7 Days of instax™ – Your December Photo Drop

December's supposed to be full of festive magic, but let's be real, it's also chaos. You're wrapping up work deadlines, running between parties, panic-buying presents, and somehow fitting in all those festive plans you said yes to back in November. Before you know it, Christmas has come and gone, and the whole month feels like one long blur.

That's exactly why you need to slow down and capture some of it. Not the big, obvious stuff - you'll remember those bits anyway. But the little moments that make December actually feel like December.

So here's the plan: seven days, seven prints, one mini archive of the week leading up to Christmas. Start December 18th, finish Christmas Eve. Grab your instax™ camera and build a December you can actually look back on.

The daily snap challenge

For seven days (or the whole month if you’re feeling ambitious), take one photo every day. Your morning coffee, Christmas lights, your mate’s ridiculous face at the pub. Whatever feels right.

The magic? These aren’t sitting in your camera roll or collecting dust. They’re real, physical, and you can actually do something with them. A December archive you can touch.

Build your own DIY advent display

Once you start snapping, you need somewhere to put these pics. Make your own advent display with your prints.

The wall collage

Easiest option. Grab some washi tape or photo clips and start sticking your daily prints to your wall in a grid. By the end of the month, you’ve got a full visual diary of December. Plus it looks way better than a boring calendar.

Fairy-light garland

String up some fairy lights across your room, then use mini pegs to clip your instax™ prints directly to the lights. Each day, add a new pic. It’s functional, festive, and honestly just looks really good. Works especially well if you’re using the instax™ mini 12 or mini 41 – the classic mini format fits perfectly on a garland.

Envelope countdown

This one is a bit more involved but worth it. Get some small envelopes, number them 1-7, and tuck each day’s print inside. At the end of the week, you’ve got a little collection of sealed memories you can open later. Future you will thank you.

7-day photo prompt list

Not sure what to snap? Here’s a week’s worth of ideas to get you started:

Day 1: Something cosy

Your blanket fort, a mug of hot chocolate, your cat in a jumper. Capture whatever makes December feel warm.

Day 2: Local lights

Street decorations, shop windows, that one house that goes way too hard with the lights. Get outside and snap the glow.

Day 3: A December tradition

Putting up the tree, watching a movie, making cookies. Whatever you do every year, document it.

Day 4: Someone who makes you smile

Your best mate, your sibling, your dog. Just someone (or something) that’s part of your December.

Day 5: Winter weather

Frost on the window, rain on the pavement, actual snow if you’re lucky. Whatever the weather is doing, capture it.

Day 6: A festive detail

Wrapping paper scraps, fairy lights up close, a bauble. Zoom in on something small that feels seasonal. 

Day 7: Tonight’s vibe

Whatever you’re doing on day seven – whether it’s a party, a quiet night in, or just scrolling on your phone. One honest shot of how you’re ending the week. 

Feel free to remix these, skip some, or come up with your own. The point isn’t to follow rules – it’s to actually remember December instead of just getting through it.

Make it a group thing

Get your friends involved. Set up a group chat for the photo drop – everyone posts their daily pic, no captions needed. By the end, you’ve got a shared visual diary.

Take it to Instagram Stories or TikTok. Use #giveinstax or create your own hashtag. Tag @instaxhq and you might get featured.

Choose the right instax™ for December

Not all instax™ products are the same, and December comes with its own challenges – dim lighting, indoor settings, spontaneous moments. Here’s what works: 

For low-light situations 

The instax mini LiPlay+™ is your best bet. It’s a hybrid, so you can preview your shot before you print, and it’s great at handling low light. Perfect for cosy indoor moments or evening walks when the light’s not ideal.

For quick, everyday snaps 

The instax mini 12™ or mini 41™ are solid choices. They’re automatic, so you don’t need to think too much about settings – just point, shoot, and you’ve got your pic. Easy for daily use when you just want to capture something fast.

For editing flexibility

If you want control over your prints before they come out, go with the instax mini Evo™. You can add filters, adjust settings, and preview shots before printing. Great if you’re aiming for a cohesive December aesthetic.

For printing from your phone

Already taking pics on your phone but want physical prints? The instax mini Link 3™ is perfect. The SQUARE Link and Link WIDE printers are also great if you want larger format photos. Scroll through your camera roll, pick your favourite shots from the day, and print them out. No need to carry a camera everywhere.

Tips for Sticking With It

Set a reminder. A daily nudge helps. Make it fun – call it “photo o’clock” or whatever makes you smile. 

Keep your camera visible. On your desk, by your bed, in your bag or just somewhere nearby where you can grab it and start snapping!

Let it be messy. Blurry pic? Weird angle? That's the good stuff. If every shot looks perfect, you're thinking too hard. 

Stock up on film. Running out mid-challenge is annoying. Grab extras so you can snap without stress. Plus, there are loads of different film designs - from classic white borders to seasonal patterns - so you can match the vibe of your pics.

What You'll End Up With

By the end of your seven days, you'll have prints that actually tell a story. Not just the big moments – the decorations, the parties – but the in-between stuff too. The quiet mornings, the random laughs, the nights that felt ordinary.

Unlike your camera roll, these prints don't disappear. Keep them in a box, stick them in a journal, or leave them up on your wall. They're proof December happened.

So grab your instax™ camera or printer, pick your first prompt, and start your photo drop.

Want more ways to use your instax™ this season? Check out our Inspiration page for creative ideas all year round.