By Niamh ODonoghue
13th Jun 2018
13th Jun 2018
How many photos are stored in your photo album on your phone? 500? Thousands? From your Island-hopping trip with the girls and camping during a storm at Electric Picnic; to candid memories with granny and grandad. Our phones have become a treasure-trove of familiarity and nostalgia, and if you’ve ever experienced losing or breaking your phone, you’ll be familiar with the gut-wrenching feeling that comes with losing these precious memories. The frantic “how to restore iPhone photos,” Google search often ensues.
“Why didn’t I back up my iPhone when it told me to?”
“Where is “THE CLOUD” now?!”
So how to stop that stomach-dropping feeling of losing photographs? The answer, we’ve found, is to go old school. The great thing about pre-digital cameras was that we all printed our pictures, and this meant we kept them for years. How often have you come across an album you forgot about from the 80s? Or a shoebox of your mum’s old photographs featuring perms and romper suits?
And it’s not just practical. There has been a trendy move recently towards the polaroid too. You may have noticed this on your Instagram feed. Instead of crystal-clear selfies normally found, we’re noticing images of hands holding blurry polaroid snaps.
If you’re in the market to protect the legacy of your memories (and don’t trust ‘The Cloud’), the Fujifilm SQ6 stands out for a number of reasons. Apart from the manifestation of having an actual thing to hold after you press the camera button, it has a few extra quirky and modern features that other instant cameras don’t. Unlike other instant cameras on the market, this camera is smart and can recognise when you’re in a bright or dark location and adjusts to suit (so no wasted cartridges). It comes with three coloured filters and the selfie mirror on the front means you’ll never miss a moment with your best friend. The camera also has an upgraded body and looks incredibly cool and, dare we say, fashionable.
If you’re not photography-inclined, the Lomo’Instant comes with everything you need to take pro instant photos, without having the skills of a pro photographer. Unlike the Fujifilm SQ6, above, you don’t need much knowledge of photography to get out and enjoy it.
While some are sceptical that instant-photography is a way for millennials to live in the past, I think it’s a lovely, tangible way to remember a distinct time and place during your life. Like being reminded of a memory with a smell, holding a special photo in your hand can transport you back 15 years to being loved-up teens in the Gaeltacht. And, lest we forget, having stacks of instant photos means you can create your own library of precious memories that will last forever. Just think of all the gorgeous photo albums you can buy… *drool*. These are five of our favourite that we found from all corners of the internet.
Personalised photo albums in colourful designs, €27.37 at notonthehighstreet.com
Our travels personalised album, €22.15 at etsy.com
Gold peacocks Sougara photo album by Esmie, €256.15 at libertylondon.com
Alternatively, make something extra special with your photographs and try your hand at making a photo-lantern keepsake. Myanythingandeverything.com is a useful step-by-step guide to creating bespoke lanterns to decorate your home with, so you can always be surrounded by your favourite people. Or, if you’re lucky enough to have travelled and want somewhere cool to show off your photo’s, do it with this laser-cut photo frame from Etsy. And, if all else fails and you want the easy way out, this website will turn your Instagram feed into a book in a matter of clicks.
50 states photo map, €51.85 at etsy.com
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