These August 2016 mobile photography trends range from artistic image filters to phone-lensed Mother's Day commercials that illustrate just how far mobile cameras have come. For example, tech giant Apple's most recent Mother's Day ad is a compilation of user-generated content like photographs and videos of real mothers that are loyal to the brand.
Other notable examples range from tiny VR cameras to collaborative photography apps that invite friends and family to edit and share images in an interactive way. Additionally, wearables like POV camera backpacks, blink-sensing eyewear cameras and revolutionary camera mounts round off this list of August 2016 mobile photography innovations. These particular examples are designed for active photographers looking to capture unforgettable and professional images more conveniently than ever before.
Top 20 Mobile Photography Trends in August

20
360-Degree Smartphone Cameras
The Insta360 Nano Extension Turns Mobiles into Adventure Cameras

19
Artistic Camera Filters
The Prisma App Converts Images Into Dynamic Famous Paintings

18
Blink-Sensing Cameras
The 'Blincam' Can Take Photos When the User Blinks or Winks
17
Tiny VR Cameras
The Miniscule 'Nico360' Records High-Quality 360-Degree Footage
16
Stylistic Photo Filter Apps
The Prisma App Transforms Selfies Into Veritable Works Of Art
15
Selfie-Morphing Apps
The Snow App is a Snapchat Clone That Allows For Next-Level Selfies
14
Camera Weight Redistributors
Obscura Gear's Wooden Clips Attach to Bags to Reduce Strain
13
AI Colorization Software
'Algorithmia' Uses Deep Learning to Colorize Black and White Photos
12
Living Photography Apps
The 'Polaroid Swing' App Captures One-Second Moments in Moving Photos
11
Tethered Photography Cables
The TetherBoost Pro Allows Creatives to Shoot Without Losing Signal
10
Instant Polaroid Printers
The Fujifilm INSTAX SHARE SP-2 Provides NFC Smartphone Connection
9
POV Camera Backpacks
The GoPro Seeker Knapsack is Made to Hold Five GoPros for on-the-Go Filming
8
Collaborative Photography Apps
'FStop' is an App That Connects Models, Photographers and Stylists
7
Lens-Layering Photo Apps
The Chaos Lens Photo App Uses Manipulative Mathematical Photo Lenses
6
Device-Controlling Cameras
This New Security Cameras Can Be Used to Power Off Household Gadgets
5
Document-Searching Camera Apps
'CTRL-F' Acts Like the Keyboard Function, But for Printed Documents
4
Intuitive Photo Apps
'GoldenHour.one' Lets Users Know the Best Time to Take Perfect Photos
3
Soil-Watching Cameras
Josh Williams Posts Videos of What Goes Underground With a Soil Camera
2
Phone-Lensed Mother's Day Ads
Apple's Compelling Mother's Day Campaign is Shot on iPhones
1
Revolutionary Camera Mounts
This GoPro Mounting System Allows For 360-Degree Captures
Related Ideas
Dedicated Content Creator Cameras
The Conceptual 'InstaPocket' Supports Social Media Users
AI-Powered Smartphone Cameras
The Alice Camera Works on its Own or with a Smartphone
Upcycled Film Camera Designs
The FOTOFOTO OM-1 Presents a Revolutionary Camera Design
Nostalgic Colorful Flip Phones
HMD Global Introduces its New Nostalgic 2660 Flip Phone
Portable Stabilizing Cameras
DJI's Osmo Action 4 is Great for Aspiring Photographers
Industrial Cellphone Concepts
The Nokia N90 x Nothing Concept by Viet Doan Duc is Retro and Modern
Posh Pill-Shaped Smartphones
The Nokia Infinity Pro Concept Has an Elegant Form and Function
Camera-Equipped AI Earbuds
The Conceptual 'Cell Buds' by Minwoo Kim Capture Environmental Details
Nostalgic Computer Graphic Cameras
Retrospekt and Polaroid Collaborated on a New Camera
Beautiful Automotive Design Books
Auto Photo Manual drives the car design coffee table book trend
Colorful Elevated Mid-Range Smartphones
Google Presents the New Pixel 9a Smartphone
Reimagined Smartphone Campaigns
The 'Pixel In The Clutch' Campaign Highlights AI Phone Features
