Written by Sara Johansen
I’m always on the hunt for inspiration. Sometimes it’s new music, maybe walking through an art gallery, talking with artist friends, or a visit to a park. Inspiration can be found all around, truly!
One spot that is never without fail, though, is finding incredible inspiring artists through Instagram. So I’m going to share a list of some experimental film photographers that are currently inspiring me.
1. Liz Potter – Polaroids & Emulsion Lift Art
Liz Potter (@lizpotterphotography) has an incredible ability to capture scenes of West Texas, where she currently resides. She does a lot of Polaroid work along with her 35mm and 120 images, and I’m always amazed by her emulsion lifts.
She’s constantly testing new methods with layering, toning and more, leaving me always inspired to experiment more!
She also does cyanotypes and darkroom printing – I’m often left wondering if there’s anything she cannot do and also when can I go camping with her in Big Bend!
Connect with Liz: Website | Instagram
2. Merecedes Nelson – Film Soup Experimentation
Mercedes (@film.fawn) and I connected over film soup, and to say she’s a constant inspiration to me would be an understatement.
She’s continually pushing the boundary on ingredients to use and experiment with – it makes me want to try more new things with soup!
She creates images with some incredible colors and I particularly love some of her recent portrait film soup work. She’s also a Polaroid person, so you know I don’t hate that either.
Connect with Merecedes: Website | Instagram
3. Sharon Steven & BKIFI Films – Special Effects Film
Sharon Steven (@sharonstevenstudio) is the mastermind behind BKIFI Films, and to say I’m obsessed with her experimental films she’s creating would be an understatement.
She creates 35mm film with special effects and also has made adapters to use with 35mm cameras, Polaroid cameras, and Instax cameras to get similar special effects.
Oh yeah, and she has disposable cameras for sale as well featuring the special effects film. The confetti and rainbow films are my favorite and will be on my list to use in 2024.
Connect with Sharon: Website | Instagram | BKIFI Website | BKIFI Instagram
4. Gothy Panda – Kodak Handle Revival
There’s a lot of fun happening on Gothy_Panda’s IG, but let me tell you what I’m obsessed with – her hack to print Instax film through a vintage Kodak Handle instant camera.
When I stumbled across a reel of hers on IG showing how she converted the instant Kodak camera to work with modern Instax film, I could hardly believe it. I was so annoyed at myself for not impulse buying a Kodak Handle for $5 the week before when I was antique shopping in Illinois. Safe to say, I’m now on an official hunt for one, and this is absolutely one of my goals for my photography in 2024.
Oh, and did I mention she does incredible Polaroid work as well? If instant film is your jam, she’s a must follow!
Connect with Gothy_Panda: Instagram
5. Annette Young – Holga & Lomography Film Work
Annette Young (@annetteyoungphotography) has become a favorite account of mine to follow because she creates incredible stories with her Holga and Lomography film.
She doesn’t shy away from Lomo’s experimental films like Lomo Turquoise and Lomo Purple, and her doubles on her Holga always leave me wanting more.
You can see in her Instagram posts that each roll that goes through her Holga has a story, and it’s really beautiful to follow along. It’s definitely got me rethinking how I shoot with my Holga, to do less random snapshots and look at how I can use it as a storyteller.
Connect with Annette: Website | Instagram
6. Anne-Mette Kelter Weinkouff – Polaroid Manipulation & Emulsion Lifts
Anne-Mette (@kelterphotography) is a Polaroid magician. It’s true. She does a lot of Polaroid manipulation work, and I’m so in love with her ability to make a Polaroid look like a watercolor painting. It’s truly stunning.
She also creates the most beautiful emulsion lifts – it’s got me ready to practice my own emulsion lift craft more, because hers are actually perfect.
Her “Liquid Dresses” series is also serious goals for me. The idea and execution is fantastic and it’s got me thinking I need a new Polaroid project for the new year.
Connect with Anne-Mette: Website | Instagram
7. Amber Lauder – Film Experimentation
Let me tell you something about Amber’s (@amberlauderphoto) work – you will never not be amazed by it. Film soup, Polaroids, multiple exposures, and more. Every time she posts I’m thinking, oh boy, HOW?! It’s always a delight when she pops up in my Instagram feed, and it continually feeds my film experimentation cravings.
Another bonus of Amber’s account? She’s an incredible curator of other experimental work, and she’s often sharing it in her stories. When her stories pop up, I know I’m in for a treat, because I will inevitably find another new account to follow. Safe to say her account is unlimited when it comes to inspiration.
Connect with Amber: Website | Instagram
8. Mia Bloombecker – Film Swaps
Mia (@nationale7) is a master of film swaps, and it’s got me craving to do one immediately. Her account is a compilation of film swaps she’s done, and it always blows me away.
Film swaps are when you shoot the roll and then send off to someone else to shoot over that roll, essentially giving you blind doubles from two totally different places. It can make for some incredibly interesting images, and I love seeing how they turn out.
I did a film swap one time, and it was kind of a bust, leaving me a bit turned off. But with Mia’s work, I’m back in and ready to try again.
She also does film soup with some of the rolls, which you know I absolutely adore. And be sure to check out the article about the seven years of film swapping she’s done with Erdal Kahraman (@the.analog.erdalito) – just incredible!
Mia, dm me, I wanna do a swap with you!
Connect with Mia: Instagram
9. Michele Hamparian – Composition & Colors
I love Michele’s (@micheleonfilm) work! It’s so simple, yet always stops me as I’m scrolling. Her compositions and colors are so beautiful.
She has a great way of capturing landmarks that is constantly inspiring me to work on my own compositions. Her Palm Springs work was in the back of my mind on my recent trip there. As I was wandering neighborhoods and capturing the architecture, I often thought, “How would Michele capture this?” It was a great way to get me thinking differently about my composition and breaking out of some of my stale habits.
And maybe one of my favorite things about Michele is that while her work has a more traditional feel, she’s not afraid to try something completely different, such as film soup. It’s so easy to paint ourselves into a box with our work, and I love when the unexpected comes along from an artist.
Connect with Michele: Website | Instagram
Thank you to all these incredible artists for being such inspirations!
I hope you found some new-to-you film artists and photographers, plus I would love to hear who is inspiring you. Drop a line in the comments with some of your favorite accounts!
Thank you so much, Sara! Sara is a regular contributor here at Shoot It With Film, and you can check out her other articles here, such as Five Tips for Shooting Film at Night and Kodak Ektar H35 Half-Frame Film Camera Review.
You can also find more of Sara’s work on her website, Instagram, and print store.
Share your favorite experimental film photographers below in the comments!
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