In today’s world of technically perfect digital images, there’s something refreshing about a photo that feels a little, well, chaotic. This is where the “light leak” - and the broader disposable camera aesthetic comes in.

Once considered a flaw in film photography, the light leak look is now a sought-after aesthetic for its dreamy flares, unusual colour casts, and nostalgic vibe.

In this guide, I explore the history and allure of light leaks, demonstrate how I recreated this aesthetic, along with the classic disposable camera look, using PolarPro’s LightLeak lens kit on my mirrorless camera.

You’ll see sample images throughout, along with a larger gallery.

So let's dive in...

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What is a light leak in photography?

In short, a light leak occurs when light enters the lens from an unintended source. This means not through the lens's window but from the side, top, bottom, or through a hole in the lens or camera body, which can reach the film roll or sensor in one way or another.

This effect means you’ll get lighter areas of the image or “leaked areas” where a different colour, softness, or flare may be in the frame due to the light entering the space.

See the two examples below where you can clearly see that light flare and softness coming in at the right hand side of the images:

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And this image where the light leak is prevelant across the centre of the frame:

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Where do light leaks come from? A quick history

As I mentioned above, light leaks were initially seen as purely technical faults in film photography. They happened when light slipped through cracks in the camera body or around poorly-sealed film backs. Thus, unintentionally exposing parts of the film.

Rather than clean, uniform frames, photographers would end up with hazy streaks, bursts of colour, or blown-out edges. This was particularly true with cheap plastic cameras, disposable cameras, ageing film bodies, or DIY modifications.

However, even in the film days, the light leak look gained ground in creative circles and eventually gathered a cult-like following. Cameras like the Holga, Lomo LC-A, cheap cameras manufactured in the Soviet Union, and, in general, older SLRs became favourites because of the unpredictable, happy-accident quality one could get from using them.

Simply put, what started as a flaw gradually turned into a pleasing visual feature in photography, which has once again been brought into the present digital age for the atmosphere and character it brings to a photo.

Why light leaks are so popular today

The primary factor, I beleive, is that the light leak aesthetic taps further into the already-popular vintage, filmic look. The light leak adds both a sense of imperfection and creativity that many photographers and viewers find appealing.

Right now, nostalgia is hugely on-trend in photography, and light leaks are directly associated with the nostalgic feel of vintage film photography, where the unpredictability of it all adds to its charm.

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Right now, it also seems to be the case that many photographers are opting to ditch the digital camera look with its razor-sharp images and technical perfection (not to mention the ability to end up with a a glut of photos), making the allure of light leak and disposable style images even more enticing.

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Why go digital for the light leak and disposable camera look rather than just use film?

Well, loads or reasons really.

First, it’s far cheaper. Getting that filmic aesthetic using a digital camera with a bespoke lens or another accessory will be a fraction of the cost compared to shooting on actual film.

As much as we all love the tactile nature and process of working with film rolls, the reality is that using film, developing the rolls, and scanning adds significantly to a photographer's overheads. This is especially the case if you’re shooting a lot of frames. With digital, you can experiment freely without worrying about burning through rolls of film (and your budget).

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Secondly, there’s the convenience of it all. You see the effect immediately, and you can adjust your composition, handling and settings to get the look you want there and then.

It also means fewer compromises. You’re not locked into using film stocks, some of which can be very hit or miss, or be at the mercy of unpredictable lab processing. Also, you significantly reduce the risk of losing your work due to an accident like ‘fogging’ the film roll (i.e. accidentally opening the back of the camera).

It’s my belief that achieving that filmic style in a digital setting gives you the best of both worlds; beautiful, creative photos but taken in a far more economical and productive way.

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Should you try light leak and disposable camera style photography?

Absolutely!

If you’re the photographer who usually focuses on getting the image as sharp and technically perfect as possible, trying your hand at experimental photography can give you a new and refreshing lease of creativity.

For me, the desire to try something new was how I first got into experimental and filmic creative photography - after chasing the most technically-perfect landscape shots I could create (which was often a thankless task). Working in experimental photography has given a new creative direction, not to mention some really beautiful images.

