A new life for disposable cameras
Disposable cameras have been making a real comeback at weddings lately. They may not deliver stunning image quality, and getting a genuinely good shot is surprisingly tricky, but they have that magical analog charm that a lot of people just can’t get enough of. You can use them as an extra attraction for your guests, or even as a full replacement for a professional wedding photographer. Set them out on the guest tables, or in one spot with a short set of instructions on how to use them. Throughout the day, your guests can pick them up to capture their own version of the memories - a selfie with a group of friends, the first dance, the newlyweds’ kiss, or the beautiful decor around the venue. It’s worth bringing a camera or two into the church as well, so you capture the ceremony too. Once the wedding is over, take the rolls of film to a photo lab to get them developed - you can choose printed copies, digital scans, or both.
Why are disposable cameras such a great idea?
There’s no getting around it: using disposable cameras at a wedding is a genuinely brilliant idea. The look of analog photos shot on real film simply can’t be replicated by any modern camera. Even a photo that’s slightly off-center or a touch blurry can end up being an artistic, atmospheric keepsake in its own right. It’s a fun throwback to an era gone by, giving new life to equipment that most people haven’t touched in years. We think this attraction is an especially great match for a boho-style wedding. The biggest upside is the chance to collect truly unique souvenirs from the day - and on top of that, disposable cameras tend to be a hit with guests, who usually can’t wait to get their hands on one.
Of course, this attraction has its downsides too
Disposable cameras are a genuinely fun idea, but there are a few things worth knowing before you commit to them for your wedding:
Photo quality - disposable cameras simply can’t match the quality of a modern phone or camera. Shots can come out blurry, overexposed, or as nothing but a black smudge. Everything is fully manual with no way to adjust settings, so getting a good photo without some experience or knowledge of the equipment is genuinely hard. There’s also no preview screen, so you won’t know how anything turned out until the film is developed. In practice, that means only a handful of the photos your guests take will actually be worth printing.
Cost - disposable cameras are an extra expense on top of everything else. Depending on how many you use, the total can run to a few hundred euros. And buying the cameras is only part of it - once they’re used, you’ll also need to pay to have the film developed, which we’ll cover in more detail below.
A limited number of shots - each disposable camera only holds 24 or 36 exposures. Combined with the fact that only a small fraction of shots typically turn out well, you’ll need quite a few cameras to end up with a solid batch of good photos. And there’s never a guarantee of exactly how many usable shots you’ll get in the end.
You have to wait for developing - you won’t be able to enjoy the results right away. After the wedding, you’ll need to drop the film off with a photo lab and wait for it to be developed before you can see any of the photos.
How to take photos with the cameras
If you decide to use disposable cameras at your wedding, take a look at our other article, How to take photos with a disposable camera at a wedding. We’ve put together a detailed breakdown of every camera function, plus a step-by-step guide to taking a proper shot with one. We’ve also created a free downloadable instruction sheet you can print out and leave next to the cameras at your reception!
Cameras are cool! But we’ve also got a great app
Instead of - or alongside - disposable cameras, you could use our JustFilm.it app to collect unique photos and videos straight from every guest’s phone! Here’s what makes our app worth considering:
- You’ll collect video, not just photos.
- There’s no limit on the number of photos or videos - unlike a camera, you’re never restricted to a set number of frames.
- It’s much easier to get a good shot with a phone.
- No waiting around for developing - every photo shows up online immediately.
- The app can even edit everything collected into a unique wedding highlight video for you.
- Still love that analog look? We can print any photos you choose.
We have a special discount for readers of our blog! Send us a message on social media or at [email protected] with your wedding date and the code BLOG10, and we’ll check whether that date is still available - if it is, you’ll be able to purchase access at a discount.
