add a little bit of magic to your wedding photos
When the Polaroid SX-70 was invented 50 years ago, LIFE magazine called it a magic camera and I couldn't agree more. As a digital wedding photographer, each of my clients will receive hundreds of final images, carefully selected from thousands of raw photos captured throughout the day. Film photography, however, carries the innate qualities of intentionality, and restraint. Here's what happens when we slow down and pack all that documentary-style romance into a maximum of 8 slides of film. Pure magic.
why are these photos so dreamy?
The Polaroid SX-70 was the first true one-step instant camera. To phrase it candidly, we already had the Blackberry, but this baby was the original iPhone. It was the first model to combine SLR technology with instant printing- a breakthrough that allows hobbyists to create with reckless abandon, at least, relative to its time. You might compare the surge in photography as a social activity to the modern version we see today- amateur iPhone photographers, creating images that we wouldn't have dreamed of with the limitations of previous hand-held technology. Essentially, Dr Land's innovation was a magical moment in history, which writers love to compare to Steve Job's innovations at Apple, and the effects thereof. This comparison is expanded on by Harry McCracken in his enthusiastic article on the subject: "greatness isn’t a popularity contest–not primarily one, at least. Maybe it has more to do with the concept expressed by Arthur C. Clarke’s Third Law: making technology indistinguishable from magic. By that measure, I can’t think of a greater gadget than the SX-70 Land Camera... the sheer magnitude of its ambition and innovation dwarfs the Walkman, iPod, and nearly every other consumer-electronics product you can name."
This camera put the emphasis on the act of capturing the photo, rather than the technical mechanics of photography. I love this camera not only for it's simplicity, but for the smooth and dreamy quality of the images. It's immaculate in close-up conditions, which is perfect for capturing wedding day details, and this particular model folds down into a sturdy little pocket-sized brick. (My fellow wedding photographers can appreciate the durability of good gear). Mine is actually a refurbished, vintage camera, (thanks, Retrospekt!) which is only still able to be used today thanks to the Impossible Project-- a group of former Polaroid employees who purchased a dismantled factory, reformulated the chemical compounds, and revamped production in 2008. Without this group's passionate efforts, everyone's Polaroids would be collecting dust right now.
Adding polaroids to your wedding package
At every event I photograph, there are certain moments that shine, even if they're not the ones highlighted on the schedule. I call them "big little moments". Sometimes they're candid, but they're always impactful. These moments can look like the bride catching the first glimpse of herself in a mirror, or you holding hands with your new spouse under the sweetheart table, or even just a simple detail that tells a story of its own. With only a handful of little blank canvases, I find myself delightfully intentional and perceptive to these moments. With this package add-on, you'll receive a selection of Polaroid prints from your wedding day, along with the full story in digital form.
Thank you
Ali + John, the couple featured in this post, for your trust and enthusiasm for this project! View the full gallery of images here.