1947–1948Reputable sourceWell documented
Instant Photography: The Polaroid
On the timeline · around 1947–1948 ·
What happened
Prompted, the story goes, by his young daughter's question of why she couldn't see a photo right away, Edwin Land invented instant photography. His Polaroid Land Camera, introduced in 1947, produced a finished print within about a minute of pressing the shutter, developing the image inside the camera itself.
Why it matters
The Polaroid made photography instant and magical, decades before digital, and became a cultural icon. Its self-developing film was a marvel of chemistry and a beloved way to share a moment on the spot.