Tactile Photography Phone Attachments
The Leica LUX Grip is Designed to Enhance Smartphone Tech
GenAI Flip Phone Campaigns
Motorola's Styled with Moto Features AI-Generated Virtual Models
AI-Enabled Smartphone Gimbals
Insta360 Debuts the Flow 2 Pro Equipped with AI Frame Tracking
Camera-Inspired Sleek Smartphones
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is the Latest Flagship Smartphone
AI-Powered Gimbals
The iSteady M7 Represents the Future of AI-Powered Mobile Filmmaking
AR-Powered Vending Machines
Snapchat and L’Oréal Made a Gamified Lens to Share Refillable Haircare
Modular Point-and-Shoot Cameras
The 'Keepsake' Modular Camera Concept is Customizable
Nostalgic Flip Phone Concepts
The Nokia N90 by Viet Doan Duc Reimagines a Vintage Design
Celebratory Photography Camera Models
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Camera Comes in Two New Colors
Artistic Impressionist Smartphones
The Nubia Z70 Ultra is the Brand's Latest Flagship
AI Food Photography Apps
MenuSnap Helps Restaurants Capture, Edit & Optimize Images
Surrealist Phone Cases
The Salvador Dalí x CASETiFY Collab Elevates Everyday Accessories into Art
Ultra-Bright Display Smartphones
These New Motorola Moto Smartphones Come in Four Models
Revolutionary Clamshell Smartphones
The Huawei Pura X Has a Portrait Orientation and More
Modern Museum Instant Cameras
The Polaroid Now Generation 3 MoMA Edition is Playful
Blurry Abstract Photography Exhibits
Hiroshi Sugimoto Displays the Optical Allusion Exhibition
Modular Multifunctional Smartphone Gimbals
The DJI Osmo Mobile 7 Pro Supports Handsfree Shooting
Crimson-Tonal Foldable Phones
OnePlus Shares the Open Apex Edition in a Crimson Shadow Colorway
Miniature Triple-Camera Phones
Oppo is Releasing the Find X8 Mini for Consumers with Size Concerns
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Retractable Camera Lens Smartphones
The HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra Captures Stunning Images and More
Nostalgic Fashion-Tech Collabs
Sandy Liang and Android Partner Up to Turn Tech Stylish
Smartphone-to-Camera Transformed Attachments
Belkin Presents the Stage PowerGrip During CES 2025
Nostalgic Cellphone Digital Devices
Aalto University Launched the Nokia Design Archives
Spatial Computing Beauty Apps
The Laura Mercier App for Apple Vision Pro is Immersive
Refined Minimalist Smartphones
The Sharp AQUOS R9 Features On-Device Generative AI
Unretouched Photography Books
Dove Reimagine Beauty Celebrates Authentic Representation
Designer Camera Printer Concepts
The Conceptual Polaroid Trance Camera is Ultra-Modern
Interchangeable Lens Smartphones
The Realme Interchangeable Lens Concept is Advanced
Retro-Futuristic Cellphone Designs
The Conceptual Noka 7610 5G by AndroidLeo Merges Aesthetics
Display-Equipped Item Trackers
The 'PhotoTag' Tracks Items for Up to 10 Months Per Charge
Fashion-Forward Flip Smartphones
The Huawei nova Flip Comes in Four Finish Options
Solo Traveler Photography Drones
The OPPO Levi Drone Concept by Fengrui Wang is Dynamic
Textured Quad-Camera Smartphones
This iPhone 17 Concept by Mohamed Mahdy Has an Industrial Form
Social Media App Campaigns
Snapchat Promotes Creators in a Bold Campaign Amid TikTok Uncertainty
Pro-Grade Smartphone Cameras
The 'SwitchLens' Transforms a Device into a Professional Camera
Nostalgic Camera Designs
Polaroid Debuts the Polaroid Now and Now+ Generation 3
Memory-Making Retro Camera Concepts
The Polaroid Duo Modular Instant Camera is a Sleek Concept
Hybrid Smartphone Photography Systems
The Beaverlab Tech Excope DT1 Enhances Existing Setups
Vintage Camera Experiences
Nikon’s Vintage Pop-Up Diner Teases the Past at Yorkdale Mall
Snapchat Super Bowl Filters
The NFL x Snapchat Creator Program Debuts Ahead of the Big Game
Retro-Inspired Instant Cameras
The Polaroid Flip Camera Features a Four-Lens System and Autofocus
Hybrid Triple-Lens Cameras
