The most valuable role in any going-out scenario is the digital camera friend. It is their job to ensure the perfect number of posed and candid shots are captured of the night. Equal ratios of aesthetic blur, flash and natural lighting are essential to the perfect Instagram spread, and the nostalgic yet clear quality of a cheap digital camera are perfect for the job. The burden of being a photographer often falls on one brave soul, wielding their mom’s Canon PowerShot from 2004. But what happens when the backdrop is perfect, the lighting just right, everyone’s outfits coordinated and the digital camera flashes the red battery symbol of death? You might as well just call it a night.
The Reality
A night out can so often be disproportionately dedicated to capturing the perfect, Pinterest-worthy shots that no time is left to actually enjoy the festivities. Well-posed solo shots and group shots where everyone likes the way they look can take hours to nail. Outfits that look cute can actually be restricting and uncomfortable, and hair and makeup that took hours of dedication can be sweated away in a few minutes of dancing. It is difficult to enjoy the night when you are preoccupied with mentally arranging an Instagram slideshow or planning out TikTok transitions.
When the Camera Dies
When you fail to be proactive and are met with a disastrous low battery warning, this is your sign to embrace the unfortunate circumstance. Make the most of going out and live in the moment, throwing aesthetics to the wind. Instead of trying to make it look like you had a good time, try actually having a good time!
Make real memories in the moment, instead of relying on documentation of the event as a false memory, and you might look back on the night with even more fondness, because you aren’t worrying about blinking in an otherwise perfect photo. Really living in the moment will allow you to embrace your surroundings: conversation with the friends you came with, the music and all other surroundings will seem more tangible and authentic.
Beauty in the Temporary
Not everything is meant to last forever, and the nights left undocumented might stand out the most in the end. Cute pictures are an essential to documenting the fleeting college experience, but we have to remember to live in it as well as capture it. So the next time your camera dies, don’t panic; instead, embrace the opportunity to have a night you (might) remember.
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