12 Aesthetic Polaroid Photo Ideas You Can Try

Looking for creative polaroid photo ideas?

Many believe a Polaroid camera is already outdated, especially considering the modern digital age, with screens and pixels dominating the scene.

However, this does not mean that you should throw it all away. You can still create unique and breathtaking images if you are armed with knowledge about the best Polaroid photo ideas.

Undeniably, Polaroid cameras have their own charm. With the seeming rebirth of analogue photography, you can use these cameras in several more creative ways than just one.

Holding a picture captured by a Polaroid camera is also very nostalgic. You will feel good as you capture a special moment that develops right before you.

What Makes Polaroid Cameras So Endearing to Users?

Also called an instant camera, a Polaroid camera has its own charm, which makes it so popular among those who love photography. The following are just a few of the many reasons why it is so endearing to users:

• Immediate results: You will love the instant gratification brought on by the physical prints provided by your Polaroid. You can get the print right after you take the photo. There is no need to process it.
• Unique and beautiful aesthetic: Polaroid photos are also unique and appealing, thanks to their square-format prints and white borders. The pictures have this retro look, making them more artistic and nostalgic.
• Limited shots: Polaroid cameras have limited shots depending on how many exposures your pack of instant film has. In most cases, the pack only has eight or ten exposures. This makes you more thoughtful and selective when taking pictures, and it also makes you more creative and intentional when capturing photos.
• Fun and spontaneous: This type of camera also has an instant nature, which promotes experimentation and spontaneity as you take pictures. It lets you capture special moments immediately and then share the printed results with your loved ones in real-time. With that, expect the experience to be more fun and interactive.
• Does not require connectivity to a printer or PC: It does not need a battery, too. With that, you can quickly and easily use it, plus it can capture moments even in a remote area without electricity.

Aside from all that, this camera also gives you prints that act as remembrances, working not only as souvenirs but also as displays or decorations in scrapbooks, albums, and decors. With that, these items will gain their personal touch.

Also Read: Even Polaroid Cameras are Digital Now

How to Produce Amazing and Creative Polaroid Photos?

So now that you know how good Polaroid cameras are, it is time to use one in your photography. In that case, here are a few Polaroid photo ideas that will surely help you produce awesome prints.

1. Panorama Polaroid Photography

If you constantly use your mobile phone to capture photos, then it is highly likely that you have already come across your gadget’s panorama function.

It is a function that your Polaroid camera has, too. Begin to take a shot using your Polaroid camera, then pan it left or right so that you can reveal the whole scene.

What’s great about this idea is that it is easy to do. You need to stand in one spot and take several photos. Ensure that you move the frame between every picture.

Also Read: Have You Ever Shot a Panorama on Top of a Skyscraper? This is How It Looks

2. Polaroid Photo Ideas Panoramic Sequence

You can also give your panoramic polaroid photo idea more life by forming images through your camera to display from one side to another.

Through the panoramic sequence, you will have a set of connected snapshots designed to tell a story to those who can view them.

The snapshots can, therefore, make the viewers feel immersed in the scene. Such an idea is enough to grab several expressions or angles of just one subject.

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3. Golden Hour Aesthetic Polaroid Ideas

This is one of the aesthetic polaroid ideas from our list. In other words, you must use sunshine in your photos but do so strategically. Take advantage of the golden hour, which refers to the sweet spot briefly before sunset and after sunrise. At this moment, the sun naturally casts a golden glow over the subjects of your camera.

With that, your pictures will surely be rich in contrast and colours. However, if you often rise in the middle of the day, the best tip is to let the sunshine behind you as you take a picture. That way, your subject will indeed be flooded with light.

Learn more about lighting in photography

4. Double Exposure

Moving on to another polaroid photo ideas. Double exposure photography, this is a new yet trending in this field and will look unique on your polaroids album.

