When your scans come back, you may remember why you took a photo but no longer remember the lens or aperture you used. The picture survives; the details behind it do not always come along.
This article explains how to use LightLog on iPhone to record your film photography details and embed them in your scans.
- If metadata and EXIF are new to you, start with the Film Photography Metadata Guide.
1) Why add EXIF to a scan?
First, a useful distinction: a scan may contain EXIF without containing the settings used to expose the film.
A scanner may know the scanning date, resolution and device model. It does not know when or where you took the photo, or the aperture, shutter speed, camera and lens you used. Those details need to be recorded separately.
LightLog connects the two parts: record the details easily while shooting, then write those records into the scans' EXIF when they arrive. All you need is an iPhone, with no separate account to register.
2) What does the workflow involve?
2.1 While shooting, make a quick record
Set up a roll in LightLog beforehand and choose your camera and lens. While shooting, you only need to record details such as aperture and shutter speed. With location enabled, the shooting location can also be recorded automatically.
We recommend allowing camera access and taking a quick reference photo. It will make it easier to find the corresponding image when your scans arrive.
2.2 After scanning, pair the photos with your records
Save the scans to Photos on iPhone, then return to LightLog to match them with the roll's records. You can pair photos individually or use Batch Match to arrange them by filename or selection order.
If you use limited Photos access, remember to include these scans in the selection LightLog is allowed to read.
2.3 Export so the records travel with the photos
After matching, choose Export for one photo or Export All for the roll. During export, LightLog writes the recorded metadata (EXIF) into new photo copies and saves them to Photos. You can then use features such as search and the map in Photos to find your work more easily.
3) Can you add information to photos you took without LightLog?
If you already keep shooting notes another way, you can use LightLog to add that information to your photos. Stick to details you can confirm: if you know the camera and lens you used for a roll, start there. There is no need to fill in shutter speeds or apertures you cannot remember.
Metadata such as EXIF helps you keep a record of how your photos were actually made.
You have to wait for film to be developed to see your photos, but the thoughts behind them can slip away in a moment. Write them down, and when the photos come back, keep those thoughts with them.
Last updated: 2026-10-25