"What in god's name are you using that for?" - my dads words as I took out his 50 year old film camera he bought in a pawn shop in 1970's San Francisco.
His thoughts are not uncommon. I often have friends and family asking why I would bother with film, after all, it's a dead technology. But I just don't agree.
Digital photography is great, really. It means I never miss a moment – during your first kiss I can hold my finger down on the shutter button and capture 50 shots during those few seconds, just to make sure I get it. The advances in digital photography make it near impossible to miss key moments.
But film is magical. Film doesn’t give you the option to take 50 images of one moment in time. I can’t cull through 50 images to find one where that loose strand of hair is perfectly laid back, where a brides dress is perfectly fluffed, or where your hands are perfectly placed. There is one shot of that moment, and it exists purely as it happened. With that loose strand of hair falling free, the dress slightly twisted, and your hands just coming together. Film is so perfect because it is imperfect.
Film also holds such nostalgia. I currently have 18,758 photos on my phone (I pay apple £2.79 every month and it still isn’t cutting it). But the funny thing is, I hardly ever look through them. I could tell you about a handful of those photographs and that’s about it. But at my mum and dad’s house, I will go through their old film photos for hours. In the photography world, we love to throw around the word ‘candid’, but I love to see the truly candid moments caught on film. The ones with real laughter, funny faces, wild hair. It feels so intimate, like a real glimpse back in time. It feels like I can almost hear the laughter, and the waves rolling on to the beach. For some reason, film just feels that bit closer to the memory.
“Can you just take a couple more? My smile looks weird in those ones.”
Film also captures much more of a truthful, honest version of it’s subject. Back in the 80’s and 90’s when my parents were taking film photos with my sister and I, there wasn’t the option to look through 30 photos and say, “can you take another?”. One photo was taken and that was it. You got it back from the lab a few weeks later and you looked exactly as you did in that moment. There is no manufacturing when it comes to film, no retakes and no opportunity to be hyper-critical. Film gives us the freedom to just be, without scouring our photos with loved ones for imperfections.
Because of this, film also gives us the opportunity to be present in every moment. At first, it seems as though it would be more difficult to take a photograph on film therefore, it would take up more time. But, in actual fact, it actually takes up much less time because you are only doing it once. Without the back and forth of scrutinising every image, we can just snap the moment, put the camera down and just be present with our loved ones.
So, as a wedding photographer, I love film because it is perfectly imperfect. It is beautiful and nostalgic. It captures an honest you, and the most truthful version of each given moment. And you should love film for all these reasons, and because it allows you to be more present in every moment, without analysing hundreds of photos for the perfect one.
Now on to the practical bit!
If you love film photography and would love some film photos from your wedding day, I would absolutely encourage you to do so!
Option 1 : have disposable film cameras on each table. It’s a tried and tested method, but make sure you leave a ‘shot list’ on every table! Otherwise you could end up with a lot of wasted film. I recommend leaving a little menu of photo opportunities on each table eg; bride and groom kissing, bride and grooms parents, everyone sitting at this table, the first dance, the food, etc. This way you’re giving your guests some direction as to what you would like captured, and you’ll have a beautiful gallery to look back on from all your guests point of view!
Option 2: Buy a point and shoot film camera and give it to someone you trust – this can be a bridesmaid, groomsman, content creator, or your little brothers content creator/influencer girlfriend (niche, but this is the option I’m taking at my own wedding!). You can buy a cheap little point and shoot in boots for £20, or camera stores have higher quality ones for between £100-300. Bulk buy a couples of rolls of Kodak Gold on Amazon and your designated film photographer can refill as they go. This option means you have one person you trust in control of the film, so you can be sure they’ll capture your wedding day as you see it. It also means you won’t have to worry about the location of 20 disposable cameras, or the bulk of transporting them all to the lab!
Option 3 is special to my couples: I have an extra little film photography add on for my wedding packages, as well as elopements and vow renewals, and story sessions. Although it is old, my dad’s trusty film camera is in perfect working order and so is my little point and shoot. Forget buying a camera and rolls of film, locating a trustworthy lab, and worrying about getting the shots you want – simply add on a few rolls of film to your booking and I’ve got it covered, so you don’t need to think any more about it until the finished product arrives in your inbox.
So that’s my thoughts on film, and why I’m head over heels in love with it! And if you love film as much as I do, hopefully one or two of my tips on incorporating it into your wedding day will be helpful.
Let me know your thoughts on film and get in touch to add it on to your booking – and if you’re not booked in yet, get in touch to find out more!
Much love,
Heather x
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