How To Make Your iPhone Photos Look Like Film

Everyone wants that nostalgic, beautiful, filmic-looking photo. Most people think you need a film camera to get that vibe. But I’m curious — can we use our iPhones to capture photos that look just like 35mm film? I’ve never shot film before, but my friend George is a pro. I picked his brain for his biggest tips and tricks to remove that clinical feel from iPhone photos and apply post-processing edits that get you there easily.

And I know what you’re thinking: this is all cool, but why not just shoot on film?

Listen, film is expensive, that’s a given. But the reality is, it’s also harder to find and not always practical for certain shoots. Sometimes we’re snapping shots on the fly with our iPhones or digital travel cameras because we forgot the film camera at home. Or maybe we’re professionals shooting campaigns or BTS content where film just doesn’t cut it. That’s where film emulation steps in — and why it’s such a handy tool for creators.

So even if you’re not trying to perfectly mimic film with digital, you can still capture that analog magic with the right tools and practices.

Meet George!

I’m strictly digital, I shoot photos on a variety of cameras, make YouTube videos, and dabble in iPhone footage. So for this film-style experiment, I knew I had to lean on someone with more experience. That’s where my friend (and fellow Moment YouTube regular) George comes in.

I hit him with a ton of questions to pick his brain, then put his advice into practice. George is a master at dabbling in all kinds of creative gear — film being one of his specialties.

Tip 1: Embracing Imperfections

George reassured me that while getting the exact film look might not be perfect replaced, you can absolutely create something that feels similar. Achieving that filmic vibe is totally doable under the right conditions.

His biggest tip is that the more “imperfect” your digital photo looks, the more it’ll mimic film. Sounds easy, but that kind of effortless imperfection is actually pretty tricky in practice.

A photo that screams digital is usually sharp, clean, and controlled; the F-stop is dialed in perfectly, and the shutter speed is spot-on. But with film, you have to let go of some of that precision. Especially with street or lifestyle shots, George told me that sometimes the magic comes from a bit of blur, soft focus, or a shutter speed that wasn’t quite fast enough to freeze the motion. And that’s okay. That’s the charm.

Tip 2: Using a VND Filter

This is a pro-level tip — when shooting on iPhone, I highly recommend using a variable ND (VND) filter. They’re not super common for phones, but luckily Moment makes a low-profile 2–7 stop QuickLock VND that screws right onto the Moment Case. The two fit together seamlessly, are totally pocketable, and don’t add any bulky weight to the front of your camera.

When I was out shooting in the streets, my iPhone kept defaulting to a wild 1/2000th of a second shutter speed. So I switched over to the Moment Pro Camera App and used the VND filter to bring it down to something like 1/60. That slower shutter introduced just a hint of motion blur — and it made a huge difference. The image felt less clinical, more cinematic, and way more alive.

The Pro Camera app also gives you full control over things like file type (shooting in RAW gives you way more data to work with when editing) and focus length, which helps with compression and gives your photos that more deliberate, point-and-view feel.

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Moment

VND (2-7 Stop) QuickLock Filter for iPhone 15 & 16 Pro / Pro Max

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Want smoother, more cinematic video or manual exposure control on your iPhone 15 / 16 Pro or Pro Max?

The Moment Quick Lock Variable ND Filter is your go-to. Made with top-quality cinema glass for super-sharp footage, these filters stay crisp edge to edge and won’t cause weird colors or polarization issues. The metal rings are tough enough for fast real-world shooting, and our unique Quick Lock system makes it fast and secure to snap right over your phone's camera — no fuss.

Please Note: You’ll need a Moment Case (sold separately) for these filters to work! 

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Tip 3: Focal Length

Focal length is an interesting takeaway when it comes to film photos — most classic film cameras are fixed with a 35mm or 50mm lens. These focal lengths let you capture entire scenes at f/2.8 or f/3.5, giving you that iconic film look with natural depth and softness.

