How To Shoot Fujifilm Instax Mini Film by Lauren Nygard

Fujifilm Instax Mini Film Overview: Fujifilm Instax Mini film is a fun, easy to use instant film. Expect saturated colors, strong contrast, and limited details. Try using it in bright sun for the best results. This film is usually used in Fujifilm’s Instax Mini instant cameras, but Lomography and MiNT Camera also make compatible cameras. You can pick up Instax Mini film and cameras on Amazon here: Film: Fujifilm Instax Mini Film Cameras: Fujifilm Instax Mini Cameras, Lomography Lomo’Instant Automat

Fujifilm Instax Mini Film Review by Lauren Nygard

I love using Instax Mini film because it’s so unpredictable and fun! Like Forrest Gump might have said, Instax Mini film is like a box of chocolates–you never know what you’re gonna get. 😉 The experimentation and uncertainty makes using Instax Mini film so enjoyable. It’s also been really fun to end a photo session with an Instax photo, and then let the client take it home with them!

What To Expect From This Film

Instax Mini film is an instant film with somewhat limited detail rendering. The colors are vibrant and can be rather contrasty. The prints are glossy and about the size of a standard business card.

How To Shoot Instax Mini Film

Though Instax Mini film is an 800 speed film, I find that the film performs best in sunny situations since the cameras I have, the Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 90 Neo Classic (find on Amazon) and the Lomo’Instant Automat (find on Amazon), do not have lenses that open wide. The built-in flash can be used for a punchy look in low-light situations, though I find that I prefer the film in natural light.

Where Instax Film Shines And Where It Struggles

I love the selfies I get when using this film! I also find that I love using it for landscape images, especially colorful sunsets! It does so well with bright sunshine and colorful scenery.

This film is not precise, mainly due to the cameras available that use it. Unlike using a Polaroid back on a medium format camera, the cameras currently available that use Instax Mini film do not have full manual control over the exposure, so you will have fairly inconsistent results. I’ve also found that the Monochrome film does not produce the rich blacks that I crave, though the images on monochrome are pretty enjoyable.

If you’d like to learn how to hack your medium format cameras to use Instax Mini film, check out this article here on Shoot It With Film!

Thank you so much, Lauren! You can see more of Lauren’s work on her website and Instagram.

Leave your questions about Instax Mini film in the comments, and if you want to pick up some Fujifilm Instax Mini film for yourself, check it out on Amazon here!

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