The Disposable Camera Date
The College semester is finally over! Which means the days are longer, the weather is warmer, and summer is just around the corner. What better time to write about some super fun outdoor date ideas! And I’m going to start things off with a great, (and cheap, yay!) date you and your significant other can do in the gorgeous outside weather. So get ready to unleash your inner shutterbug.
The Date
Cameras are super expensive. Like, $1000+ expensive. I don't know about you, but I don't have money like that to spend. And unfortunately, this date idea is going to involve both of you needing cameras. But fear not, because a quick search on amazon has informed me that you can get 2 disposable cameras for around $20-$30! And you’re not going to need crazy good quality anyway, so an expensive camera is definitely not needed. In fact, even if you do have one I suggest you go the disposable route anyway. But wait I hear you say.... We live in a technological world where an amazing camera is always in our pockets. Why would we need disposable cameras? Yes, hypothetically you could use your smart phone camera. But let me ask you this....it that as fun? Is using something you use everyday, something everyone else uses as fun as using something as ancient as a disposable camera? In my opinion the answer is no. I feel that using an actual camera for this date idea will make the memory a lot more, well memorable. It’s a lot harder to get a good shot, which makes it more challenging and a lot more exciting! Plus you only get around 25 shots per camera, so you have to make every shot count! I mean, of course you can use whatever you want, but I’ll be using a disposable camera just to make it more authentic.
So what are you going to do with these cameras? The short answer is you're going to use them! Pick a day where both of you have a lot of free time. Go to your city’s downtown, the beach, the forest, or anywhere that strikes your fancy and take photos of yourselves and your surrounding area! And yes that means flipping the camera over to take a selfie, not even knowing if you're in frame. I love the old school ways. You can totally make a day out of it! Visit some tourist locations (even if you're a local), get some food (shots), and try capturing photos during different times of day, especially sunset. After you're finished, you'll need to get the photos developed. This is the best part in my opinion, because you have no idea how they're going to turn out. If you're really awesome you could try developing them yourself. I personally don't know how to do that, but 10 points to you guys if you can figure it out. Later, after everything is done I want you to make a collage of all your good photos. No, not one for instagram, this one is physical, one you can display or frame. It’s a call back to simpler times, and a wonderful reminder of the memories you had on that date. But if that seems too tame for you, do not worry. This is Dates101 of course.
The Dates101 Photo Challenge
Of course you can shoot whatever you want, however you want it. In fact, I encourage you to do so. It’s really fun to unleash your inner creative photographer. However if you're looking for a little more, I have just the thing. For simplicity, let’s say each camera has 25 shots in it. I am going to present to you, loyal reader, 25 challenges you and your significant other have to do for each photo. Later, you’ll decide who took the best photo for each challenge. You might even have to separate location wise for some of them, to get a unique image. Or even challenge another couple and team up to see what couple can win! It's all for fun of course, but adds a little spice to the date. Feel free to swap challenge ideas for some of your own, or even all of them for that matter. Whatever you decide to do, I rooting for you to win. Yes, you. Now here's the challenges.
*Remember, you cant photograph 1 thing for multiple challenges. They all have to be different.
#1- capture a moment of love
#2- capture something red
#3- capture a landmark
#4- capture something with wings
#5- capture someone moving
#6- capture something frightening
#7- capture something on wheels
#8- capture something with water
#9- capture something expensive
#10- capture something written
#11- capture something strange
#12- capture something that gets you excited
#13- capture something still
#14- capture something with a pattern
#15- capture something fluffy
#16- capture something old
#17- capture something that makes you angry
#18- capture something hilarious
#19- capture something noisy
#20- capture a moment of hunger
#21- capture something athletic
#22- capture your reflection
#23- capture something in nature
#24- capture something metal
#25- capture something real
Wrap Up
And that’s my take on the very first outside date idea. I think you're really going to enjoy this one. And the best part about it is that you can do this idea multiple times in different locations or with different rules. If you think of some unique challenge ideas I would love to hear them. Maybe even show me that collage of yours.
Remember, make every date a story.
-Dates101