35 Polaroid Tips and Tricks

35 Polaroid Tips and Tricks

Polaroid cameras have really been a hit in recent years. But how do you take the most beautiful photos with a Polaroid camera? And how do you make sure you do not get overexposed photos? Read on quickly for our 35 tips for Polaroid photos (which we learned through trial and error, see tip 30) and a bit of history about the instant camera.

History of Instant Photography

An instant camera prints a photo immediately after taking a picture. Often when we talk about instant cameras, we call them Polaroid cameras. That is not strange at all, because the best-known brand that makes instant cameras is Polaroid. Since 1948, you have been able to take instant photos with Polaroid cameras. This allowed everyone to take photos immediately, without having to wait weeks for film rolls to be developed. Nowadays, we almost never print photos anymore, since everything is online. Yet with an instant camera, you can make beautiful unique prints of cherished moments. But how do you do that? Read on quickly.

Let's get started

1. Do not forget to print the protective slide
If you want to take photos, insert a pack of film into the instant camera. With some instant cameras such as the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12, you are then completely ready to take a photo…. And then you realise that you have not yet removed the protective slide. Therefore, print this slide immediately when you insert a new pack of film into the camera.

2. Choose the correct film size
At Kamera Express, we sell different types of film. You would not be the first person to buy the wrong film size for their instant camera. Therefore, always check which type of film you need for your instant camera!

3. Store your camera in a pouch or case
A little Polaroid tip: handle your camera with care. Instant cameras are often used for festivals, parties, weekends away and holidays. And they are not always handled carefully there. With a pouch or case, you protect the camera against drops. In addition, this also prevents scratches on the lens. Good options are the Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 Case Black and the Fujifilm Instax SQ10 Camera Case. Some Polaroid camera cases are also equipped with a strap, extra handy for taking your instant camera everywhere.

Modes and Composition

4. Get to know the modes
Most instant cameras have different modes. Read the instruction manual carefully (yes, really, they are quite useful) to find out which camera mode best suits each situation.

5. But do not always choose the mode your camera indicates
Is it a sunny day, but does the camera indicate that it is cloudy? Then still choose the sunny option. The instant camera will then let in less light, giving you a darker photo instead of an overexposed photo. Do you want a darker photo? Set the camera lighter. Do you want a lighter photo? Choose a darker mode. It takes some getting used to, but this is how you get the best photos.

6. Do not photograph too close
Almost all cameras have a minimum and maximum focus point. Most Polaroid cameras require a distance of at least 60 centimetres to get something sharp in the photo. Keep this in mind when making a print.

7. Do not photograph too far away
Not too close and not too far away? What can you actually do with an instant camera?! Well, quite a lot, but most instant cameras cannot be compared with a DSLR camera. For beautiful photos, you can keep a maximum distance of a few metres. Check the instant camera manual for the maximum focus distance. By using the correct distance in combination with the right exposure, you will always take a beautiful photo.

8. Be aware of the size of your Polaroid
Polaroid photos are small. Whether you shoot with Fujifilm Instax Mini colour film, Fujifilm Instax Wide colour film or Fujifilm Instax Square film, the photos are compact in size. Small details in the background or several metres away will not be visible in the photo.

9. Do not be afraid to make mistakes
Before you can take beautiful photos, you first have to learn how to use the camera. New film is expensive, but once you have figured out all the settings, you can make fun Polaroids for years afterwards.

10. Think about the composition
The fun thing about Polaroids is that they instantly capture a record of the moment. As photos secretly always do. The advantage (or disadvantage) of a Polaroid is that they are unique and that you are not going to take 100 photos of the same composition. Therefore, choose the right angle and composition for your print.

11. Take your time when taking your photo
Many people use instant cameras at parties and on trips for unique memories. If you understand the settings well and have already practised a bit, that is great. Have you just received the camera? Then really take your time when taking a photo. Think about the light, think about the composition, think about what you want to use as the focal point in the photo, think about the mode… And start printing.

12. Taking selfies with an instant camera
Many of the Polaroid photos you take will be selfies. A group photo or a photo with your girlfriend/boyfriend on holiday is a valuable memory. Cameras such as the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 Camera Blush Gold have a selfie mirror. This mirror is located next to the lens. This allows you to immediately see whether you are properly in frame.

13. Use a tripod
Most instant cameras can be attached to a tripod. Especially when creating double exposure prints, it can be useful to make the first exposure on a tripod. This makes the first exposure as sharp as possible.

14. Take photos with a remote control
Some instant cameras, such as the Lomography Lomo Instant Automat Lenses South Beach, are equipped with a remote control. Perfect for your lovey-dovey couple goals photos or for a group selfie! Or to take a beautiful photo of yourself without having a photographer/friend nearby.

Light

15. Backlight is your enemy
Just like in normal photography, backlight is not ideal. Of course, you can use it to your advantage when photographing silhouettes. Usually, however, it is obvious that the photo does not have the desired effect. Therefore, always pay close attention to where the sunlight or light from lamps is coming from before printing.

16. Photographing the sun?
That is not what an instant camera is intended for; you will notice that the sun appears as a black dot in the photo. Therefore, try to avoid the sun in your photos.

17. My flash cannot be turned off?
Some instant cameras, such as the Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Minion, have a flash that always fires. This flash cannot be turned off. This is something to keep in mind when photographing people and animals (the flash is bright).