We have A lot of Polaroid cameras boast of their double exposure setting. Pick a scene that has a great texture before taking the picture. One example is a bed of flowers. After that, capture a photo of yourself using a selfie. This will bring out an image of you that has the flower shot.

5. Fun Doodles

Another great idea for producing amazing pictures through your Polaroid camera is to integrate fun doodles and other drawings. The only thing you need for this cute polaroid picture ideas would be a blunt tool – ex., one end of a brush. Of course, you also need a Polaroid picture, but make sure it is fresh, as its softness makes it easier to manipulate.

Right after the Polaroid image comes out, use the tool to apply gentle pressure to the image. You can doodle on it or choose to write something. By doing that, you can give a simple picture a unique texture and look. You are allowed to draw directly at the picture or behind it.

Applying more pressure to the image strengthens the lines. You can do that, too, but you must be extra careful since strong lines may also damage your Polaroid picture.

Check Out Masterclass: Photographing People With Damien Lovegrove

6. Double Exposure Ghosting

You will be using the double exposure function for this polaroid inspiration. The only difference is that you will shoot a similar subject twice to get ghostly-looking pictures.

The goal is to use a tighter composition to overlap the subject. You can also do it at a different angle, resulting in a ghosting effect.

7. Pantone Color

You can also use your Polaroid camera to produce pictures with a Pantone colour background. The only thing you need to do is use some gels as a cover for your lens. Changing the colours now and then and capturing innovative and creative pictures would also be a great idea.

8. Kaleidoscope

For this Polaroid photo idea, you will need three small mirrors. They should be rectangular. Take the mirrors together to form a pyramid or triangular kaleidoscope.

This aesthetic Polaroid idea can be likened to using a prism in front of a DSLR lens. In that sense, you must put the formed kaleidoscope at the front of your Polaroid camera’s lens. This can produce amazing light flares and reflections.

9. Collage

In this Polaroid photography technique, you will take a few close-up shots of the subject from various angles, the right, front, left, etc. It would be best if you then combined the shots to produce a uniquely creative portrait collage.

10. Polaroid Inspiration With Notes or Messages

With this Polaroid photo idea, you can add notes or messages to make your Polaroid pictures even more endearing.

For instance, you can take a photo using your Polaroid camera and then incorporate a Thank-You note or message into it to show your gratitude to someone. It could also be a note of support or a farewell message.

11. Hyperlapse Ideas For Polaroid Photos

There is also what we call the old-school hyper-lapse when it comes to taking pictures through a Polaroid camera.

To do this, you should capture a picture and walk a few steps. Then, you should take another step and repeat the same procedure as you stroll casually.

Doing so will help you create a printout of a make-shift hyperlapse.

It is also incredible to capture how time passes through this feature. You can first pick a subject, preferably a stationary object, like a setting sun or a blooming flower.

It would be best to take shots of this subject every few minutes or hours. You can then arrange the captured images in a sequence, giving you a nice hyperlapse showing the changes in your subject and the world.

Also Read: Amazing Photography and Time-lapse: International Space Station

12. A Mix Of Digital And Analogue

These Polaroid photo ideas became a go-to shot among Polaroid users because they let them combine the touches of analogue and digital technology.

Here, you can take any picture you want, a portrait photograph or landscape, using your Polaroid camera, then capture a photo of yourself as you hold the image with your smartphone or camera.

This idea for Polaroid photos has various versions, one of which is the utterly blurred background behind an image. You can also go for highly detailed and attention-grabbing backgrounds.

Conclusion

Now that you know the best Polaroid photo ideas, it is time to apply them to your photography. Just make sure you store the pictures properly after you develop them. Even after they come out, small chemical reactions can still occur beneath the surface.

In that case, protect the pictures from light. Your amazing Polaroid photos will also have a chance to last longer if you keep them in a safe, dark, and dry place during the first thirty days.

By doing that, your instant photographs will give you more than candid snapshots. They will become solid mementoes with artistic flare and touch guaranteed to last a lifetime.