How to add camera info (EXIF) to your photos on iPhone

You've seen the look: a photo in a clean frame with the camera name at the top and the settings printed underneath, like a contact sheet or a gallery label. The numbers aren't typed in by hand. They come from the photo's own metadata, called EXIF. Here is how to put them on your photos from an iPhone.

What EXIF is

Every photo your camera saves carries a small record of how it was taken: the camera model, lens, focal length, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, date, and sometimes location. Photos from the iPhone camera have it, and so do photos from most cameras. An EXIF frame app reads those values and prints them on the image.

Step 1: Check what your photo contains

On an iPhone you can see the basics without any app:

1. Open the photo in Photos.
2. Tap the info (i) button, or swipe up on the photo.
3. You'll see the camera, lens, size and, depending on the photo, shutter speed, ISO and focal length.

If the details are missing, the photo may have been saved from a messaging app, a screenshot, or an editor that strips metadata. Instagram also removes EXIF from images you upload. Always start from the original photo.

Step 2: Add the info with an app

With layrd

1. Open layrd and choose your photo.
2. Open Templates and pick a layout that shows camera data. Templates range from film-style borders to editorial layouts.
3. Open the template's settings, then Edit Metadata. layrd fills in the camera, lens, focal length, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, date and place from your photo.
4. If the photo has no EXIF, layrd shows sample values and you can type your own. You can also set the city and country.
5. Adjust the frame colour and the text, then export.

Because the camera details are part of the same editor, you can also put text behind your subject, add a border, or split the photo into a carousel, with the camera line staying consistent.

With a dedicated EXIF frame app

Several apps focus only on this job. They read the EXIF and print it on a frame in a few taps. We compared them in the best EXIF frame and shot-on watermark apps for iPhone.

Step 3: Do it by hand (no app)

You can copy the numbers from the Photos info panel and type them as text onto the photo in any editor. It works for one picture, but it takes longer and the result won't update if you swap the photo.

Fixing missing or wrong details

• Film scans and edited photos often have no EXIF. Type the camera, film or lens manually in the metadata editor.
• Phone shots show the iPhone model and the lens in use, such as the main or ultra-wide camera.
• Location can be off for privacy. If you don't want a place name shown, leave it blank.
• Camera logos are usually included as a style option; check the app's template list.

A note on "Shot on iPhone"

"Shot on iPhone" is Apple's own campaign wording. For your own photos it's safer to print the camera model (for example, the phone name and lens) than to copy Apple's logo.

Tips for a clean camera-data frame

• Use a white or off-white frame for a gallery look and a black one for a cinematic feel.
• Keep the text small and quiet. The frame supports the photo.
• Keep the same frame across a set of photos so your feed looks consistent.
• Export at the highest quality available, so the small text stays sharp.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the camera info come from?

From the EXIF data stored inside the photo file when you take it.

Does layrd upload my photo to read the data?

No. layrd reads the information on your device.

Why is my photo's EXIF missing?

It was probably stripped by a messaging app, a screenshot or an editor, or the photo came from a scan. Use the original file, or enter the details by hand.

Can I add the info to many photos at once?

Some dedicated EXIF apps support batch framing. See our comparison of EXIF frame apps.