On an iPhone, you’re usually stuck with the standard 24mm lens-equivalent (that’s your 1x camera on the iPhone 16 series). But by adding a mobile lens, like the Moment Tele 58mm, you instantly get a more unique point of view. The 58mm gives your iPhone shot a gorgeous lens separation and creamy background bokeh that’s way more noticeable than your phone’s native 2x or 5x lens — almost like a mini version of medium format 120 film. Plus, it brings your subject a bit closer, with more clarity and intention.

And here’s the thing: the feel of the camera matters a lot to film lovers. There’s something special about the tactile experience of shooting with a real camera: the weight, the grip, the slower pace. Attaching a Moment Tele 58mm to your phone adds a bit of that magic. It’s not a Leica or an old Nikon, but it gives the iPhone a more premium, hands-on feel that changes the whole vibe of shooting. There’s something to be said about that experience.

For George, it’s less about the final image and more about the process. Shooting film is slower and more intentional. You don’t get instant feedback. You only have 12 or 36 frames to make each shot count. It’s scary, intimidating, and thrilling. That said, digital is still a massive win for many creators. Sometimes, you need that real-time preview to make sure everything’s perfect, especially when you’re working on tight deadlines or need consistent results.

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Tele 58mm Mobile Lens - M-Series

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The Tele 58mm Lens is an attachable phone lens that brings you 2x closer to your subject.

With a 58mm focal length, it’s perfect for standout portraits, stunning landscapes, or cinematic videos. It creates greater depth and character in your shots by sharpening your subject and producing a soft, bokeh background—rivaling big-camera results.

This #1 best-selling mobile lens stands out for its versatility and premium clarity, outperforming your phone’s built-in 2x or 5x zoom lens. And with Moment’s lifetime warranty, it’s simply the best tele lens for your phone.

Note: This lens requires a Moment Camera Case (purchased separately) with a T-Series or M-Series lens mount. T-Series is built for newer phones like the iPhone 14, while M-Series is ideal for older phones like the iPhone 13 and earlier.

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Tip 4: Editing 101

Even if you’re not trying to perfectly mimic the precision of film with your digital shots, you can still capture that analog vibe with the right tools and techniques. Editing is a huge part of the process, and it’s what really brings the filmic look to life.

For video, apps like Dehancer are built specifically to make digital footage look like film. It’s packed with cool effects and film profiles that can also be applied to photos. But for most photographers, software like Lightroom is the go-to, especially when paired with presets that make film-style editing fast and easy.

Huge tip: If you’re shooting in RAW on your iPhone, whether using the Moment Pro Camera app or Apple’s built-in settings, you’ll want to switch the color profile in Lightroom from Apple ProRAW to Adobe Color. It might look a little off at first, but trust me, it unlocks way more editing flexibility and data in the image. Total game changer.

Once your image is properly exposed, try running it through the Dehancer plug-in in Lightroom for that extra film feel.

Here are a couple of favorite film looks to try out:

• Ilford HP5 – A beautiful monochrome profile with muted tones and strong dynamic range. You can find this exact film stock in Dehancer—it’s perfect for moody, black-and-white street photography.
• Kodak Ultramax – A soft, neutral color film look that adds subtle texture and grain without going overboard. Great for street and travel photography where you want warmth and character without distracting from the subject.

There’s a softness to film emulations in Dehancer, they’re not overly crisp, and that’s part of the charm. I recommend playing with different presets to see which film stocks pair best with different scenes. Each one brings a unique mood to your photos.

We also have a full article with Steven Schultz on editing your iPhone photos to look like film using VSCO — a mobile-based app packed with presets that mimic a wide range of film stocks. It’s super detailed and loaded with example images, so if Lightroom isn’t your thing, I think you’ll really enjoy it.

Film vs. iPhone | How to Edit Your Pictures Like Film Using VSCO

We’ll dive deep on a few editing tricks you can use to get that film look to your mobile images using VSCO.

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Steven SchultzJun 12, 2024

Overall, slowing down, using manual focus, and experimenting with different focal lengths — like the Tele 58mm lens from Moment — really inspired me to try an analog-inspired approach to iPhone photography. Even if the photos don’t turn out exactly like 35mm film, the process was super fun and creatively refreshing.

I had a blast working on this project. Be sure to check out the full YouTube video above, and drop a comment to let us know what you think!