Review on Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera (Grape) (Discontinued By Manufacturer) by Anthony Cornelius

Instax Mini Photography Tips!1. take care of the camera, i.e. do not slide or drop it, as the LENS circle will fall. You can stick it back, but there is always a small risk. The first time the lens fell off, I almost had a heart attack.2. Never take photos in low light conditions (like our house which is lit solely by incandescent bulbs). Really limit interior photos unless it's a very special/enlightening moment that can't be substituted. Don't lie to yourself and don't think "it'll be alright". Always pay attention to the dial and turn it. I've had photos come out with yellowish gaps because someone forgot to rotate dial4. Don't play with the dial thinking you can decide which setting is best for the weather...the camera really is the most accurate.5. Try to wear light-colored clothes. Not white because the flash doesn't respond well. No dark/black clothing as the background of the image (especially indoors) will naturally darken and you may "disappear" in the background. 6. Selfies are always best taken in natural light. If not, and you're taking a selfie with a friend, remember that the person holding the camera (and therefore the one closest to them) is more likely to bleach a little (not much, but a little) than the other person. 7. The lens can capture an amazing amount of space/number of people in one shot. So if you're photographing a large group of people, for example, you don't need to back up as much as you think. If you do this, their faces will get less attention. Don't be afraid to close a little. (of course refers to the horizontal photos)8. The camera can take very nice photos both vertically and horizontally. The vertical position is better suited for portraits and close-ups and is very flexible. However, horizontal can give you a great slice of life feel if you want to focus not only on the people but also on the background and landscape. The paper/material that the photo is printed on is thick and white, and there is some space under the photo itself for you to write something on. ALWAYS write with a fine Sharpie pen. Regular pens, ballpoint pens, ink pens, anything that bleeds, smears, and just plain looks ugly. Now you might be wondering... Wow, this camera has a lot of limitations. Should I take it seriously? And my answer is… YES! Yes you have to. The photos look incredibly real. It's like holding this moment in your hands. It's so different from digital photos or even printing from Walgreens. You can look at the photo over and over again and each time you notice something good and different. It's hard to explain, but these photos are so old and so alive, each one is like a breath of fresh air. And one more thing... EVERYONE loves instant cameras... I met my cousins for the first time this winter and I honestly feel like it really bonded us. Every time you take a new picture everyone fusses and asks "how did it turn out?" and you can see it manifest (extremely interesting). It only takes a minute for the photo to develop, but a few more minutes for the colors to really pop. So yeah... get it. Definitely check out some tips/reviews/demonstration videos on youtube and smaller pics, they are VERY expensive!