Polaroids

Polaroids are instant photographs produced by cameras that use self-developing film to create a finished image without external processing. The term also refers to the brand of cameras and film developed by the Polaroid Corporation, and to the distinctive white-bordered prints associated with the format.

The Polaroid story began in 1937 when inventor and entrepreneur Edwin H. Land founded Polaroid. The first practical instant cameras appeared in 1948 with the Land Camera, which used film packs that developed quickly inside or just after a single exposure. These early systems required a brief development period but delivered a print moments after exposure. In the 1960s and 1970s Polaroid expanded the line with various models and formats, and the iconic SX-70 (introduced in 1972) popularized a folding camera that used integral film, producing a finished print as it was ejected from the camera.

Technically, instant film contains a self-contained negative and positive sheet with a developing chemistry. After exposure, a roller mechanism spreads reagents across the sheets, initiating development and fixed image formation. Later formats, such as the 600-series, offered more reliable color film and broader camera compatibility, while the SX-70 and others demonstrated new design approaches and faster development times.

Polaroid photography gained broad cultural appeal in the 1960s–1980s, valued for spontaneity, tactile prints, and a distinct aesthetic. The company faced financial difficulties in the 2000s and ceased production of its traditional films, prompting revival efforts. The Impossible Project began restoring Polaroid film production, later reforming as Polaroid Originals and, today, simply Polaroid, which continues to release cameras and instant film compatible with both classic and modern formats.