Beautiful Polaroid-Inspired Photography

Beautiful Polaroid-Inspired Photography

January 23rd, 2009 @ 10:28 am by Mrs. Perfume

I love the feel of the photographs below. It’s a vintage look that appeals to me because it reminds me of old Polaroids (that were so popular when I was growing up)!! And, by the way, if you haven’t heard, Polaroid is discontinuing its instant film. So these facts make the look all the more rare, nostalgic and attractive (to me, anyway!).

Image credit: Jessica Johnson

Polaroid (”instamatic”) cameras created a different look by the very nature of their use: for snapshots. Easy, fun, and spur of the moment. And that style, recreated with a digital or regular film camera with a little Photoshop is magic to me.

It’s not only the fading through reduced color saturation and temperature warming, but it’s also the natural, un-posed images. I also love how earthy these images are. I think grand and epic are great, but there’s something about the intimate quietness of these that really speaks to me.

Source

Another great thing that all these photos have in common is that each wedding couple has original style. You can tell some thought went into making their special day reflect their personalities! Hats, giant floral headband, feather bolero… ahhhhh! So delish!

Image credit: Max Wanger

I’m hoping our photographers (more about the husband and wife team later) can capture a similar mood. I think they have a good eye for composition and all that. But in terms of the color and “vintage Polaroid” feeling, I know that a lot of the photo editing programs/sites have actions you can use to accomplish that post-production.

I love Picnik.com. You can edit your images in tons of different ways, create a collage, and even write on the image with a text feature that has a pretty good amount of font options.

Here’s a snapshot I took recently. It’s un-doctored.

Picnik has an action called “Vintage” that darkens the edges where you can create a pinhole camera effect…

Similarly they also have a feature called “Orton-ish” which color saturates and brightens the image, as well as softens the edges, making the image look over exposed a bit. Like a giant bar flash from an old Polaroid camera, of course!

Then there’s the “1960s” action which basically reduces the color saturation and warms the photo. It can even “crop” the photo with rounded corners!

So, hopefully “vintage Polaroid” can be created via our photographers or afterwards by me! Fingers crossed.

Are you thinking about post-processing any of your pictures (guest’s, pro pics, or otherwise)? What products will you use?

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20 Responses to “Beautiful Polaroid-Inspired Photography”

Bee

Miss Bruschetta (message) 5,553 posts, Bee Keeper

I love Picnik! It’s how I edit all the photos I post on my wedding/food blog.

btw, did you change your icon? Or did I miss the introduction of a New Bee?

1/23/09 @ 10:33 am (reply)

Member

Luvbug6315 (message) 427 posts, Helper bee

I have never heard of this, but I’m going to check it out! Thanks for the info Miss Perfume!

1/23/09 @ 10:37 am (reply)

Bee

Miss D'orsay (message) 1,293 posts, Bumble bee

woah, I was *just* looking at these weddings this morning! crazaaaay! I’m obsessed with Picnik

1/23/09 @ 10:55 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Peep Toe (message) 1,636 posts, Bumble bee

Those pictures are great, and I love the tips and pics from picnik!

1/23/09 @ 11:03 am (reply)

Member

Pinkbunni02 (message) 6 posts, Newbee

I love the 1960’s one! Its the filter that they use on older movies every time the heroine is on screen, how fun to add that touch to your wedding pics!

1/23/09 @ 11:27 am (reply)

Guest

john waire

great photos in this post.

i use lightroom for all of my post processing. vintage is definitely in

1/23/09 @ 11:28 am (reply)

Guest

betting_im_not

http://www.the-impossible-project.com/

Polaroid is saved!

1/23/09 @ 11:31 am (reply)

Guest

Krista

I’m definitely going to mess around with picnik and our pictures after the wedding. I experimented with the free version on pictures that we took at a friend’s wedding last year, and we absolutely loved the results.

1/23/09 @ 11:32 am (reply)

Guest

Heather

Thank you SO much for this post! I have been speaking to my photographer about these exact effects, and she found the Photoshop actions she’d need, but didnt really know how to use them and they cost money that neither of us wanted to spend. It’s amazing to know we can get a similar look just using Picnik! Thanks again! Great post

1/23/09 @ 11:44 am (reply)

10.

Member

nashgirl (message) 141 posts, Blushing bee

A lot of photographers are now experimenting with TTV (through the viewfinder) which combines the lens of a vintage camera (like a duoflex) with digital. Do a google image search for TTV and you’ll see what I mean. If you like that look, I’d recommend asking your photographer if they’re able to do it… it’s a lot more cost effective than using 50mm film!

1/23/09 @ 11:51 am (reply)

11.

Bee

frenchbulldog (message) 6,067 posts, Bee Keeper

Ooo that “1960s” action is cool!

1/23/09 @ 12:04 pm (reply)

12.

Member

honeymyheart (message) 763 posts, Busy bee

thanks for the heads up about picnik! it’s such a great resource.

1/23/09 @ 12:06 pm (reply)

13.

Member

renaissancetrophywife (message) 233 posts, Helper bee

Love, love, love Picnik… it saves me a ton of time, and definitely makes me look like a better photographer than I really am.

1/23/09 @ 12:25 pm (reply)

14.

Guest

Natasha

I was just made aware of a website called http://www.poladroid.net which has a download, I think, that ‘turns’ digital photographs into Polaroids. Crops them with the white border and everything, I think.

1/23/09 @ 4:21 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

jwalk

Good news for all you polaroid fans out there - Impossible Mission aims to re-start production of analog integral film for vintage Polaroid cameras in 2010!

Source: http://www.savepolaroid.com/news/big-big-big-news-a-real-future-for-integral-film.

It’s not over until the fat lady sings.

Impossible Project: http://www.the-impossible-project.com/

1/23/09 @ 4:26 pm (reply)

16.

Member

iviary (message) 179 posts, Blushing bee

I’m planning to do all of the post-processing for my wedding photography, but then I’m a photographer myself who seriously believes in that saying about “If you want something done right..”

I’m actually having an ex-boyfriend and his fiance shoot our wedding. I trust them to get all the shots, but I want my own style of post-processing, dontcha see.

1/23/09 @ 4:45 pm (reply)

17.

Member

Jovanni (message) 2 posts, Wannabee

Hello,

Thank you for this informative post!

Just one correction in regards to Polaroid being discontinued; as betting_im_not and jwalk have pointed out, Polaroid has been saved through The Impossible Project which has bought Polaroid’s old equipment and factory with plans of re-starting production of analog integral film for Polaroid cameras in 2010.

In the meantime, Polaroid 600 film is STILL readily available for sale through Adesso Albums (www.adessoalbums.com) who also custom makes albums for Polaroid pictures!

1/23/09 @ 6:19 pm (reply)

18.