About Us
About Jollylook
Jollylook brings together analog photography, creative making and mechanical design. We create DIY instant camera kits, photography accessories and wooden mechanical models for people who enjoy building, experimenting and making something with their hands.
Instant photography and DIY cameras
Our wooden DIY pinhole camera kits let you assemble a working camera for Fujifilm Instax Mini or SQUARE film. Explore DIY cameras and assembled instant cameras, the mechanical film development units for custom projects and the Jollylook EYE smartphone instant photo printer.
Instant film backs for classic cameras
We also develop mechanical Instax film backs for selected medium-format cameras, including models from Mamiya, Bronica and Hasselblad. Film format and compatibility depend on the specific model. New paid pre-orders are currently paused; you can join the free waitlist for updates without making a payment.
Wooden mechanical models
Our wooden mechanical model kits, including the Kinetic Lighthouse, combine hands-on assembly with moving mechanisms and functional design.
Whether you are discovering pinhole photography, creating a custom instant camera or assembling a mechanical model, Jollylook invites you to explore, build and enjoy the process.
The Jollylook Team
We are a young Ukrainian team that loves photography and creates modern vintage-style instant cameras from biodegradable materials.
Our team is a family united by the passion for creating magic in peopleās everyday lives while using eco-friendly materials and saving our planetās ecosystem.
Capture the moment with JollyLook!
What we create
We design and handcraft vintage looking but modern instant film cameras and DIY mechanical kits
using a combination of biodegradable materials and modern electronics.
Our Story
Our first camera was the cardboard Jollylook Instant film Camera. However, throughout its development and production, we experienced many issues.
We learned significant lessons from the development of the first Jollylook and have taken all of those lessons and incorporated them into how we designed our Jollylook Auto.
We created many designs for the Jollylook Auto camera until we achieved a final design that featured a harmonious combination of shape and function that was easy to use, reliable, and sturdy while retaining the vintage steampunk aesthetic we desired.
February 24, 2022.
The entire assembly of the Jollylook cameras was to be done in our factory, which is located in Irpin, a suburb of Kyiv in our homeland of The Ukraine.Ā Butā¦at 5 a.m. on February 24th, Russia attacked our country, throwing everybodyās plans and dreams into chaos. On this day, our peaceful lifeĀ ended and was suddenly replaced by explosions, sirens, and bomb shelters.
Our laser cutting machines were in Bucha, and our office and assembly unit with all the components was in Irpin.
Unfortunately, the laser cutting machines and the computers in Bucha were damaged.Ā
As soon as it became possible to visit Irpin in mid-April, we were relieved to find out that our office survived.
We had to quickly pack all the components and development units and transport them to the Lviv region in the West.
Roman, the father of our teammate Kateryna, was volunteering as a driver for humanitarian aid from Lviv to Irpen.
He made a lot of trips in his minivan, and he helped us move all the components from our office to Lviv on his way back.
This process was long and dangerous because of the many unexploded bombs scattered everywhere in Irpin.
There were many known cases of people bumping into them, so to prevent the danger, the authorities regularly imposed curfews to defuse these bombs.
The restart:
Since the beginning of the war, the situation for us, like many, was tough and unpredictable.
During March and April 2022, we studied the possibility of restarting the production in western Ukraine or the nearest European country.Ā
The question was which country is better to do it in terms of ease of business, taxes, availability of the suppliers we need, logistics, cost of living, etc.
We decided to restart our assembly in Zvolen, a city in the central part of Slovakia.
The people we met in Zvolen were super generous and kind and helped us find everything we needed.
We have already moved everything from Lviv to Zvolen and started the restarting.
As well as have found accommodation, assembly and cutting premises, laser cutting machines, plywood suppliers, boxes, and electronics manufacturers. Rented a workplace and have already started to equip it.
In August 2022 we launched a Kickstarter campaign for a DIY Pinhole Mini Camera kit.
It was successfully funded, so we were able to purchase the laser-cutting machines and fully restart our manufacturing processes.
Then we launched the mass production, ordered all the necessary parts, packaging, equipment, and built the exhaust pipes for the laser cutting machines.
In May 2023 all the rewards were successfully delivered to our beautiful backers.
And now DIY Pinhole Mini Camera kits are available on our website!
The work was in full swing and we were happy about that. Fast forward to June 2023, we launched our next Kickstarter campaign for a Jollylook Pinhole SQUARE Instant Film Camera DIY Kit, which was also successfully funded and is now also available on our website!
This allowed our team to move forward, so in November 2023 all the rewards were successfully delivered to our beautiful backers and we launched our new product Jollylook EYE - the Digital to Analog Instant Photo Printer, that transforms digital photos from your smartphone into real-life instant prints in just a few simple steps and allows you to enjoy the modern convenience of digital photos with the physical nostalgia of real prints.
Following a successful campaign, the Jollylook EYE is now available on our website!
Our mission continues to thrive, and we are elated with our progress.
Our next step was to create something that helps make the most out of instant photos, the Jollylook Decoration Frames and the Jollylook Photo Box.
-
The frames are a stylish way to display instant photos, turning every captured moment into part of your living space!
-
The Photo Box is a practical and beautiful storage solution, keeping your memories safe and organized!
But we didnāt stop there. We decided to take on something completely new for us, Instant Film Backs for Medium Format Cameras.
This exciting project opened a whole new direction for Jollylook, allowing photographers to combine the charm of classic analog cameras with the joy of instant photography.
Currently, we are developing several instant backs, including the Instant Film Back for Mamiya RB67 (compatible with Instax SQUARE film) and the Instant Film Back for Bronica ETR/ETRS/ETRSi (compatible with Instax Mini film). In addition, we are working on five more instant film backs designed to bring instant photography to a wider range of classic medium-format cameras.
Discover all our Instant Film Backs and follow their development here.
And our journey doesnāt stop with photography. Weāve recently taken a step into the world of mechanical design with the launch of The Kinetic Lighthouse, our first 3D wooden mechanical model for adults.
Inspired by the beauty and engineering of real lighthouses, it combines hands-on building with a working LED light and a mechanical rotating mechanism. Made from precisely cut beech plywood, the model comes to life as you build it, turn the crank, and watch the lighthouse beam rotate.
This is just the beginning, and we are thrilled to explore this new path together with our amazing community of photographers and creators.
We hope and pray that the Russian soldiers will leave our land and our people alone. The best thing we can do now for our families and our country is not to give up, and we won't!