Why using an Fuji Instax camera at your wedding is an awesome idea.

I love film, especially instant film. Back in the day, I used a Polaroid camera with friends and the ‘instant satisfaction’ and fun of watching the image develop in front of you never gets old. In the legendary words of Outkast…’shake it like a polaroid picture'!

The Fuji Instax film camera has been around since 1998 and the stability of the film seems very good, with great colours and a nostalgic feel to them.

Thanks to their layout, you can write on the bottom white area with a Sharpie, so it’s great for documenting dates, notes, peoples names etc. 

So lets talk about my first Instax camera; The Instax mini 8.

I’ll admit, when I first got this camera, I almost dismissed it as a toy, and it didn’t get used for maybe 3 months. However, Once I loaded up the film and took my first few images, I was hooked. Just pop the lens out, aim and click the button. A quick flash, and within seconds, the photo pops out the top - It’s that easy!

It comes in a range of colours, and costs around £60. For wedding events specifically, I love the Smoky White colour as it blends in with the wedding attire theme. It’s great value and tough. Mines been dropped, shut in a car door, fallen down stairs, so you’ll not have to worry about it getting broken in a drunken haze come midnight.

The wallet-sized film comes in packs of 20 shots for around £15 (75p per pic). You can also get a 50 shot pack for £35. (69p per pic)

If you are thinking “Yes, but I could use disposable camera’s instead”, bear in mind that you are likely to use between 8-12 cameras (One for each table minimum) at £8-10 each, then get them processed at another £8ish per camera. Chances are, the images you get back are badly exposed, blurry, or sometimes flat out rude. Honestly, don’t do it. It’s never good.

Now, what can you use an Instax camera for at a wedding?

Instax Cake Toppers

I love cake, and a novel cake topper is always a treat to see. You could be kissing across two snaps, pulling faces, or even take photos on the day of you in all your wedding finery.

Instax wedding reception decoration

You could use an Instax camera to document all of the important events leading up to the wedding day, such as shopping for dresses or the engagement party. The photos would make make an excellent decoration for tables, party favours, or along walls. (Few lengths of string and mini-clothes pegs work a treat.)

Instax Guestbook

If you are looking for a great guestbook idea, why not make an instax one? It’s very easy, just set out a Instax camera or two and ask your guests to snap a picture, sign it and add it your book. I’d reccomend at least 2 cameras and 8-10 packs of film. Don’t forget the Sharpies either!

Collect Instax Candids / DIY Instax Photo Booth

You can’t be everywhere at every minute of your wedding and neither can your photographer. By setting out Instax cameras you are allowing your guests to capture fun images you will get to see later. You’ll get a unique perspective of the party for you to enjoy afterwards.

If you want to take it up a notch, put the camera(s) near a flower wall or part of the venue with lots of decoration for some awesome pictures. You could then make them into a big scrapbook, or display them on a peg frame like mine below.

Honeymoon / The future

As Instax cameras are not disposable, it’s perfect for taking on honeymoon! Load it up with film and have fun taking selfies together or snaps of your honeymoon destination. You could make the pics into a scrapbook of your honeymoon, a wall display…. whatever you can imagine.

Going into the future, it can be used for so many things. Snapshots, friends, kids, the list is endless.

Tim Wood - Norfolk Wedding Photographer