How to shoot portraits with Polaroid cameras (I-2 & SX-70)

Understanding Light: The Most Important Factor

Polaroid film needs a lot of light to produce good results. Unlike digital cameras, it has limited sensitivity, so lighting makes a huge difference in image quality.
You can use: Natural daylight (best option for beginners) or Artificial light (lamps, studio lights, flash). Read my post "How to use external light sources with an I-2 Camera".
A simple rule to follow: Always keep the light source behind you, not behind your subject.The light should fall onto your subject's face. Even on cloudy days, it's important to be aware of where the sun is coming from. By adjusting your position, you can shape the light and create subtle shadows that add depth to the subject's face.
Avoid strong backlight unless you intentionally want silhouettes. If your subject is too dark, it's usually because the light is coming from the wrong direction.

Framing Your Subject

For portraits, try to: Keep the face near the center of the frame, avoid placing the subject too close to the edges, and maintain a comfortable distance (around 0.5–1 meter works well).

SX-70 vs I-2: What's the Difference?
Both cameras are great, but they behave differently when it comes to framing.

SX-70 (Through-the-Lens Viewing)
The Polaroid SX-70 is a through-the-lens (TTL) camera. This means: What you see in the viewfinder is exactly what the camera captures. Framing is accurate and intuitive there is no need to adjust your composition. This makes it ideal for beginners and precise portrait work.

I-2 (Parallax Viewfinder)
The Polaroid I-2 uses a separate viewfinder, not through the lens. This causes something called a parallax error: What you see is slightly different from what the lens sees. At close distances (like portraits), this difference becomes noticeable. What happens: Your subject may appear slightly shifted in the final image. The framing may feel "off" compared to what you expected.

How to Correct Parallax on the I-2
When shooting portraits with the I-2, you need to compensate manually. As shown in Figure A, start by placing the focus frame over your subject's face. Gently half-press the shutter button to lock focus. At this stage, the camera focuses on the subject, but you do not take the picture yet. While keeping the shutter button half-pressed, you can then adjust your composition. As shown in Figure B, reframe the image to place your subject where you want them in the final shot. This allows you to create a more balanced or dynamic composition without losing focus. Once you are satisfied with the framing, press the shutter button fully to take the picture. For a pleasing portrait look, it can also help to control your depth of field. Using the aperture priority mode on your Polaroid I-2, setting the aperture around f/11 can create a softer, more separated background while keeping your subject sharp. Keep in mind that in bright sunlight the camera's shutter speed is limited to 1/250 seconds, so exposure may need to be adjusted accordingly.