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Andy Warhol is best known for using the Polaroid Big Shot during formal commissioned portrait sessions. He also used the more portable Polaroid SX-70, so the Big Shot was not his only camera. Warhol’s instant photographs were working images: he selected them as source material for silkscreen portraits rather than treating each photograph as the finished artwork.
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Which Polaroid cameras did Warhol use?
| Camera | Role in Warhol’s practice |
|---|---|
| Polaroid Big Shot Portrait Land Camera | Most closely associated with formal, close-up portrait sessions. Warhol began using it soon after it entered the market in 1971, according to The Andy Warhol Museum; the Whitney also describes its portrait role. |
| Polaroid SX-70 | A more portable, versatile camera that the Whitney identifies as part of Warhol’s early-1970s practice, including everyday photography. See the Whitney Museum of American Art’s exhibition account. |
Warhol bought his first Polaroid in the mid-1960s, before the Big Shot’s 1971 introduction. The distinction between the two models is practical: the Big Shot is tied to portrait framing and flash, while the SX-70 offered portability for snapshots. Museum sources support those roles, not a broader technical comparison.
How did a Polaroid become a Warhol portrait?
- Photograph the sitter. For a commissioned portrait, Warhol made multiple Polaroid snapshots rather than relying on a single exposure.
- Select a source image. He chose one photograph to serve as the basis for the portrait.
- Translate it into a painted work. The selected image informed a silkscreen, and Warhol painted the background to suit the sitter. The photograph was one stage in this process, not the finished commissioned portrait. The Warhol Museum, the Whitney’s Family Album account, and the University of Michigan Museum of Art’s record for Unidentified Woman #30 document the relationship between Polaroids and portraits.
Instant photography suited this workflow because Warhol could see an image quickly. The museum accounts also describe the photographs as high-contrast images that flattered sitters and worked well when translated into silkscreen and paint.
#1 Best Overall
- Classic SLR design with manual focus for creative control
- Folding body for easy transport and storage
- Compatible with Polaroid SX-70 instant film (sold separately)
- Vintage black edition – a rare and stylish collector's piece
What do the photographs reveal about his way of working?
The repeated snapshots were part of image-making and selection, not simply a demonstration of a camera. Warhol’s remark, “I think anybody can take a good picture,” is attributed by The Andy Warhol Museum’s Photo Policy to his book Exposures (1979).
The Whitney’s 2026 exhibition Andy Warhol Family Album featured 732 photographs, focusing on images from 1972–1973. That figure counts the exhibition selection; it is not a count of all the photographs Warhol made. See the Whitney’s 2026 press material.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Polaroid SX-70 SLR camera
- Manual focus as close as 10. 4” (26. 4 cm)
- Fitted with protective film shield
- Refurbished by Polaroid - may show signs of wear
- 1 year
Rank #3
- Authentic Vintage Design – Classic Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera Model 1 in silver & black, fully refurbished for reliable performance while retaining its original retro style.
- Folding SLR System – Unique design with true single-lens reflex (SLR) viewing, allowing you to compose and focus exactly through the taking lens.
- Manual Focus & Control – Smooth focusing ring with manual adjustments, giving you creative flexibility and precise control over every shot.
- Compatible with SX-70 Film – Designed to work with Polaroid SX-70 instant film packs, producing iconic square prints with the classic white border.
- Collector’s & Photographer’s Choice – A timeless camera that blends functionality with design, ideal for instant film enthusiasts, vintage camera collectors, and creative shooters.
Rank #2
- Collectible LEGO set that makes a nostalgic and creative gift for photographers – Create your own brick-built replica of the iconic Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera (21345) with this LEGO set for adults
- Perfect for camera lovers – Design features include the viewfinder, Color Spectrum, exposure compensation dial, a ‘Polaroid Land Camera’ sticker and choice of ‘OneStep’ or ‘1000’ stickers
- Buildable Time-Zero Supercolor SX-70 Land Film pack – The pack contains 3 illustrated ‘photos’ of Polaroid inventor Edwin H. Land, LEGO House and the fan designer’s sister who inspired this creation
- Operates like a real vintage Polaroid camera model – Load one of the ‘photos’ into the camera and press the red shutter button to eject it
- Photography gift idea – Treat yourself or give this LEGO set for adults as a unique birthday gift or surprise for any occasion
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