We Took This Film Camera to Teddy Swims’ Sydney Live Show

In Partnership with Fujifilm

These days, when you go to a live music gig you’re no longer met with swarms of people swaying cigarette lighters above their head. First, you see the performer in the flesh, nailing every note on stage – then you also see a thousand tiny versions of them all moving in unison through the screens of the people in front of you. 

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m usually one of those people at concerts taking hours of blurry phone footage I’ll probably never look at again. But last Thursday night, I was challenged by the team at Rolling Stone AU/NZ to ditch my phone and take the brand new Fujifilm INSTAX LiPlay to Teddy Swims’ Sydney show. 

Sydney’s iconic Hordern Pavillion, where the “Lose Control” singer played to a sold-out crowd, was the ideal setting to put the camera to the test. By the time I arrived, after some pre-show $12 margaritas from a local pub nearby, the ground floor general admission was totally packed, so we made our way into the stands to grab a seat.

I was slightly concerned the camera wouldn’t pick up anything in focus from that far back but to my surprise, the photos I took captured the energy and vibe of the crowd in front of me. From Teddy’s bright purple stage lights to an insane confetti gun and flames, I was able to photograph it all without missing a moment.

After a few snaps, I quickly realised just how handy this little camera is. For most of the night, I attached it to my wrist using the strap, so I could switch it on and take a photo at any moment. When I was done, it easily fit into my smallest handbag. 

There’s no doubt Swims is an incredible performer. He’s one of those singers whose voice actually sounds better live than on his produced tracks. He took to the stage shoeless in white socks, and paused between hits to remind the audience to “text a friend and tell ‘em you love ‘em,” share a backstory about his love life, or put the spotlight on his talented band.

This was his third time performing in Australia, and the crowd was happy to see him. He played a mix of newer tracks, covers, and of course, his mega-hits “Lose Control” and “The Door”, which had everyone involved in what felt like an epic group karaoke session. 

I’ll be totally honest, it felt good to put the phone away for the night. There’s a certain beauty you’re able to savour with a film camera and I felt like the images I took were totally unique to everyone else’s. That said, sometimes you still want to snap extra pics on your phone. The great thing about this camera is that it hooks up to your phone via bluetooth, so you can easily transfer and print images from your camera roll while still achieving that cool film aesthetic. 

The INSTAX mini LiPlay’s digital screen lets you frame the perfect shot and adjust to different lighting conditions, which was much-needed under the changing stage lights of the live show. Unlike regular instant cameras, this one lets you review shots before printing. So, if you take a shot of your friend mid-blink, you can just retake the photo and print the best version. I was able to take shots throughout the night and not worry about checking the quality or printing images until the next day.

But one of the coolest features of the mini LiPlay is the sound recording function. Basically, this means you can snap a shot and record a sound bite, which then embeds into the printed image as a QR code. Scan the code, and you’re instantly transported back to that exact moment, sound and all. It’s a unique feature that adds an entirely new dimension to instant photography.

The INSTAX mini LiPlay proved to be an excellent wingman for my night out seeing  Swims. The photos I took are already proudly pinned on my fridge, and I can’t wait to take it to the next gig. 

The INSTAX mini LiPlay is available now at leading Australian retailers.