Nina and Sonya shared their love story with instant photography with us. Nina creates magical texts, works as a copywriter, and is the mother of the wonderful girl Sonya. Nina is also known among Instagrammers under the nickname @wifesom.
How did your first encounter with instant photography happen?
My very first encounter was in childhood – it was a Polaroid photo. I was about 10 years old and came to Moscow to visit my grandfather. He took me and my brother to the dolphinarium where you could take a Polaroid photo with dolphins. I had to stand still and stretch out my arms while the dolphin jumped. I liked that photo so much that I still remember the touch of the wet dolphin on my hand.
My next encounter with instant photography happened quite recently, in Lviv. I wasn’t really into it until I was filming another movie in the "Person with a Camera" series: "Guys, don’t you know what this is?" Roma, the hero of this film, took a great photo with me in the frame. I just fell in love with that shot! It could have been taken on an iPhone or any other digital camera, but it would still be different. Such an atmospheric shot, like from the last century. I really wanted to get it right away. And probably, I sent such a strong request to the Universe that it
Cool. When did the idea of getting a Polaroid friend come up? How did it come into your life?
Sonya and I went to Georgia to meet friends and celebrate the birthdays of our daughters, who were born on the same day. The guys gave Sonya this little Fujifilm Instax Mini 8. I immediately fell in love with the idea of Sonya creating instant photos! Because that's how she sees the world.
So, Sonya is the one taking the photos, right?
Yes, it’s her camera, and our friends told us that they gave it to our child, so she’s the one who should be taking the pictures! The day after her birthday, we went for a walk in Tbilisi and accidentally found the Writers’ House, which I consider one of the most authentic and beautiful places in Georgia. It has such a courtyard! With pine trees, writers sitting and smoking there, and a small café. While we were walking around the house, Sonya found a room carefully hidden from prying eyes. We peeked inside and found a scary tiger’s stuffed skin turned against the wall, cut into pieces...
So, it’s kind of her perspective?
Yes, yes, and that’s really cool! We got the first photo she took, and it was of me and Lyosha (husband - editor’s note) together. In this photo, we look about 10 years younger, and it’s her perspective on us.
You probably already have piles of photo albums at home. How do you store your analog and instant photos?
With our chaotic lifestyle, we hardly ever feel inspired to print photos. We don’t have any pictures from our wedding, and the same goes for childhood photos – they’re all scattered across different electronic devices. Instant photos are some of the first ones we can actually hold, look at, and remember what was happening in those shots. This is important for a child because they can’t just dive into a computer and scroll through photos. But here, they have a photo album made by hand.
Do you have a favorite photo taken by Sonya?
Of course, there is one! Sonya took it in Georgia, in Tbilisi. We had an old apartment there with a large rooftop terrace and a great view of the whole city. I settled on that terrace to read. Sonya photographed me at that moment and even managed to capture a wonderful view of the city! Everything just came together in that picture.
I also cherish her photos from the series of statues at the Writers' House.
Does Sonya have her favorite shots?
Yes, she has favorites, I just don't even remember which ones. Sonya, what are your favorite photos?
Sonya: Where I photographed the little crocodiles
Nina: Your boots with little crocodiles in the letter, today?
Sonya: Yes
Nina: And you don't have any favorites from Georgia?
Sonya: Here it is ( searches and pulls out a photo )
Nina: Your party, right?
Sonya: Uh-huh
Nina: It was the "Ice Cream Party in Outer Space." That was its name.
Do you have any plans for Polaroid in the near future, planning to go on another trip or throw a grand party?
Speaking of parties, we have plans for a third celebration of Sonya's birthday. Because when you're a child in the 21st century, you don't have just one birthday, but three: one in Tbilisi, the second in Odessa, and the third in Kyiv. There will be cake again, but a different party theme where Sonya will dress as a corpse bride. And, of course, Sonya will have a cassette for her Instax Mini 8 so she can photograph her celebration, her friends' costumes, and maybe I'll even appear in her lens :). We also plan to teach Sonya, so to speak, to "earn" from instant photography by doing good deeds for which she will be rewarded.
What kind of tasks will these be?
For example, helping me decorate the children's room at the Bernardazzi restaurant in Odessa, where we currently live.
We wish Sonya to accomplish many useful things and take just as many cool instant shots!
A photo with a shot on a retro Polaroid taken from Instagram @wifesom