Being experimental in your photography approach encourages you to take on some unpredictability and it will make you concentrate less on getting everything "right". You'll be thinking more about how an image can evoke a feeling or tell a story.

Depending on what you do, whether that’s using a dedicated lens, or experimenting with reflections and filters, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in “breaking the rules” of traditional photography and the pursuit of getting everything perfect. You might not love every image you take, but that’s part of the process and appeal of it all. More often than not, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results - that’s what I’ve found anyway!

Below you can read more about my latest experimental endavour with my photographer, about my I achieved the light leak and disposable camera look for my  images, by using PolarPro’s LightLeak lens kit.

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Case study: Using PolarPro’s LightLeak lenses in the field

I used PolarPro’s light leak lenses on a recent camping trip in the far West Coast of Scotland to create an outdoor series of images emulating the light leak and disposable camera look.

Below, you can see how I got on with the lenses and the stunning results in the form of a gallery of sample images (it may be one of my favourite outdoor series yet)!

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PolarPro, established in 2011, are “a team of designers who are constantly exploring new ways to create, record, shoot, or in one phrase:capture perfection”. They design and manufacture camera filters and photography accessories, and collaborate with celebrated photographers and filmmakers for their product development. You can read more about PolarPro on their about page.

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What did I get?

I used PolarPro’s LightLeak lens pack for the Fujifilm X Mount (as I use a Fujifilm X-T30). The light leak lenses come with other mounts for popular camera systems and brands.

The LightLeak lenses come in three focal lengths: 16mm, 28mm (also known as The ONE), and 50mm. There’s a fixed f11 aperture for all.

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First impressions and setup

I appreciated the minimal packaging and the handy instructions included with them, presented on small cards rather than bulky, excessive paper manuals. This format is easy for any photographer to follow, making setting up the lenses quick and straightforward.

Additionally, I received an email with setup instructions while waiting for the delivery, which was an excellent touch.

Attaching the lenses to my camera was straightforward. Unlike other custom lenses I've used, they feel securely mounted, so I don't need to worry about them falling off.

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The lenses feel very well built and come with beautiful, sturdy lens caps. They also significantly enhance the appearance of my camera. As someone who enjoys customising cameras and lenses, which I also discussed in Picfair’s 2025 trends report, I appreciate the design. The kit felt robust, sleek, and stylish, and even before taking any photographs, I knew I would enjoy using these.

In the field: Shooting with the LightLeak lenses

I really enjoyed using these lenses during my trip to the far West of Scotland. I primarily used the 16mm lens because that’s the type of look I aim for in my photography in general, as I love a wide perspective for outdoor, landscape and travel shots.

I also used the 50mm lens for close-up objects around ports (another favourite photographic subject of mine). For all images, but more pronounced in the 16mm lens, the centre of the image retained its sharpness while the outer areas displayed noticeable distortion and heavy vignetting, as you can see from the sample images later in this guide. Beautifully reminiscent of disposable cameras and cheaply-made vintage cameras, and actually perhaps the effects I like equally as much as the light leak.

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It took me some time to get accustomed to the light leak control, which was created by a window in the lens that could be opened, closed, and rotated depending on where I wanted the leak to appear in my images. Naturally, the light leak effect was far more visible in sunny conditions than in overcast or rainy weather (of which there was plenty during my trip).

"Overall, using the lenses was a pleasure for getting that filmic, disposable camera quality for my images, with the addition of beautiful light leak effects. "

The lenses operate with infinite focus and have a fixed aperture of f/11, which means there's no need to adjust the focus for different subjects or change the aperture, making my camera operate very much like a point-and-shoot camera. I only needed to adjust the ISO and shutter speed on my Fujifilm X-T30 to achieve the best results in terms of exposure settings. This made taking pictures much quicker and brought back the nostalgia of using disposable cameras.

However, I did notice that getting too close to a subject at times could result in an overall image that was blurry and soft. But, that experience was exactly the same to what I remembered with disposable cameras back in the day, so it just took some time to get used to it again.

As I mentioned, the lenses come with well-made, robust lens caps. I found these caps ideal for keeping the lenses safe, especially since I frequently swapped and changed them and in challenging weather conditions.

