If you’re looking for a fun gift that gets your kids off their phones and actually taking pictures, an instant camera might be the perfect choice!
I’m a photographer, so naturally I love anything that encourages kids to pick up a camera. But I especially love little instant cameras like the Fujifilm Instax cameras. They’re simple, colorful, easy to use, and there’s something wonderfully old-school about taking a picture and watching it appear in your hand a few seconds later.
I have several that I keep here at my house – we use them at parties, on holidays, and just sometimes because we want an instant picture of something. In this world where most pictures never see daylight (they just stay on our cell phones), these instant cameras are a lot of fun and give you (and your friends) something to take with you!
Why I Love Instant Cameras for Kids
Kids take hundreds of pictures on their phones that they may never look at again. Instant cameras are different. You only have so many shots in a pack of film, so you start thinking a little more about what you want to photograph.
And then you get an actual print out of the picture in your hands!
Kids can hang their Instax pictures (my daughter has fairy lights up with her instant pictures) in their rooms, tuck them into lockers, make photo boards, decorate journals and scrapbooks, or give them to friends. They’re also SO much fun at sleepovers, vacations, birthday parties, sporting events and school activities. And most of these little instant camera are small enough to fit into a backpack, purse or just carry around.
Which Instant Camera Should You Buy?
The Fujifilm Instax Mini line is probably my favorite place to start. The cameras are small, cute, available in lots of colors, and the Mini film is easy to find. There are several models at different price points, from very simple point-and-shoot cameras to versions with more creative features.
You can also find instant cameras from Polaroid and other brands, but for a first instant camera, I think the Instax Mini cameras are especially easy and fun for kids and teens. The Polaroid camera I have is awesome, but it is quite a bit bigger, so I usually use this one at home.
One tip: buy extra film! The camera may be the gift, but the film is where all the fun happens, and kids can go through a pack surprisingly quickly.
A Little Camera That Can Spark a Big Interest
Not every child who picks up an Instax is going to become a photographer, and that’s perfectly fine. The wonderful part is that they start noticing things: their friends, their pets, sunsets, vacations, funny moments and everyday life. They (and you) will begin to look at everything as a potential picture – not just your friends, but all the things around you.
And every once in a while, a little instant camera might be the thing that makes a kid realize, “Hey…I really love taking pictures.”
As a photographer, I can’t think of a much better gift than that.
Some of My Favorite Instant Cameras for Kids?
If you’re ready to buy one, here are a few of the instant cameras I would look at first. There are lots of choices, but I’d keep it simple, especially if this is your child’s first camera.
Fujifilm Instax
- Fujifilm Instax Mini 13 – One of Fujifilm’s Mini cameras and a great choice for kids who just want to point, shoot and have a real photo pop out. It comes in several fun colors, too.
- Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 – Still one of my favorite choices for a first instant camera. It’s colorful, easy to use and doesn’t overwhelm kids with a bunch of settings. This would be one of my top picks for younger kids and beginners.
- Fujifilm Instax Mini 41 – A little more grown-up looking than the colorful Mini models, but still very easy to use. I think this is a great choice for older kids and teenagers who want something that looks more like a traditional camera.
- Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo – A step up in price, but SO much fun. This is a hybrid digital/instant camera, which means kids can actually see their photos and choose which ones they want to print. It also has lots of creative effects. This would be my pick for a teen who is really interested in photography.
Polaroid
- Polaroid Go Generation 3 – Tiny, cute and incredibly portable. It uses smaller Polaroid Go film and is designed to go just about anywhere. This would be a really fun choice for kids to take on vacations, to camp, to college or just toss into a backpack.
- Polaroid Now Generation 3 – If you want that classic, full-size Polaroid experience, this is the one I’d look at. It has autofocus and produces those big, iconic square Polaroid photographs.
- Polaroid Flip – A more advanced option with autofocus and a stronger flash. I’d probably choose this one for an older teen who is genuinely getting interested in photography rather than as a first camera for a younger child.
If I Were Choosing…
For a child’s very first instant camera, I’d probably choose the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 or Mini 13. They’re simple, fun and easy to learn.
For a teenager, I love the Instax Mini 41.
And for a teen who is starting to get serious about photography, I’d spend a little more and get the Instax Mini Evo. Being able to choose which photos to print means less wasted film, too! And believe me, you’ll want to teach them to be thoughtful about what they photograph – for kids who are used to a digital picture world, this is a change (and there is a learning curve)!
Whichever camera you choose, don’t forget to add a few extra packs of film to the gift. Trust me on this one. Once they start taking pictures, that first pack of film is going to disappear FAST! ??? And if you fall in love with these cameras like I have, you might want to buy some stock in the film part of this adventure – – I love it so much and go through lots of film. I’m convinced that I am keeping them in business!
Now go outside and take some pictures. I’d love to hear what you think about your new toy!
Until next time…
