Building community for photographers
Alan Schaller shares his vision for Irys with the App Store Editors.
Behind the social networking app Irys is London–based monochrome photographer Alan Schaller. His vision? To create a space where photography lovers can showcase and appreciate camerawork as it’s intended. Here, Schaller shares with the App Store Editors how his creative sensibility has helped shape Irys into what it is today.
Schaller has worked in the music industry since the age of 18, producing music for television, writing songs for other artists and mixing tracks in the studio.
”I’ve always been the creative type, so I enjoyed my work, but when I started feeling a bit burnt out, I discovered street photography,” he says. ”Street photography gave me a sense of freedom. I didn’t need to prepare special lighting equipment or models. I could just immerse myself in my own world. Being able to see immediate results, which wasn’t always the case in the music industry, felt refreshing.”
Around 2016, Schaller began exploring platforms such as Instagram. “Instagram wasn’t an app that was specifically created for photographers, but it has become a platform where users can express themselves through photos and profiles, and I’ve met so many amazing people there.”
But even then, Schaller couldn’t shake the thought of what an app that’s truly built for photography lovers could look like.
”It was important to me for it to be built by people from within the community. That’s why I decided to create Irys. And that’s also the reason why our team is made up entirely of people who are involved in photography.”
Schaller says that Irys is the perfect place for photographers to showcase their work.
”Any photo, no matter its aspect ratio, is displayed without cropping. You can also upload uncompressed, high-resolution photos, and tapping a photo lets you view it in full-screen mode. But of course, the original files cannot be downloaded.”
In addition, Irys offers unique features tailored to its audience. Collections let users organise photos by themes, similar to a portfolio. “In my collection, for example, there’s a Japan folder and one called Street Safari, which brings together photos of animals wandering about.”
Meanwhile, Groups lets you create a collective around a specific theme, join an existing group created by another user and chat with other group members.
”Let’s say you’re planning a trip to Peru. You could join a group called Peru Photography and ask about good spots or tips for taking photos there. Other users can then reply by adding comments, continuing the discussion.”
Irys’s slogan is ”What community looks like”.– Monochrome photographer, Alan Schaller
”I think the Groups feature is one of the most unique aspects of Irys, and to me, it represents what a community should be. Irys is like a cross between a social network and a web forum,” Schaller explains.
”Photography will always remain the focus of Irys. We might not gain billions of users, but with the users who join, I believe we can achieve our goal of building an amazing photography community.”
Everything about photography is about meeting other people. It’s about going outside, and enjoying it.– Alan Schaller
Companies, including camera brands, have certainly taken notice, joining as official partners of Irys. Leica and Sigma have opened their own accounts, showcasing photos taken with their cameras and lenses. Irys also regularly hosts photo competitions in its official groups, offering prizes such as cameras to actively engage with its users. For camera makers, it’s a valuable chance to connect directly with the photography community as well.
Schaller is also preparing to launch other real-world initiatives, including the opening of physical galleries, the publication of photo books, and the launch of an agency that will represent and support photographers in projects through contract negotiations and agreements.
”Our goal is first to enable Irys ambassadors to host photo exhibitions, workshops and photo walks through the facilities and services we provide. In the long term, we also want to discover and support lesser-known talents who have a passion for photography.”
Photography will always remain the focus of Irys.– Alan Schaller
Irys was released in October 2025, but it has already been embraced not just by photographers, but also by camera brands and creators who are active across different fields.
It’s a photo community that I genuinely want to be a member of. There are no algorithms, no follower counts and no Like counts. It’s the kind of place I was looking for, where creators can purely support each other.– Street photographer, Phil Penman
In a place where you can truly engage with a single photograph, I feel inspired by so many photographers and can sense my own expression continuing to expand. I hope Alan’s vision can reach a wider audience through Irys.– ONE OK ROCK bassist, Ryota
Irys is a place where photography lovers can share their passions in their own way. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional or an amateur.– Bvlgari product creation executive director, Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani
Guided by Alan’s clear vision and goals, Irys embodies what a true photography community can be. And if you’re passionate about photography, Irys and its members will welcome you with open arms.