Your wedding on just film: why or why not?
Every wedding is different, and yours is no exception (nor should it be!) A film only wedding may absolutely be the right call for the two of you on your wedding day, but you deserve to have ALL of the information up front, and know EXACTLY what to expect. In the past, I have seen couples book other photographers for film only weddings only to later tell me they had NO clue what film was or even the risks of choosing an only film wedding. Today, we are making sure that is not you!
What is film?
Film is old school, and perfect for those with old souls. The antiques, the thrifters, the lovers of old. Film is a slightly transparent medium that is rolled up and when exposed correctly to light will hold your images. Your grandparents, some of your parents, & great grandparents would have used it for any and all photos, as well as its video form (Super 8.) Film comes in different sizes, and this is important because it determines the quality of your images! 35mm film is very common, but it is one of the smaller options for still images and won’t have near as much detail and depth as 120 film. HOWEVER, the higher the number, the less images you get per roll!
35mm film will give you 36 images per roll. 120 film may give you 10-16 images per roll (varies by camera) and Super 8 video will give you roughly 3 minutes of footage per 50ft (1 roll) of film.
Below you can find some film images with descriptions in the bottom left corner! If you are viewing it on a mobile device, the first image is 120, and then they alternate. (ie. 120, then 35mm, 120, then 35mm)
What are the pros & cons?
Pros
Film is VERY intentional. You won’t end up with a gallery full of “fluff” or repetitive images.
Film is a great fit for those who want to live in the moment & enjoy their day without panicking about every photo being perfect. Film is very true to life, and it tells no lies. No AI here.
With film, colors are typically consistent, as long as the same type/stock is being used.
The film stocks that are used are similar to (and often the same) as film stocks used by your family growing up. Your images will have that same nostalgic feel.
Film has a very unique look. Digital edits can get close, but never seem to quite replicate it.
If you lose the digital copies of your images, any film lab can rescan your negatives (the film itself) and give you the digital copies again!
The film negatives (what your actual photos were taken on) can be returned to you after your wedding day, giving you something tangible to hold onto, rescanned, put in picture frames, etc.
Cons (Really more or less things to be aware of)
Unlike digital photos, your photographer can not see the results immediately. IF for any reason at all the light is not right, someone’s eyes are closed, etc. there will be no way of knowing until wayyy after the wedding is over! This is VERY important if you want absolutely perfect images. While some things can be slightly tweaked afterwards, if your photographer spends hours editing your film, it kind of defeats the purpose of using film. The edits you can make on film are much more limited than those you can make on digital.
Film cameras are old. Be sure to hire someone with BACKUP CAMERAS and someone who has extensive experience using them. Film cameras can accidentally rip the film (which is essentially your photos,) they may not wind it back up correctly allowing light to leak into it, they could just straight up tap out. You need to make sure your photographer has a plan for these situations (although they truly are worst case scenario)
Pricing can be expensive. We don’t charge more for film only weddings and keep our pricing consistent for both digital and film weddings, however this is not the case for most photographers. 120 film & 35mm film is often what you will see used, and you need LOTS of it. By the time the photographer purchases the film and pays for chemical development and scanning, they are typically paying no less than $600+ on an 8 hour wedding. Super 8 is double if not triple this price.
Most importantly, it is just INCREDIBLY important that you understand results can not be guaranteed because lighting effects it, the cameras effect it, it is an old way of taking images, etc. There are so many factors at play, and your photographer will not know the results until AFTER the wedding.
But… digital is NOT perfect either, so don’t be deterred. Let’s chat digital…
Digital images are great because they allow the photographer to see what your photos look like in real time. Your photographer can tweak the setting for every little change in lighting, review your images as they take them, etc.
If you want the peace of mind knowing every image will be perfect & can be edited extensively, then digital will be great for you.
HOWEVER, digital needs to be backed up. You should be asking your photographer if they shoot on a dual slot camera. This means, are they shooting onto two SD cards (which is where your images will be stored) and what their backup process looks like. SD cards can ABSOLUTELY corrupt out of nowhere, and the images are gone. This is why it is important to know your photographer is saving them in not one, but two places throughout your day. It is also important to make sure they are storing your images somewhere safe even after the wedding to ensure they get to you.
Want to see a full gallery from a 3 hour film only wedding with super 8? Click the photo above or the button below!
The truth is...At the end of the day, there is no “Right Choice.” There is only the choice that feels right for you.
If you want romance, nostalgia, sometimes imperfect images but full of love, then film is a great choice. It is intentional, and so so beautiful.
If you don’t think you can handle the extra “unknowns” on your wedding day, you want perfectly edited images, and you would rather keep retaking your images than risk one photo being blurry, then digital may be the best fit for you.
Every. single. wedding. is. different.
You should make the choice that aligns with your vision for your day the best. I hope this helped give you a little insight, and most importantly let you know of any and all risks associated with BOTH digital and film, so you are fully equipped to make the best decision for you!
If you ever need to talk through it or have more questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I have linked my IG below!
