Polaroid Insta Feed Collage Creation
Since the days of social media and sharing our photographs online, the demand and popularity for printing pictures has very much decreased. With my mum being a photographer herself, I’ve grown up in a house full of pictures which still take me back to some wonderfully nostalgic memories over the years. This passion for capturing moments and cherishing them in the form of photos has definitely rubbed off on me, so I’ve always loved documenting my life through the camera too.
Even as a nineties baby who shares a lot of photos online, I’ve continued to print my favourite pictures over the years to create albums, collages or to frame on my wall. When I moved to Australia two and a half years ago, it became less of a priority to be printing all the photos from the incredible memories I was making at the time, yet I always knew I would create an album or collage when I got chance.
There were a lot of fantastic photos from my time living in Australia, so it was hard to narrow down the final polaroids for this section of the collage. In total I decided to make my creation span the past two years of my life – from moving to Aus, my brother getting married and then travelling again with my best friend back in January. Choosing my images for print was challenging, so I would recommend allowing the time to thoroughly scan your social media posts and all of your albums to get the very best of your pictures.
Inspiration to make this Instagram feed style collage came from one of my favourite Swedish influencers Janni Olsson Deler – https://janniolssondeler.com. The concept is simply to recreate a retro style timeline of prints across a certain period of your life, however you could also use this idea to collage a special event such as a wedding or birthday. It was the perfect solution for summarising the highlight reel of the past two years of my own travels and adventures.
The first step to making your collage is to find a suitable frame, preferably as large as possible. Then once you know the size of your frame, you can order the suitable number of polaroids to fit. My frame was 50cm x 70cm and the polaroids which I managed to get in a mini size from Inkifi were 5.5cm x 8.5 cm, so doing the maths I figured out I could fit 8 across by 8 down, equalling 64 polaroids in total. I decided to order about 10 extra prints as I wanted to see them all laid out first to perfect the balance of colours and compositions.
At only £0.25 per mini Polaroid I ordered from Inkifi.com which proved not only reasonable on price, but also brilliant quality prints with perfect colour and a lovely matt finish. The only other element to consider is what you will be sticking your polaroids onto. I simply used the white paper insert which came in the frame along with a good old fashioned glue stick to secure each print in place. After measuring the boarder width and length each side, I began lining up and sticking each polaroid on side by side.
Once complete, it’s time to open up your frame and give the glass a good clean inside and out, before placing in your final piece. I was so pleased with the overall outcome of my collage and couldn’t believe how easy it was to assemble. I purchased my frame from Ready Made Picture Frames in Basingstoke as this company has worked alongside my mum’s business for years, but equally you could easily find frames of all sizes online. Originally I tried hanging it above my bed, however this is a picture people need to get up close to in order to see the individual photos in detail, so I moved it to be next to my desk instead.
This retro way of displaying your photos is not only aesthetically pleasing, but is also a perfect way to enjoy numerous snapshots all in one place. I will cherish my collage which encapsulates the past two years of my life, full of so many wonderful memories and exciting events. Who knows what the next few years will bring for me, but I can’t wait to make another polaroid collage following the next exciting chapter of my life.
The secret to finding these mysterious locations is through Instagram on which you can utilise the explore location tool. It’s a competitive market on the world of Insta for professionals to produce high quality content, so people are always going that extra mile to get the most epic shots.
My most recent adventure with my partner in crime was Ouse Valley Viaduct Bridge in Sussex just past Gatwick. This was another hidden gem my boyfriend had tracked down via Instagram and we were both keen to get some unique golden hour snaps.
Described as the most elegant viaduct in Britain, construction of the bridge commenced back in the 1830s and has continued to stand the test of time as a functioning railway bridge. Built through the undulations of the valley, the resulting view through that tunnel of 37 arches is spectacular.
Composed of red bricks shipped all the way from the Netherlands along with smooth limestone, sunset hues cast stunning shadows through the viaduct at dusk. A playground for photographers, this bridge is truly unique for capturing different angles on symmetry and perspective.
A final thought from me on Perspective; Stay in your own lane, comparison kills creativity and joy. 
A simple vegetable dahl is a great way of using up those veggies and can easily be adapted according to what you have in stock. I used curry powder, a few chilli flakes and coconut milk to flavour the sautéed vegetables before adding the cooked lentils. Alternatively, you could easily swap those spices for any curry paste you may have leftover and replace the coconut milk for any kind of milk or plain yoghurt for an equally creamy consistency.
My favourite nourishing bowl which always leaves me full and satisfied is a take on the classic buddha bowl. Choose a grain of choice for your base along with a generous mountain of salad greens, then top with your herby roasted veggies and sprinkle with seeds. I also finished this bowl with my current go-to dressing of hummus mixed with lemon juice and a splash of water. Any kind of creamy dressing you have to hand would work well on this too as well as those extra goodies like nuts, seeds or even a soft boiled egg for some extra protein.
