How Instant Photography Changed My Collage Process
Learn how my collaboration with Lomography pushed my creative journey in a new direction — and why I loved every moment of it.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Lomography, the analogue camera brand from Vienna, Austria. They sent me an instant camera, a soft-cover journal and a pack of film—with just one instruction: none. No creative brief, no expectations, just complete artistic freedom. Of course, I said yes. I love creative challenges, although I had no idea where this one would take me.
Creating a Collage Journal with Instant Photos
I thought I'd simply create a collage journal with instant photos. Instead, the project completely changed the way I moved through the world. Rather than spending hours in my studio surrounded by vintage papers and magazine clippings, I suddenly found myself carrying a camera everywhere. I photographed a friend's homemade lemon cake while everyone patiently waited to cut it. I knelt down to photograph a tiny snail after a summer rain and ended up talking to a puppeteer who kindly posed in front of his beautiful old-fashioned circus tent before telling me how difficult it has become to attract audiences to live theatre.
Without really noticing it at first, I had started paying much closer attention to everyday moments and to the people around me. Looking back, I think that's exactly what a good creative challenge does: it gently pushes us out of our comfort zone and invites us to see the familiar with fresh eyes. Sometimes the artwork is only part of the experience—the real transformation happens while we're creating it.
The Challenges of Collage Journaling
The project wasn't always easy. Creating a collage journal with my own instant photographs raised far more questions than I had expected. Should there be an overall concept? Which moments were worth photographing? How could I combine instant photography, vintage papers and mixed media collage techniques without the pages feeling crowded?
Some spreads became overloaded because I simply didn't know how to integrate the photographs into my collages. Looking back, I can actually see my uncertainty in those pages. But I kept experimenting until I discovered a simple solution: a repeating element of small coloured dots that quietly connected every spread. It reminded me once again that growth rarely comes from getting everything right. More often, it comes from staying with the uncertainty long enough to discover a new way forward.
Why Instant Photography Changed My Creative Process
Working with instant photography also slowed me down in the best possible way. There were only twenty exposures, so every photograph mattered. That limitation made me more intentional—not only while taking pictures but also while creating each collage journal page. Instead of chasing perfection, I started appreciating blurry photographs, unexpected compositions and small everyday scenes. Ironically, those imperfect moments often became the most meaningful pages in the journal.
Looking back, I realize that this collaboration wasn't only about instant photography at all. It was about paying attention, trusting the process and allowing limitations to become part of the creative journey. Sometimes the constraints we resist the most are exactly the ones that help us grow.
Read My Lomography Feature
I shared the complete creative process, the finished journal pages and everything I learned during this collaboration in Lomography Magazine. If you'd like to dive deeper into the project, you can read the full story here:
Ready to Start Your Own Collage Journal?
Maybe this is your invitation to give yourself a small creative challenge. Take a few instant photos, start a collage journal, or simply create with whatever is already on your desk. Don't aim for perfection. Notice what happens when you work with a few gentle limitations instead of endless possibilities. You might be surprised by where they lead you.
If you'd like some guidance to get started, you can also download my free Collage Guide. Inside, I share my favourite 3+3 method for creating balanced, intuitive collages without feeling overwhelmed by too many choices. Whether you're new to collage journaling or already enjoy working with mixed media, I hope it encourages you to create with more confidence—and a little more curiosity.