The results: dreamy, filmic images

Here are some of the images taken with the 16mm lens and the 50mm from my trip to the West of Scotland. I took almost 600 pictures on that 3-day trip, so editing and showcasing just a handful has taken me a while. But again, it proves just how much I enjoyed using the lenses! I also took the 28mm out around Glasgow City Centre, with the results below.

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Note:
‍For these images, I did apply usual edits to emulate my signature style I like to get for my photos. So in this instance, I used the Classic Chrome Fujifilm film simulation, added a light grain effect, upped the contrast and clarity, and increased the vignette on some of the images.

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PolarPro LightLeak 16mm lens

I used the PolarPro LightLeak 16mm lens for most of my shots during my trip to the West of Scotland. A prominent visual feature of these images is the heavy distortion around the edges of the frame, as well as vignetting, which is less noticeable with the 28mm and 50mm lenses. However, I really like this effect, and the centre of the images remains sharp.

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PolarPro LightLeak 50mm

I used the PolarPro LightLeak 50mm lens to capture close-up shots of elements away from wider vistas and landscapes, focusing on subjects like fishing gear. I looked for interesting shapes, colors, and forms in the composition. The distortion is less prominent with the 50mm lens, but there is still a softness to the frame, and the light leak effect works well and gives the images a more subtle filmic look compared to the other lenses.

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PolarPro LightLeak 28mm (The One)

The LightLeak 28mm lens, also known as "The One," is described by PolarPro as being the closest to mimicking the look of a disposable camera lens, thanks to its focal length and visual aesthetics. I agree; the images immediately bring me back, and I love the light leak effect they produce, which was particularly strong on a sunny day when I took these photos around Glasgow City Centre.

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The verdict

Overall, using the lenses was a pleasure for getting that filmic, disposable camera quality for my images, with the addition of beautiful light leak effects. As you can see from the images, the light leak wasn't overly visible in all the images. This is because for some, I chose to keep the light leak window closed, but also in overcast settings the effect was far more muted. But I really didn't mind, I was experimenting after all and I loved everything else the lenses brought to the photos too, particularly the disposable camera-esque distortion.

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A comparison: LightLeak vs kit lens

Below, you will see two images taken within minutes of each other. One was captured with my usual Fujifilm kit lens, while the other was taken with the LightLeak lens. This comparison clearly shows how much atmosphere and character different lenses can create in the same setting.

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Fujifilm XC 15-45mm lens

PolarPro LightLeak 16mm lens

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Top tips for maximising the light leak look with the lens:

- Face the light source directly to intensify the flare
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- Use the rotating ring subtly to shape the leak
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- Try shooting during golden hour (dusk and dawn) for warmer leaks

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What I loved about using these lenses

There are many things to appreciate about them: their sturdy, premium feel, how they look with the camera, their ease of mounting and usage, but most importantly, the beautiful effects they provide to images when used.

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Room for improvement

I struggled a bit at first with the light leak lens ring at times, which controlled how much of the light leak got in. At times, it felt a little stiff and a bit cumbersome, but I eventually got used to it.

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Will I keep using these lenses? Absolutely

Absolutely! They will become an integral part of my kit bag, as explained earlier, I’m currently finding that experimental photography is giving me a new sense of creative direction with my photography, and I’ll no doubt continue this. I highly recommend giving creative and experimental photography a try, especially if you’re in a creative rut or looking for a new direction with your work.

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Final thoughts and next steps

Using PolarPro’s LightLeak lenses was a refreshing experience that reminded me of why I first fell in love with photography in the first place and the creativity of it all.

These lenses gave my digital images a nostalgic, dreamlike, disposable retro quality, and made me slow down and experiment. Ultimately, they really did make me enjoy the process of taking photos again.

If you’re looking to break out of a creative rut or bring more emotion and unpredictability to your photos, I highly recommend giving lenses like PolarPro’s LightLeak lenses a try - or just giving experimental photorgraphy a try in general, and remember to embrace mistakes and enjoy being creative and learning in the process. It’s all part of your photography journey.

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Curious to try the look yourself? Explore PolarPro’s LightLeak lens collection here.

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And lastly, don’t forget to upload your fabulous shots to your Picfair Store!