A Few Reasons Why I Love Taking Polaroids
Capturing life one polaroid at a time.
I’m a sucker for anything nostalgic, which is why I thought it’d be fun to buy an Instax Mini 90 polaroid camera six years ago and have been shooting with it ever since.
Although I predominantly shoot digital, I always try to take a couple of polaroids at the end of every photoshoot, just as a fun way to summarise the day. Sometimes, I’ll also ask the person I’ve worked with to scribble their name or something fun at the bottom.
Moments With Friends
I’ll also bring it if I’m seeing friends and love taking candid shots or photos of the group. I’ve taken it with me for birthdays, Christmases or even just on nights out, and the result are always fun.
Although I do love film photography, it’s a longer process to get developed. Whereas with a polaroid, I like that it’s both physical and instant and a nice way to capture the evening. Plus, they make a great display, and I’ve even started creating a photo wall in my house.
Sure, the quality isn’t always the best but that’s part of its charm, and I never get tired of seeing a polaroid physically appear in front of me.
Pricing
The prices can vary depending on which brand you want, but if you’re on a budget, you can purchase a polaroid camera for under £100.
I personally went with the Instax Mini 90 because I knew someone with the same camera, and I like that it matches my other cameras which are also silver and black.
You get ten in a pack and a pack of twenty costs around £15. Similar to film photography, knowing that you only have a set amount of photos makes you more mindful as to what you’re shooting. I usually only ever take one or two on every shoot or social event.
Digital Copy
Plus, if you did want to share any online, there’s a great app called Photoscan that scans each corner of the polaroid and creates a digital copy on your phone. It might take a few attempts, but it usually does a pretty good job. This way, even if you lose the original, you’ll still have a digital copy to look back on.
Looking forward to seeing all the shots I take throughout the year and I might even share them as I go along. If you do end up buying a polaroid camera, I’d love to see what you shoot!
Luv ya,
Jack