What kind of film camera should I use for fashion photography?

The film camera you should use for fashion photography depends on the look you want to achieve and the story you want to tell. Upon deciding on the shoot details such as time of day, location, photographic style and so on, you can form a specific checklist of the qualities you would need from a camera.

Let’s say you’re planning to shoot outdoors on a sunny day. You would want a film camera that is portable and lightweight, with a fast shutter speed for stability and a small aperture for sharp images and little to no need for flash. If you’re shooting in a studio, the size and weight of the camera would matter less. Its specifications would also depend on your chosen lighting. To know more about film camera tips regarding different locations, you can check out our sections on street photography and studio photography!

Since fashion photography is reflective of particular aesthetics, you might want to use manual or semi-automatic cameras for more creative control. If you’re just after the analogue look and don’t mind not having complete creative control, feel free to use a point-and-shoot. You can also delve into rangefinder cameras and compact glass lenses for other styles and sharper images. It all depends on what you’re trying to achieve.

There is also a long-standing trend of using instant photos in fashion photography! Casting agents use instant cameras to take pictures of models during go-sees or runway preparations. They are also commonly used for fashion campaigns that aim to evoke a vintage aura, but with technological advancements, instants can create a modern vibe too.

A camera we recommend is the Lomo’Instant Square Glass. Your fashion photographs stay super sharp and dashingly detailed with its glass lens, giving justice to your models and the clothes they’re sporting. The perfect square embodied by this camera also portrays a classic look that adds a balanced feeling.

Another instant camera to consider for fashion photography is the Lomo’Instant Wide which allows you to maximize space and use it to your advantage through crazy poses, set designs, and the like. The camera’s size shouldn’t be a problem with its tripod mount assisting you in keeping it steady and mastering your photographic timing. It also comes with a PC Sync Socket, making it compatible with a variety of external flashes and studio softbox kits, so you can further build your lighting set-up according to your taste.

Both mentioned instant cameras also come with lens attachments that let you experiment with your pictures. They also use the affordable and accessible Instax film which are ISO 800 so they generally work well with different lighting situations. Using instants for fashion photography also gives you room to try new ways to present your outputs. While those white borders of instants never go out of style, there are no borders for the photographs you can achieve.