If you’re looking to vamp up your vegetables or perhaps win over that person who doesn’t usually enjoy them, making a simple batter or coating them in breadcrumbs and then baking, can turn veggies into something far more indulgent and appealing. I recently discovered the wonder of buffalo cauliflower wings (recipe on my blog – 
Having a well stocked pantry with the essentials is the secret to always having the means to throw together a balanced meal with whatever is going in the fridge. Know what your preferred herbs and spices are as these change the entire flavour of a dish. My current go-to ones would be garlic powder, herbs de provence (a mix of Italian herbs), paprika, curry powder and chilli flakes as well as the standard salt and pepper. In regards to a carb source I usually opt for couscous, quinoa, lentils, beans, chickpeas, pasta or noodles, again the typical store cupboard basics.
And finally, I am a condiment queen so I rarely have a meal without some kind of dressing or dip. Balsamic vinegar, hot sauce, ketchup and bbq sauce are my essentials, as well as chutneys and pickles which you will always find in my fridge. Whilst it’s good to use up fresh condiments such as hummus first, having some long life sauces are super handy for that finishing touch on your bowl of goodness. If your veggies are really on the turn, you could even make your own pickles, chutneys and reserves from scratch. These are just some tips and tricks on how you could make your groceries last longer and create delicious nutritious dinners from ingredients that may have otherwise gone to waste.
As our favourite beach at West Wittering was closed, we still wanted to make the most of this mini heatwave and decided to head down south to a different beach instead. Studland Bay located in Dorset is a vast area of sandy beaches and heathland, overlooking the natural coastland rock formation of Old Harry Rocks.
It was no surprise that everyone had the same idea to soak up the sun at the beach that week, especially with lots of people still not working. So it wasn’t until later in the day when the crowds slowly cleared that we were able to find ourselves a quiet, undisturbed view for sunset.
It was perfectly serene over the bay as the sun showered golden hues over the water before slowly dipping below the horizon. Whilst we did have a few tinnies of G&T and crisps to nibble on, annoyingly cafes were still not open and there were no nearby shops to grab more food. A takeaway pizza or portable BBQ would’ve been the finishing touch to this idyllic setup.
It was a truly picture perfect sundown at Studland Bay as we played some chilled background tunes and watched on at the mesmerising colour show across the sky, all created by the natural wonder that is the sun going to sleep.
I like to combine higher end pieces alongside high street fashion to create a unique and eclectic style. Simply adding a designer pair of shoes, classic Daniel Wellington watch or statement sunglasses can turn an otherwise basic outfit into something far more stylish.
Jewellery is also another important element when accessorising an outfit. My everyday pieces are gold or gold plated as it’s long lasting and compliments anything. A lot of these are from my favourite Portuguese jewellery brand CINCO, but mostly I shop my vintage jewellery in antique stores where you can find timeless designs which are also one of a kind.
This was one of my favourite looks from the shoot as it combines that classic feminine silhouette of the fitted blazer, paired with those masculine Grenson chunky boots and oversized sunnies from KENZO. I would call this power dressing as I felt like a boss woman in this smart yet sexy outfit.
Moving onto a more casual look, the backless white crop top, cute gingham hair scrunchy and old school Ray Bans completed this sports luxe combo. Comfortable and effortlessly cool, you can’t go wrong with this.
I’ve always been a lover of hats, so I jumped straight onto the baker boy trend when these came back around – I remember wearing those hats as a kid back in the millennium!
These little shoulder bags are another fashion which has come back around from the nineties. I think it’s fascinating how trends roll on round and we find ourselves digging back through our wardrobes or even wearing our parent’s vintage sunnies.
Just being unafraid to experiment outside of your comfort zone makes fashion fun and exciting. Whilst current trends come and go in a flash, having style is timeless and can turn the simplest of outfits into the most killer looks.
I had so much fun filming this spring look book and getting creative with alternative outfits for different occasions… now I can’t wait to walk out of lockdown in style!
Being local to the area, it’s somewhere I’d heard a lot of great things about and been meaning to visit for a long time. There is of course the Silent Pool gin distillery based here too with its exquisitely designed floral blue bottle inspired by this luscious landscape.
I’ve never seen such truly turquoise water in a naturally occurring pool like this before and the plush green trees overhanging the water create the most incredible reflections.
Legend has it that King John rode on his horse to the pool and abducted a woodcutter’s daughter, who he forced into the deep water and drowned. This folklore dates back to a book by Martin Tupper written in 1858 and it’s even rumoured that the maiden’s ghost can be seen by the pool at midnight.
Given its otherworldly beauty and serene stillness, Silent Pool has been linked back to numerous historical stories like this and is even considered by some as a sacred site.
I too felt very peaceful and calm by the harmonious elegance of the lagoon as we walked along the narrow paths enveloped in luscious greenery. A top tip would be to take a blanket and a little picnic to sit by the waterside and soak up the tranquility of such splendid surroundings.
Next time I would be intrigued to take a tour of the gin distillery next door and have a proper insight into the history and background of Silent Pool. And if you’re looking for somewhere a little different to take a stroll or have a picnic with your partner or family, this is a truly unique spot which feels like heaven on earth ❤
Dani Aneka 