The AMKOV F3B Expertly Captures Photos and Videos
AI Photo Editing Tools
Google is Bringing its Google Photos AI Tools to All Mobile Devices
Modular Photography Smartphone Concepts
The Xiaomi Modular Optical System Has a Detachable Lens
Proprietary Smartphone Camera Apps
The Apple Final Cut Camera App Offers Ample Adjustment Features
Smartphone-Powered Camera Processor Systems
The Ninja Phone Makes Use of Smartphone Power
Smartphone Photographer Bags
The SANDMARC Messenger Pro is Built with iPhone Users in Mind
Mobile Device Durability Ads
The Apple 'Trust Issues' Ad Showcases the iPhone 16 Ceramic Shield
eCommerce AI Photos
PhotoHero Provides Free Images and Editing Abilities
5G-Enabled 360-Degree Cameras
The Nokia 360 Camera Can Livestream 8K Video and More
Emotive Smartphone Camera Covers
Yifan Hu Designs the Emoji-Inspired Smartphone Accessories
Elongated Smartphone Photography Lenses
The SANDMARC Probe Lens Captures Unexpected Perspectives
Smartphone Gimbal Attachments
Buddiesman Presents the Snappy Mobile Attachment Tool
Mom-Focused Mobile Game Events
Avia Debuts a First-Of-Its-Kind Mom's Week in Solitaire Clash
AI Fashion Photography
Adstronaut AI Creates Stunning eCommerce Images for Fashion Brands
Imperfect Photography Celebrations
The Nonna's Cam Adds Artificial Fingers to Block Shots
Photo-Based Travel Sharing
Mano is a Community Travel App That Lets You Pin Polaroid-Style Moments
Content Creation Smartphone Accessories
ShiftCam 'SnapSeries' Mobile Creator Gear is Intuitive
Mousse-Hued Smartphones
Pantone x Motorola Decked Devices Out in the 2025 Color of the Year
AI-Powered Social Media Lenses
Snap Announced AI Video Lenses for Snapchat Platinum Subscribers
AI Pet Photography
Pet Lens AI Offers Professional Photos of Your Pet with AI Assistance
AI Photography Robots
GENCY PB Automates Over 90% of the Commercial Photography Process
Multi-Camera Streaming Apps
Canon Debuted the 'Live Switcher Mobile 4+' on iOS for its Cameras
Emotional Mothers Day Ads
Apple's Mother’s Day Campaign Showcases Spatial Video's Emotional Power
Artist-Honoring Instant Cameras
Polaroid's Now Generation 2 Camera Honors the Work of Basquiat
Screen-Free Digital Cameras
The Camp Snap Camera Holds up to 2,000 Photos in its Storage
Photo Animation Tools
a1.art Animates Photos and Transforms Them Into Story-Like Visuals
AI Travel Photography
Epic AI Travel Photos Creates Stunning Photos of Popular Destinations
Camera-Branded Photography Apps
The Leica LUX App Brings the Brand's Prowess to the iPhone
Teen-Targeted Smartphone Models
The HMD X1 Offers Great Features with Parental Controls in Focus
Minimizing Phone Usage Initiatives
Heineken's Latest Campaign Addresses Phone Use at Music Events
Smartphone Photography Editing Apps
The Adobe Photoshop App for iPhone is Available Now for Free
Brand Photography Marketplaces
VSCO Unveils a New Marketplace for Photographers to Find Work
Star-Studded Phone Campaigns
T-Mobile's Ad Features Snoop Dogg, Kai Cenat, and Patrick Mahomes
AI-Powered Design Apps
Adobe Launches an AI-Powered Mobile App Called Adobe Express
Raw Mobile Photo Apps
Halide Launched 'Process Zero' for Completely Natural Photo-Taking
AI-Enhanced Foldable Smartphones
TECNO Introduces the PHANTOM V Flip 2 with New Features
Real-Time Trending Spot Features
Roadtrippers Introduces the Trending Spots Feature to Its App
360°-Degree Action Cameras
Insta360 Launches the Flagship X5 Camera in the Philippines
Flagship-Inspired Value Smartphones
The Apple iPhone 16e Has a 6.1-Inch OLED Screen
Mobile Escape Rooms
Phone Escape: Hopeless Takes Mobile Entertainment to New Dimensions
Memory Tracking Apps
ThenNow Resurfaces Your Photos From This Day in Years Past
Realistic Image Generators
RealPhotoAI Generates Realistic Photos with AI Using Your Photos
Timeless Photo Books
Photos by Artkive Uses an App to Turn Cluttered Camera Rolls into Photo Books
