Paper Shoot was founded by George Lin, an avid lover of film photography who grew up very modestly in Taiwan. His family could never afford cameras but he was envious of those who could; he saw them as tools for capturing memories and moments and wanted to emulate that feeling when he grew up. He loved analog photography but recognized its impact on the environment and its ongoing cost for the customer. That’s why he invented the Paper Shoot - it takes photos that look like film but it’s completely digital which makes it a one-time purchase. You still get the same experience of not seeing your photos until after, but you don’t have the cost and hassle of developing and buying more film or another camera in the case of disposables.

Many Paper Shoot photographers are film lovers who’ve added Paper Shoot to their collection. The goal is not to disparage or hate on film - it’s simply an alternative for those who love the concept but are looking for a less expensive and more sustainable alternative.