, try placing your subject with the sun behind them.
It creates a natural haze and stops things from looking too sharp or flat.
Good light always does more than editing ever can.
7. Use the Right Presets
Editing is where the disposable look really comes together.
Our Film Collection and Film Emulation Collection were made to replicate that nostalgic, filmic feel — warm tones, soft contrast, and just the right amount of grain.
- The Film Collection is more subtle — good for everyday shots, people, and casual portraits.
- The Film Emulation Collection is inspired by real film stocks like Kodak and Fujifilm, with more noticeable stylistic shifts in tone and contrast.
Both work on Lightroom mobile and desktop, and are built for iPhone ProRAW images.
8. Crop to 3:2 for a More Film-Like Frame
Most disposable and 35mm film cameras used a 3:2 aspect ratio — slightly wider than the iPhone’s default 4:3.
You’re not making the photo wider — you’re cropping a bit off the top and bottom to match the proportions.
It’s a subtle shift, but it gives your photo a more classic film feel.
It also helps separate it visually from a typical phone shot.
You can do this easily in Lightroom by selecting the 3:2 crop option when editing.
9. Keep Colours Soft
Film isn’t hyper-saturated.
Colours are usually a bit muted or warm, especially in the shadows.
When editing, tone down vibrance slightly and avoid overly clean whites or deep blacks. Let the image feel a little faded in places — that’s part of the texture.
10. Shoot the In-Between Moments
Film was often used casually — birthdays, road trips, house parties.
So the photos felt honest.
You don’t need perfect locations or setups.
Shoot the little moments — someone mid-conversation, light on a wall, clutter on a table.
The less staged, the better.
Getting the Look Without Overdoing It
The disposable camera look isn’t about being perfect — it’s about keeping things simple, a bit unpolished, and honest.
You don’t need to fake film.
Just use good light, shoot with intention, and edit in a way that adds character without pushing it too far.
Your iPhone, plus a few small changes, gets you most of the way there — and the right presets help finish the job.