Using the FujiFilm Instax Mini Evo as a Wedding Photographer
There has been so much hype around FujiFilm cameras. It isn’t without just cause of course. Fujifilm offers a variety of cameras, ranging from point and shoot, to APS-C Crop, all the way to medium format. The majority embody the vintage look and feel of older 35mm film cameras and have incredible film recipes inside the camera allowing you to truly get that film look. However, this nostalgia driven desire have left most of the Fujifilm lineup very difficult to get your hands on without spending a pretty penny. There is one camera which can actually still be purchased for a low amount and I believe is in a class all of it’s own, which is the FujiFilm Instax Mini Evo. Yes, it is an instant print camera.
What is Special About The Fuji Instax Mini Evo?
When I initially heard about this camera, I didn’t look into it much. I already owned a Polaroid camera and I didn’t really use it much. The cost of film was too high for me to just shoot randomly, though I did bring it along on trips to shoot intentional keepsakes. There came a time in my wedding photography career where I wanted to be able to give the couple something tangible before I ever left the event, but the Polaroid didn’t work into my workflow well and I’d often forget to ever take it out. This led me to looking into a portable printer that I could use to print some 4x6 images for the couple during the reception. My partner (photography and life) told me I brought enough gear already so that was a no. It was at this point that I bought the Instax Mini Evo.
More Than Just An Instant Print Camera
Unlike other instant film cameras, the Mini Evo doesn’t automatically print the images you take on it. It acts independently as both a digital camera and a portable printer. This is what caught my eye. This gives you a lot of creative options in how you use this camera. Option number one is to take a photo and then simply click print, giving an instant film experience. BUT, that photo is saved in the camera so you could choose to print it again. On the other hand you could choose not to print that image at all. You could instead send these images to your phone and upload them to social media. This transfer to the phone works the other way too: You can take images saved on your phone and, using the Instax Evo app, use the Mini Evo as a printer for these photos.
FujiFilm Instax Mini Evo Vs Polaroid
I know a lot of people interested in an instant print camera wonder if they should choose the Instax Mini Evo or if they should go with a traditional Polaroid camera. As someone who owns both, I can tell you that they are very different tools and that I personally use both in very different circumstances. Let’s break down the key differences.
Printed Image Size
The most obvious difference between a regular polaroid camera and the Fuji Mini Evo is the size of the final printed image. Polaroid film is much bigger at 108mm x 88mm versus the Instax mini at 62mm x 46mm.
Printed Image Choice
The FujiFilm Instax differs greatly from a Polaroid with the ability to print images more than once, or choose not to print them at all. A Polaroid on the other hand, when you click the shutter button, that film is exposed and the printing process begins; leaving you with a truly one-of-a-kind image. This is great, except for all those times you want to hand out a copy and keep a copy for yourself. The Mini Evo, because it operates as a digital camera, doesn’t actually expose the film directly when you take a photo. This way you can choose whether or not to print the image and how many copies you would like to print.
Film Price
When it comes to buying the film for either camera, the film isn’t very cheap and does add up if you want to print a lot of images. Instax Mini Film is roughly around $1-$1.50 per printed image, depending on where you purchase the film from, and how many packs you purchase at once. Polaroid Film is going to be closer to $2 or more per image, depending on if you need traditional film, or the newer I-Type film.
Using The Instax Mini Evo On A Wedding Day
Using this camera as a wedding photographer is a great way to show a little extra appreciation for your clients and give them something tangible on the night of their wedding. The way I do this is by using the camera solely as a printer. It’s a multiple step process that might seem like a burden at first, but I assure you it’s not bad and giving this small gift to your clients is worth it.
The images that I print are taken with my Canon R6 Mark ii. Before that, I used the images on my Canon EOS R because my 5D didn’t have the same wifi capabilities. Throughout the first half of the day, I will rate 5 to 6 images on my camera that I want to print. I’ll usually do this quickly while c’himping’ or walking to another location. Whenever I have time really, but the goal is to have a 5 or 6 images rated by dinner time. When it’s dinner time, I use the phone app to connect my camera to my Iphone, I can see all the images on my card and I can quickly filter by rating so that I immediately see the images I have chosen. I then save these to my phone and run a quick Lightroom Mobile adjustment on each one. Once I have them adjusted, I’ll connect to the Mini Evo and then print them out. I can generally do all of this in less than five minutes and then I am able to give the couple the images while they eat dinner.
About Me: My name is Nic Hilton and I am a wedding photographer based in Los Angeles who focuses on documenting truthful stories and I love photographing the dancefloor. Check out my work here.