18. Develop the photos in the dark
Polaroid photos develop within a few minutes. They develop best in the dark. Printed your photo? Then store it away immediately; do not just place the photo with the developing side facing down. It can even help to allow a development time of an hour so that the chemicals can do their work calmly. But a few minutes is what we always use ourselves, because naturally you want to know whether the photo turned out well.

19. Protect the instant camera from sun and heat
Like all equipment, including your phone, an instant camera does not cope very well with extremely hot temperatures. You will notice little of it, but for the best quality and a long lifespan, we recommend not leaving the instant camera in direct sunlight. At home, store it in a sheltered place, especially if there is still film in the camera.

Effects

20. Use the double exposure or multiple exposure mode
Instant cameras such as the Lomography Lomo’Instant Square Single Pigalle are equipped with a multiple exposure option. This means that multiple shots can be taken before printing a photo. Perhaps our most fun Polaroid tip for this; take a photo of a busy background such as graffiti, a painting, a print, a flower field or a mountain landscape for the first ‘exposure’. Then place a person, building or statue in the frame for your second ‘exposure’. Then print the photo. The result is a two-in-one photo.

21. Ghosting for unique photos
Not ghosting in the dating sense, but in the photography sense. Use the multiple exposure mode again and take several shots of a dancing person. Then print the photo and get a special image of someone who appears to split into different parts. This can of course also be done with animals or with landscapes where it is windy. Give it a try.

22. Work with colour filters
With some instant cameras, you can add colour filters to the flash so that the photos turn red, blue, green, pink or perhaps even yellow. Not every camera offers this option. However, you can easily solve this yourself by placing a piece of coloured foil over the flash.

23. There are more options than colour film
Do you want to take black-and-white photos with an instant camera? That is possible! Then choose the Fujifilm Instax Mini Monochrome film or the Fujifilm Instax Wide Monochrome film. In addition, there are other playful variations such as the Hello Kitty Fujifilm or the Fujifilm Instax Mini Airmail Instant Film.

24. Create a panorama
You cannot create a panorama with a single Polaroid photo, but you can with multiple photos. Are you in a beautiful landscape or a busy city? Take four or five overlapping photos from left to right. When you get home, you can stick them next to each other in a frame and create a beautiful panorama.

25. Add captions to the Polaroid photos
Every instant print has a border that you can write on. Especially at parties, it is fun to note the party and the date there. Or stick a Post-it note on the back with the location, date and who you were with. This way, you can create a beautiful photo album at home and still know years later where you were.

Protection

26. "Shake it like a polaroid picture" - Outkast
Preferably not. Develop the photos in the dark. Polaroid responded to the Outkast song, explaining that waving a Polaroid photo around does not add any value. In the past, Polaroid photos came out of the camera damp. Nowadays, these prints have a plastic layer around them, making waving unnecessary. If you shake the photo very hard, you can even prevent it from developing properly because the chemicals become disturbed.

27. Store the film properly
The new blank photos are called film. Store it properly in a dark and cool place. So not in direct sunlight. Chemicals are used to develop the photos, and they do not like becoming warm. For the best development, keep the film dry, clean and cool.

28. Protect the film
Just like with film cameras, the film should never be exposed to light without packaging. Otherwise, the chemicals are exposed and you get so-called ‘light leaks’ on your prints. This can be fun to experiment with, but it can also result in nothing being visible on the prints at all. Therefore, we do not recommend removing the film from your camera.

29. Print made
Store the Polaroid photo immediately. The plastic layer protecting the photos is not very thick. It is best to immediately place the photos in protective sleeves or a photo album.

30. Cameras do not like beer, wine and cocktails
Um, yes, still a tip we want to give you! Instant cameras are fun to take with you when going out or to festivals. But they are not waterproof or water-resistant. Beer spilled over the camera? Clean it up immediately. It can damage the film and lens. It can even prevent the lens from opening. A shame for your camera.

31. We love glitter, but cameras… Not so much.
An important tip especially for the ladies among us. Glitter gets everywhere; months after glitter hair or glitter make-up, you still find it. Are you going for a glitter festival look and taking your instant camera with you? Then choose a pouch or case to protect most of your camera.

32. Rain? Mais non.
Instant cameras and Polaroid photos do not like rain. Are you taking the camera with you and is there a chance of rain? Then bring a zip-lock bag for the Polaroid prints and a good case for the camera.

Film

33. Give your photos away
Many people want to keep all their Polaroids in a box or put them away immediately. But Polaroids are actually fun to give away to your friends or family. Especially if you have lots of photos, they are nice to hand out. Scan all the Polaroids when you get home. Sort them and give them away. For example, you can put them in a photo frame and give them as a birthday present.

34. Buy your film in bulk
It has happened to us many times; a lovely week in Berlin and on the second day we realised we had no film with us. Therefore, we recommend always making sure you have enough film with you to take beautiful photos. You can do this by buying in large quantities.

35. Do you want beautiful Polaroids, but also digital versions? You can!
In addition to analogue instant cameras, there are also digital instant cameras. Thanks to the SD card, the photos are stored and can later be printed if desired. This prevents ‘bad’ prints and ensures there is always a successful Polaroid.