Hybrid Wedding Photography

Why I can’t get away from Film

Digital & film cameras

During this time of digital improvements, technology advances, and instant gratification seeing your image on a screen, what would someone "go backwards" and photograph using film? It almost sounds like I'm fighting growth or advancements and choosing to be outdated or old-school. But for me, film photography is more about being pure and grounded.

I remember buying my first digital camera. I was a freshman in high school and had big plans to use it to document school dances, football games, and anything else I felt was important at 14 years old. I loved its screen, the menus, sending AIM attachments, and burning a CD for each year of high school memories. Everyone in my friend group was super impressed with the things it could do.

But I also remember my first film camera. I was about 8 years old and was taking a kids' summer class about photography and darkroom. I was "sent on assignment" to photograph subjects around my grandparents' yard and the lake across the street. My dad's camera and a few rolls of black and white film got me through the summer class. That film camera also helped me get accepted to 1 of 25 spots in the photojournalism program at the University of Montana. Guess which camera I still have and use occasionally.... my dad's film camera that was built before I was born.

What is special about film photography?

So what is it about film and why can I never completely quit it? Film is the original, the tried & true, the OG, the timeless and classic medium that every digital camera is based off. Manufacturers create new digital cameras every year, update or improve this or that. But when was the last time Fuji said "we're going to fix this film stock." There would be an uprising by all film shooters because you just don't mess with something that is perfect.

Film Photography is the most pure form to me. You have to be intentional. You have to be confident. You have to slow down and wait for the 1 second to come along and get the 1 frame. Film photography takes patience and connections with your subject to get the results you want. Someone can take 20 shots with a digital camera and hope that 1 turns out or they got lucky. Someone with a film camera may wait and take 1-2 frames but know that everything lined up perfectly, was real in the moment, and won't be manipulated later on a computer. The purest image.

Film is magic

I shoot film to keep me grounded. It makes me slow down. It reminds me to allow things to come together in time, connect with the moment, and not rush the magic. Film is timeless. All the editing and filter companies are trying to figure out how to market and sell making digital "look like film." My answer is to skip the middle work and just go back to the original magic and goodness.

Mixing Film & Digital during weddings

This is why on wedding day you will see me with 2-3 different cameras. I always shoot a couple rolls of film on wedding day and I love bride and groom portraits the most on film! The skin tones, colors, and just that little bit of film grit are the perfect pairing for portraits. My film camera is the perfect tool when we want to slow down the moments and be intentional. My digital camera is the perfect tool at dimly lit receptions with crazy DJ lights bouncing around. Each camera has their pros, which is why I end up mixing on wedding days. But there's nothing like hearing the film rewind in the camera after you've finished a roll and you know that little cylinder holds magic.