Frames is a digital tool I built to solve a very analog problem.

As a film photographer, I was always frustrated by how easy it was to forget the details behind each shot. Film cameras don’t record metadata. There’s no EXIF, no GPS, no lens info. That’s part of their charm, but it can also be a huge limitation, especially when reviewing scans weeks later.

Frames is a minimalist app that lets photographers log exposure settings, camera and lens info, film stock, location, and notes for each shot they take on film. On iOS, the interface is designed to be fast and discreet, like a digital contact sheet in your pocket. On macOS, a companion app allows users to embed all that metadata back into their JPEG scans.

It’s privacy-respecting, fully offline, and built specifically for people who shoot film intentionally — one frame at a time.

What started as a personal side project quickly evolved into something used by photographers around the world. Feedback from the community helped shape everything from the UI to the export system.

This is not a social app. It’s not trying to gamify photography. It’s a quiet utility for people who love analog and want to stay organized without breaking their flow.

Tools Used: Swift • SwiftUI • StoreKit • MapKit • CoreLocation • macOS + iOS app architecture • GitHub Pages for site

Live Link: Frames, Notebook App for Analog Photographer