Simple lo-fi photography hacks for your dreamiest instax™ prints to date

Lo-fi photography is having a revival, which means only one thing: there’s never been a better time to grab your instax™ camera and try your hand at some old-school film techniques. 

From soft and dreamy portraits to slow-motion city scenes, we’re showing you how to get that perfectly imperfect lo-fi look in an instant.

What do we mean by “lo-fi” photography?

Can’t get your head around the meaning of lo-fi? Let’s break it down.

Lo-fi stands for “low fidelity” and is basically a fancy way of describing something raw, unpolished, and not totally true to life. In tech, the term tends to be used for prototypes (think simple sketches or early mockups), but in art, music, and photography, it’s morphed into a creative aesthetic. 

Why are we suddenly all craving a bit of lo-fi in our lives? 

Because it feels freeing. Lo-fi’s less about precision and predictability and *all* about mood, character, and spontaneity. In lo-fi photography, we don’t fix the random glitches and inaccuracies — we make them the main event. That’s why lo-fi and instant photography are a perfect match. They help us to embrace the unexpected and turn it into art.

The lowdown on the lo-fi aesthetic

In the early days of Insta, the lo-fi aesthetic was everywhere. Think: grainy group shots, vignette everything, and blurred party scenes with pastel light leaks — all finished off with a signature retro frame. Even if you didn’t own a film camera, you wanted it to look like you did. That meant hitting up every filter and effect you had to give your snaps that “analogue” feel.

Fast-forward to now, and the lo-fi look is having its moment once again. Amongst all the ultra-polished HD images, we’re seeing perfectly imperfect b-roll stills, soft, nostalgic portraits, and playful, warped city snaps. These unexpected, abstract images break up the scroll and provide some serious creative inspo.

How can you spot the lo-fi aesthetic straight away? Here are some hallmarks of lo-fi photography:

• Coloured film effects: pastel film hues, monochrome tones, and subtle warm or cool tinges that feel straight out of a '70s movie
• Light leaks: abstract amber streaks and misty rainbow gradients seeping in from the edge of snaps
• Double exposure: nostalgic, ghost-like layering which gives snaps a dreamlike quality
• Grain: soft, fuzzy specks that bring a noisy, granular quality to shots
• Vignettes: that smudgy, subtle shadow that frames photos to add depth and interest
• Bulb exposure: dancing trails of light that bring illuminated nighttime photos to life
• Fisheye: a bold, curved distortion that warps the frame into a bubble-like view, adding a playful edge and a touch of drama

How to take lo-fi photos with your instax™ camera

Ready to master the art of lo-fi snaps? Whether you go hybrid or analogue, instax™ cameras make creating lo-fi pics a breeze. Play with filters, add different lens effects, and use vintage-style film to craft your most creative images yet. 

The double exposure movie still

Insane city backdrop? Endless eye-catching silhouettes? 

Capture all the hustle and bustle with double exposure on the instax WIDE Evo™ hybrid camera. Use the epic wide-angle lens to get everything in the shot, then freeze the energy with the double exposure lens effect — perfect for capturing people pacing across zebra crossings or layering on top of reflections in busy shop windows. Switch to the cinematic film style, and it’ll feel just like a time-lapse still from a vintage cult movie. Iconic.

Want to make it feel even more lo-fi? Choose the monochrome film effect for a timeless, minimalist vibe or capture summer in the city with a warm amber glow.

Where else does this setup work well? Outdoor racetracks and lively sports fields, high-energy dance floors, fun festival fields, and colourful outdoor events.

The fisheye fashion shot

Outfit snaps are all about having fun and daring to be different. Play with perspective by adding a fisheye effect to your fashion pics using the instax mini Evo™ hybrid instant camera. 

Ask your subject to crouch down, then shoot from the ground for an iconic 90s music video look that makes the fit look effortless. Snapping eyewear or jewellery? Have them stand in a lift or small space and shoot from above to let the accessories do the talking. 

Not sure what to do for the hue? The instax mini Evo™’s vivid film effect is ideal for a Y2K fashion vibe. And since this camera’s hybrid, you can quickly play around with even more options from the mini Evo™ app on your smartphone.

How else can you work with fisheye? Use it for skateboarding pics, quirky selfies with your bestie — even snaps of your dog pulling silly faces.

The bulb exposure motion snap

Obsessed with energetic imagery? Embrace the magic of nighttime movement with a bulb exposure motion snap. Head out at night with the instax mini 99™ analogue camera, switch to bulb exposure mode, and shoot anything you see that combines bright light and movement. Think: a passing bus, a hoard of taxis, a speeding tube train, or a colourful Ferris wheel. 

Add a hue to enhance your shots or simply leave them be before finishing with a subtle vignette to boost the feeling of depth.

Fancy something different? Use bulb exposure to create light art. Simply grab your phone torch or a similar light source and move it around while shooting in bulb exposure mode. You can create hearts, stars, spirals, and all sorts of other fun shapes. This technique also works a dream with sparklers, so remember this tip for when bonfire night rolls around.

Why not create a heart-shaped light pic and print it onto our heart deco film? It’s the perfect heart-themed finishing touch.

The old-school group selfie 

Here’s one for the memory box: the old-school group selfie. 

For an effortless lo-fi style group snap, use the instax SQUARE SQ40™ in selfie mode to grab a fun shot of your closest pals. Don’t forget to huddle together to get all your mains in the frame. There’s a handy selfie mirror on the front, so you’ll know exactly where to stand.

Want to make it feel even more lo-fi? Indulge in some old-school effects. Within our instax™ Pal app, you’ll find 18 fun filters to play with — and you can even shoot with them on. Go for the antique filter for a nostalgic look or snap in sepia for a retro vibe.

Get the lo-fi look with instax™ cameras and printers

At instax™, we’re big on experimentation. That’s why all our cameras and printers are designed to help you break away from convention and embrace the unexpected.

Whether you’re snapping your city or shooting sleek fashion pics for a creative project, lean into lo-fi with instax™ and let your imagination do the rest.

After a film camera that offers fun and flexibility? Explore our guide to instax™ hybrid cameras to find your perfect piece of kit.