Book a Polaroid Photoshoot in London
Commission an instant film photoseries with a contemporary artist and fashion week photographer
Polaroids have unique lighting needs — here’s some of the equipment I use
Creatives e.g. artists, models, chefs, restaurateurs, critics, musicians, receive a discounted first‑time rate of £150
Includes one pack of Fujifilm Instax Square colour film, 10 shots
Received scanned photographs for social media and websites with credits to M. Freddy (other licenses e.g. album covers, merchandise, any commercial printed materials, available on request)
Book a photoshoot 2–4 weeks in advance, but feel free to email MFreddy.studio@gmail.com if you are working with an urgent deadline
Schedule a 30-minute consultation now to discuss vision, styling, location, and fit via Calendly
“[Y]our artworks are gems”
Marguerite Van Cook Ph.D., Musician who opened for The Clash and gallerist who exhibited Sol LeWitt and David Wojnarowicz
My dog and I
Leon
Glen Forbes
Milena, an actress
Excerpts from “Why Polaroids? From the Co-Curator of the Instant Film as Contemporary Art Monthly Series“ on Visible mag.
I started taking polaroids because of my dog. In 10 years when I look back at his polaroids I would probably cry. At a time when we see so many digital and AI generated images everyday, polaroids feel real. They can be framed and staged, but the moment they capture nevertheless existed. I love to sit together and talk while a polaroid develops, then review the image together with the people I photograph. There is something quite magical about seeing the image emerge — I have even had people take videos of the development process.
Photography is quickly changing with AI. Despite the Photoshop liquify “face-shaping” tool and other retouching techniques in the past decades, digital photography had some semblance to reality. That no longer holds with AI’s rapidly advancing capabilities. However little a claim digital photography has to documenting reality, our confidence has been shaken further.
Where does that leave photography and photographers? What is our relationship with photographs? Who are our photographs for? I co-curate the Instant Film as Contemporary Art Monthly Series to explore these questions. To relate instant film to contemporary art is to imagine it as a deeply emotional, intentional, and personal medium. They can still be shared with people around the world once scanned, but the emphasis is on creating meaning for those who are present during the instant film process.
Instant film is commercially viable. Find a good scanner and you can put instant film photographs on billboards. Show the client your photographs during the shoot and take the guesswork out of 35mm / medium-format film. Instant film in this case is not just the work-in-progress to support analogue film, the instant film process is the deliverable. Having someone to bear witness to moments in your life — even the moments that appear mundane in our ever-changing world, is quite a joy.
The Polaroid photoshoots are part of my broader contemporary art practice. I have been a Fellow and an Expert at the United Nations. I hold a B.F.A. from the Parsons School of Design in New York and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University. I was a Departmental Visiting Student at the University of Oxford, and a former student of James Romberger, an artist in the East Village canon alongside Basquiat, Wojnarowicz, and McGinley.
For my earlier work, visit my Catalogue Raisonné.
Discounted rate for independent creatives, first photoshoot only
£150
Creatives e.g. artists, models, chefs, restaurateurs, critics, and musicians. Please email MFreddy.studio@gmail.com if you are not sure whether you qualify for the discounted rate.
Regular rate
£300+
Frequently Asked Questions
For essentials, see the Photoshoot Agreement
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People tend to relax more with Polaroids so I find my Polaroid style quite down to earth. But I was a fashion week photographer and I still bring a bit of that glamour into my work now.
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A camera - Lomography Instax Square Glass which has a glass lens for additional clarity; most other instant film cameras have a plastic lens
An external flash
An LED lighting panel (around A4 size) with stand and battery
Extra camera battery
Instant Film
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This is entirely up to you. We can discuss this in greater detail during the free 30-minute consultation via Calendly.
If you would like black and white polaroids taken, please make sure your clothing is a few shades lighter / darker than your skin tone. We want to make sure the clothing is visible in the Polaroids!
Feel free to bring a change of clothes and a music playlist to play on your phone speakers if you think it will help you relax.
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We typically use the term Polaroid to refer to all instant film. Technically, Polaroid and Fujifilm are two different instant film brands. I shoot with Fujifilm Instax Square because I enjoy its colour and clarity.
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All fees must be paid in full in order to reserve a timeslot for the photoshoot.
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There is no refund. You are welcome to reschedule a photoshoot once, but you must provide notice at least 72 hours before the photoshoot.
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I generally like to photograph people at a place that is meaningful to them e.g. at their place of work. Due to London weather, I always recommend a backup indoor location if you would like to photograph outdoors. It is your responsibility to secure all necessary location permits and or permissions.
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Feel free to bring a friend along, but it can make the photoshoot feel less personal.
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We will discuss each of the Polaroids during the photoshoot and we will review the selection towards the end of the photoshoot.
I will send over the final picks (not all of the shots) after I have a few days to think and look at them again. The picks may not be all of the photos you expect but I ask that you trust me, your photographer, with the picks.
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I only offer digital scans at this time.
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Of course, please schedule a free 30-minute consultation and we can discuss further.
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It depends - do reach out!
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No, I only accept projects that I feel would be a good fit. I decline adult-theme projects e.g. projects that involve nudity. For more details, please see the ethics statement. Feel free to email MFreddy.studio@gmail.com if you have any questions.
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I do not at this time, but feel free to bring your make-up artist or hair stylist on location if you prefer. The great thing about Polaroids is they are generally quite forgiving. In most cases, just showing up on the day with your regular make-up / hair routine is sufficient.
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Normally within the context of a portrait session. For example, musicians with their instruments, artists with their paintings etc.
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I prefer late mornings / early afternoons. You can come in the session relaxed and the sun (if it is a sunny day) will still be out.
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They may be in the future, though there are no plans to do so currently.
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It depends on the complexity of the shoot and equipment needs. I photograph creatives primarily and I try to keep the rates affordable. Commercial photoshoots for brands and companies will cost more. That said, I am happy to work with your budget. Please feel free to discuss this during the free 30 minute consultation.
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It can be anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. I typically let each Polaroid develop before taking the next one and review each photograph with you. This relaxed pace allows me to get to know your story, so we can take photoraphs unique and meaningful to you.
That said, if you are in a hurry, my fashion week training kicks in and I can wrap the photoshoot up within 15 minutes as well.
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For a photoshoot session with one pack of film (10 shots), I generally recommend either (1) a single-person portrait session, or (2) a 2-3 people duo / band group shots. We can do single-person portraits for 2 people with one pack of film but it will be a bit tight.
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I am based in West London. I generally do not travel too far, but we can discuss this during the free 30-minute consultation on Calendly.
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Start by scheduling a free 30-minute consultation on Calendly!
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I generally recommend booking 2-4 weeks in advance. I can accommodate urgent photoshoots on a case-by-case basis. Please email MFreddy.studio@gmail.com with the deadline you are working with and book a free 30-minute consultation as soon as possible.
Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, and Hannah Motler from New York Fashion Week
Photography has been one of the drivers of aesthetics and visual culture. The Instant Film as Contemporary Art Monthly Series explores some big questions: What makes a photograph contemporary art? How do photographs gain cultural significance? Along the way, we will address enduring themes such as identify, memories, change, knowledge, and the social imaginaries captured by today’s photographs. Co-organized by M. Freddy.
Free Consultation
We will discuss timing, location, creative direction, the Photoshoot Agreement, and any other questions you may have! You can also reach out via email: MFreddy.studio@gmail.com.