Since getting an Instax Mini Link printer for Christmas, I’ve had so much fun printing out my favourite photos. My friend asked me if it was worth getting one, which due to the price, is quite a common question. As with anything, the more times you use something, the more worthwhile the spend and cheaper the cost per use. So in this blog post I share answers to common questions and 10 awesome uses for your Instax Mini Link printer.
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How does the Instax Mini Link Printer work?
The Instax Mini Link Printer is a portable device that connects to your phone using Bluetooth. Plug in to charge, pop it in your bag and you’re good to go! Wherever you are, snap a photo on your phone, send to your printer and watch the colours develop – wireless and effortless.
The printer takes film cartridges for 10 photos. Like classic polaroids, the photo ejects as a white page from the printer, until the colours slowly develop and your photo appears as if by magic. These clever cartridges mean there’s no need to replace printer ink – and the photos look really cool!
Is the Instax Mini Link Printer worth the money?
The Instax Mini Link Printer is currently (14 January 2023) priced at £100.24 on Amazon in Dusty Pink, Dark Denim or Ash White. For this price you get the printer and charging lead. To keep mine protected, I bought this Instax Mini Link Case on Amazon for just £12.99, which also has a handy pouch inside for your lead and a spare cartridge.
You then need to purchase cartridges for your printer, which come in different quantities for different prices (each cartridge carries 10 shots). Prices on 21 February 2021.
That works out between 70-80p per photo. At first I have to admit I thought the costs were a little steep, until I started using my new gadget and realised all it’s different uses which will save me time and money in the long run. If you are going to use your printer often, it’s totally worth the price.
Check out these 10 awesome purposes for your Instax Mini Link Printer below.
10 Uses For Your Instax Mini Link printer
DIY photo booth
Photo booths are used at events so people can snap a photo and instantly receive a printed snap. They were increasing in popularity before Covid-19 struck down events. Once events return, events are going to boom, and photo booths will be a popular way to capture memories. BUT they are expensive! Instead, to save some serious money without taking away the fun, allow guests to take a photo on their phone or yours and print a retro mini photo on your Instax Link Mini printer.
I will be using this at our wedding this July, with a DIY floral frame for guests to pose with for their photo. If you had 100 guests, and estimate you will need 50 shots, that’s a cost of just £34.99 (film only) instead of hundreds/thousands for a photo booth.
Event guest book
It’s common to have a guest book at weddings, christenings, special birthday parties and other events for loved ones to leave a message. For a special touch and fun activity for guests, allow them to snap a photo of themselves to add next to their message.
This is another way I will be using my Instax Mini Link Printer at my wedding with the help of my maid of honour – thanks Emily!
Photo album
An obvious use, but still worth mentioning! Technology is reducing the number of physical photos we have, which I personally think is quite sad. I miss the days of flicking through an album of holiday snaps, before our habits of scrolling and swiping evolved.
I use these handy clear self-adhesive photo corners to avoid damaging the photos when sticking them in albums and journals. It also means you can remove, add and change photos with ease.
Journals
Are you a journal addict like me? Whether it’s just a daily planner or a special journal documenting a big occasion, bring it to life with photos. Travel journals, pregnancy journals, baby firsts journals, wedding journals are all the perfect pairing for an Instax Mini Link printer.
I absolutely love sitting down with my wedding journal adding photos of special moments during the planning – like when I said yes to the dress, or we visited our venue for the first time.
Purse photos
Do you like to carry photos round in your purse of loved ones? I do too, but as we rarely print photos these days, it’s becoming a dying trend.
The Instax Mini Link photos are credit card size, so fit perfectly in purses and wallets.
Wall decoration
Print out all your favourite snaps that make you smile every time you see them. Lay them out in frames, stick them to your wall or hang them from string with pegs. If you have a world map on your wall (we have a scratch map) you can add snaps from your travels to the map pinpointing where you have been. The cool mini polaroid style of the Instax Mini Link Printer are perfect for this.
Personal cards
There are two ways you can personalise cards with an Instax Mini Link photo:
- Make your own card and add a photo to the front. If you use self-adhesive sticky corners, the recipient can keep the photo when they recycle the card as a keepsake!
- Pop a photo inside a greetings card. This is a particularly special idea for thank you cards, including a snap of you with the gift or at the party you were thanking them for.
Party games
From baby showers to birthday parties, use your Instax Mini Link to print photos for games. Here are just a few ideas:
Baby shower – Ask everyone to send you photos of them as a baby, print to lay out for people to match the guests to the babies.
Engagement party – Lay out photos from the happy couples adventures and ask guests to guess where they were taken.
Hen/stag do – The organiser asks the guests to send them embarrassing photos of the other guests. At the party, print one by one and as the photo develops, the embarrassing image is revealed, and the guests have to race to shout who is in the photo.
Charity events
Hosting a fundraising event for charity? When a guest makes a donation to the charity, take a snap and add their photo to the wall of generosity!
Does your company, charity or group of friends have a team in a race to fundraise? Take photos of runners as they cross the line to create a visual leaderboard.
So there you have are my favourite 10 ideas for make the most of our the Instax Mini Link printer. If you want to see it in action, head to my Instagram!
Stay safe out there, Rosie Louise x
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