We’ve covered our complete list of disposable camera tips and tricks, but after being in business for a little bit, there are three MAJOR mistakes we see over and over.

If you don’t have time to read all of the best practices for getting high quality results from a single-use camera, just make sure to use these three.

Here at Analog, our mission is simple: Make it easy to experience the joy of film photography! For this reason, we use high quality film and include development with the purchase of every camera. It's also why we took the time to put this helpful list together for you!

Before we get started, make sure to check out our shop for all your disposable camera and film development needs! We include development with all of our cameras and send your pictures directly to your phone. Bundling allows us to have the best prices around.

Very frustrating!

When a shot is underexposed, it simply means the film was not exposed to enough light to make an impression on it.

The Analog camera, and most disposables, use film that does very well in bright, well-lit environments. To get an idea of how a particular film will do in various light levels, you can refer to the film’s ISO rating.

The term ISO refers to the image sensor's sensitivity to light. The lower the number, the less sensitive the image sensor is to light. Analog cameras come with 400 ISO film.

As such the higher the ISO the more grainy an image becomes and the worse it does in high-light environments.

So is all lost for low ISO film? Not at all! In fact you can get a lot of brilliant shots as long as you remember the qualities of disposable camera film.

If you are in any situation that is not in full, direct sunlight, you’ll want to use the flash. This guarantees that the film is well exposed and the developed results are high quality. It even has the effect of giving your pictures that trademark disposable camera look!

The sharpest part of your disposable shot is 5-10 feet away, in the center of the frame. If it is important for you to get a clean picture of your subject, make sure they are in this sweet spot!

Analogs, and most disposable cameras, use a fixed focus lens, meaning there is a set range at which they take the most in-focus, clear pictures.

Knowing this, you'll want the subject of your shots to be about 5-10 feet away and in the center of the frame. Otherwise, your picture may turn out a little more blurry than you may be expecting.

Same goes for the flash, which we discussed in Tip #1. The flash range is also 5-10 feet which makes for clear, bright pictures.

This is the number one cause of blurry pictures. Does the picture below look familiar?

This was caused because the subject was moving while the shot was taken.

See, blurry pictures happen because the shutter speed of disposable cameras is relatively slow. Shutter speed is the length of time the camera shutter is spent open, exposing the image onto the camera sensor and film.

Essentially, it's how long your camera spends taking a photo which can have a few effects in how your pictures turn out. Most importantly, with a long shutter speed, subjects (and the photographer) in motion will cause motion blur.

That doesn’t mean you can’t take pictures of any movement! Just make sure to control what you can to give yourself the best “shot” at good results.

1. Distance from the subject (5-10 feet for objects in motion).

2. Keep the camera still while shooting.

3. Take photos in high-light environments.

Sometimes you will do everything right – shoot in a bright setting, with the sun to your back, and keep very still and your picture STILL comes out blurry! How frustrating! What could be causing this?

You might want to make sure to clean the front facing lens with a shirt, towel, or other soft fabric. It can just be a quick wipe, but that will make all the difference!

Disposable cameras are unique (and amazing) because they can go anywhere and be tossed around like a toy. You treat your disposable differently from your iPhone or luxury digital camera.. and that’s the fun of it!

Whenever I go to the beach, one of the first things I grab is my Analog. Without even thinking I throw it into the front pocket of my backpack. The same pocket as food, sunscreen and a lot of other random belongings.  

More than once, I’ve checked the lens only to find a sunscreen fingerprint, condensation, and even the skin of an almond on it! That’s sure to distort your picture.

But then again, maybe that is what you’re looking for (see: The Ultimate List of Disposable Camera Tips).

Your viewfinder (the square you look through) and your lens are not the same thing! Every so often we see a meaty, pink finger in a disposable camera picture. It always gets a few laughs but ultimately ruins the picture.

This happens because your finger might cover the lens, but you don’t see that when you’re looking through the viewfinder. You always want to be aware of the different parts to the camera as it can impact more than just an occasional photobomb from your phalanges.

Written by Max Gallagher