Solution-Oriented Holiday Ads
Orange’s Holiday Ad Brings Families Together Over Smartphones
AI Product Photography
Humufy Generates High-Quality Product Photos Instantly Using AI Technology
Advanced Camera-Inspired Smartphones
The Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Plus Have the A18 Chip
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Social Camera Fitness Apps
SnapFit Lets Users Document Their Journey with Photos
Skin Tone-Matching Photography Technologies
TECNO's Latest Imaging Technology is Inclusive
Tomato-Red Retro Cameras
Retrospekt’s New Hello Kitty 35mm Camera is Inspired by Summer Picnics
Prideful Modernist Tech Collections
The Apple 2025 Pride Collection Marks Pride Month in Style
Modular Mobile Phones
The HMD Fusion Features Swappable Components with Different Features
Olympics-Themed Tech Accessories
These Samsung 2024 Summer Olympics Accessories are Creative
Sunset-Sharing Apps
Sunshare is a Tool for Sharing Sunset Photography Around the Globe
Miniaturized Product Art Photographs
Taysuya Tanaka Highlights MUJI Products with Small Muji
AI-Fuelled Mobile Design Apps
Adobe Launches its Express Mobile App for Design On-the-Go
Aesthetic Stock Platforms
Dupe Photos Offers Social Media-Style Imagery for Modern Brands
Sporty Smartphone Partnerhips
Vivo Unveiled Its V30 Series Smartphones at UEFA EURO 2024™
Retro-Futurism Video Cameras
This Super 8 Camera Concept by Juliana Iacono is Nostalgic
AI Maternity Photoshoot Apps
Maternity Photoshoot Saves Mothers Time and Money
Frameable Device Screenshots
Framous is a New Tool That Adds Device Frames Around Screenshots
Time-Lapse Creation Tools
With PhotoJourney, Users Easily Create Time-Lapse Videos from Photos
Smartphone-Focused Portrait Gallery Activations
Vivo Debuts the VLOVE Portrait Gallery in Bangkok
Nostalgic Lunar New Year Spots
Apple’s Chinese New Year Film Brings Nostalgia and Love to Life
Grid Photography Tools
Griddr. Helps You Capture Better Photos with Customizable Grids and Tips
AI-Powered Smartphone Trios
Samsung Launches a New Line of 'Galaxy A' Smartphones
Custom Screensaver Apps
Moments Screensaver App Transforms Your Vision Pro into Art
Vintage Photo Camera Apps
mood.camera Brings Back Nostalgia in a Digital Age
Real-Time Sharing Apps
MomentsHub Lets You Discover And Share Nearby Experiences Instantly
Camera-Compatible Phone Cases
OtterBox Has Launched Two New Case Series for the iPhone 16
Empowering AR Applications
Black Radiance is Unveiling a New Augmented Reality App for Black Women
Time-Lapse Content Apps
Timelapse Provides a Unique Approach to Recording Engaging Content
Multi-Coated Glass Lens Cameras
Lomography Debuted a New Instant Camera with High-Def Photos
Automatic Tracking Smartphone Gimbals
Insta360 Introduces the Flow Pro Smartphone Gimbals
Nature-Inspired Smartphones
The Google Pixel 9a Will Offer More Than 30-Hours of Battery Life
Creative Imaging Tools
Pic 2 Planet Turns Everyday Photos Into Lifelike Planet Creations
Photo Cleanup Assistants
Swipe2delete Makes Camera Roll Cleanup Fast, Fun, and Stress-Free
Mobile Device Addiction Campaigns
The Women's Brain Health Initiative Highlights a Growing Concern
Search-Enhancing Drawing Tools
Google's New Lens Feature Allows for Easy Highlighting
Magsafe-Enabled Smartphone Lights
Godox's MA5R Boasts Versatile Functions at $50
Event Photo Solutions
JoyCapture Brings Disposable Camera Fun to Digital Event Guests
Long-Battery Budget Smartphones
The Vivo V50 was Developed in Collaboration with Zeiss
Invite-Only Family Memory Hubs
Kinnect Unveils its New and Enhanced Mobile Application
Location-Based Photo Sharing
Harbor Creates Personalized Picture Albums Through location Sharing
External Photo-Taking Features
Google Unveils a New Child-Focused Feature for Photo Taking
Anticipating Camera Tools
RecordBack: PreCatch Camera Captures Moments Before They Occur