As a film photographer, I've been using analogue film for my personal work for nearly a decade: Celebrating milestones with family, documenting road trips with Amy, and capturing moments with friends.
Enter: Weddings.
A lot of skill and patience is required to shoot film well and I only wanted to start offering this type of coverage to my wedding clients once I knew that I could do it justice.
And I'm so glad I have.
Film naturally elevates how a wedding is photographed and remembered. It is always beyond delightful to see how this magical medium interprets light, colour, and the moments of our lives.
I love understanding how different cameras and film stocks convey their own unique look and feel. I also adore the process of scanning my own film, and getting to dive even deeper into the art of image-making.
Here are some favourite frames of 35mm and 120mm film from the past few years, as well as a look into how and why I choose to shoot analogue film at weddings.
I've always strived to offer my clients something more than your typical wedding photography. While I've noticed that film has become more popular and even "trendy" in some circles, I wanted to make sure that film aligned with what I was already doing. To be intentional.
Film is more than just an aesthetic. In our digital age, it's an experience few get to be a part of. It's exclusive because of the technical ability needed to use film well, but also beautifully inclusive:
People are used to seeing wedding photographers with a digital camera, often a standard DSLR. But when I roll up to a wedding with something compact and unconventional, people are immediately interested:
They want to learn more; they begin talking about how their family had a film camera to document milestones and vacations; and any nervousness they had about being photographed melts away.
I cherish these moments of connection and delight with my clients and their guests—and I know they do as well, especially when it shows in the final images.
More authenticity, always.
Approximately 30% of the entire gallery if clients decide that analogue film is right for them.
Staying curious has always allowed me to evolve and elevate my photography work year after year. So, choosing to scan my own film negatives feeds that curiosity while also allowing me to put more care into the images I create for my clients.
I use a couple of different scanning methods depending on the type of film used: one that is tried and true using a machine from the early 2000s, and another being on the forefront of innovation. I love the mix of artistry and technology that this job provides.
For over a decade now, primarily with personal work. However, I decided to incorporate film into weddings three years ago once I knew I could use it intentionally throughout a full wedding day.
If you're interested in analogue film photography for your wedding day
Cinestill 400D, 800T
Portra 160, 400
PAN 400
Ilford HP5 400
Contax G2
Contax TVSiii
Olympus PEN-D
Hasselblad SWC
Hasselblad XPAN
Rolleiflex 2.8