The word Polaroid, while technically a brand name, has come to signify instant photography in general. Invented by Edwin Land, the film used in Polaroid cameras contains the developing chemicals, so the image can be viewed a short amount of time after taking it. Prior to the invention of digital photography, this represented a significant advance in the medium. First made commercially available in the late 1940s, Polaroid cameras were instantly popular for both personal photography and fine art. Polaroid made large format cameras with film sizes up to 20 x 24 that resulted in images with remarkable clarity. An early adopter of the medium was Ansel Adams, who famously shot an image of Yosemite with an early type of Polaroid that produced both an instant positive and a reusable negative. Slightly later, Andy Warhol began to use a Polaroid camera to document the fast-paced life of himself and his associates. Over three decades, Warhol amassed thousands of Polaroids.

Despite the vast technological developments in the field of photography, including the advent of digital photography, Polaroid film still appeals to many contemporary artists. Many artists enjoy the distinctive aesthetic and recognizable chromatic quality of Polaroid film. Chuck Close has used large format Polaroid film to create portraits of himself and others with astonishing levels of detail. David Hockney creates his vast photo collages with Polaroids; the instant development of the film allows him to quickly reshoot sections, if necessary. Other contemporary artists who use Polaroid film are Dawoud Bey, William Wegman, Duane Hanson, Jeremy Kost, and Marie Cosindas.