Reimagining Memories: Why We Built Party! Disposable Camera

Hello,

I’m Lucas Buick, co-founder of Hipstamatic? , and I’m excited to share something new that we’ve been working on: Party! Disposable Camera. It’s an app that combines the nostalgic charm of disposable cameras with the connectivity of modern technology, designed to make capturing memories at events more authentic, fun, and meaningful.

Let me tell you how and why we built Party!—and why I believe it’s the right product for the world we’re living in today.

The Problem with Today’s Social Media

When Hipstamatic launched over a decade ago, we focused on creating a platform for people to take beautiful, artistic photos in a meaningful way. But over time, social media has evolved into something far more complex—and, frankly, exhausting.

Today, most platforms focus on endless feeds, curated profiles, and algorithm-driven content. Sharing has become less about the experience and more about the numbers: likes, followers, engagement metrics. Somewhere along the way, the joy of simply capturing a moment for what it is got lost.

At the same time, we’ve become more connected than ever, yet paradoxically lonelier. Many of us crave real, intimate interactions—the kind of experiences that aren’t meant to be shared with the entire world, but with the people who matter most.

A Fresh Take on Memories

This is where Party! comes in. We set out to build something that brings people together in a way that feels simple, nostalgic, and, above all, authentic.

Party! is an app that creates private, disposable photo-sharing networks for events. Think of it as a digital disposable camera: you create a camera for an event—like a wedding, party, or holiday gathering—and invite your guests to join. Everyone can snap candid photos, share them in the group, and interact in real time.

But here’s the twist: once the event is over, the photos are revealed to everyone at the same time. There are no public feeds, no algorithm pushing content, and no pressure to curate or perform. The result is a collection of genuine moments shared privately with the people who were actually there.

Why We Built It

We built Party! for a few reasons:

1... To bring back the joy of candid moments.

Disposable cameras were a hallmark of the ’90s and early 2000s because they captured life as it happened, without retakes. We wanted to recreate that magic in a way that fits into today’s digital lives.

2... To create a space for meaningful connections.

Social media is great for staying connected, but not every moment needs to live forever on a public profile. Party! is about creating temporary, intimate spaces for people to connect around shared experiences.

3... To simplify event photography.

For event hosts, Party! takes the stress out of coordinating photos. It’s easy to set up, fun to use, and creates a shared memory bank that feels effortless.

Who Party! is For

We see Party! as a perfect fit for anyone hosting events or wanting to make their gatherings more memorable:

• Wedding planners and photographers can offer it as a unique add-on for clients, capturing guest perspectives to complement professional photos.
• Event organizers can use it to create branded, interactive experiences.
• Friends and families can make their celebrations, from birthdays to holidays, even more fun.

Looking Ahead

I’m incredibly excited to see how people use Party! in creative and meaningful ways. As we open up our public beta, we’re eager to hear feedback, collaborate with users, and continue improving the app to make it the best it can be.

If you’re a photographer, wedding planner, or event enthusiast, I’d love to invite you to try Party! for Professionals and share your thoughts. Together, we can make capturing memories more authentic, more intimate, and a lot more fun.

Let’s bring back the magic of capturing moments—one Party! at a time.

x,

Lucas Buick