Film Photography & Your Wedding
Adding film photography to your wedding day coverage is all the rage these days, but what’s all the hype?
In the last couple years, film photography has taken the wedding world by storm because of its nostalgic way to capture your memories. Disposable camera wedding favours have been all the rage in the last few years. This is such a fun way for guests to candidly document the evening festivities from their point of view.
Before digital photography, film was used to document our parents and grandparents wedding photos. This connects us to past generations and evokes a sense of timelessness and nostalgia. For those of us who grew up in the 90s or earlier, film connects us to the way our childhood memories were documented.
When I was in the photography program at OCAD, we had to photograph all of our first year assignments on film. The reason being: to understand the technical aspect of photography first and foremost. Now that I have been leaning into working more with film again, understanding how film works is part of the reason why I love it so much. Film has an incredible dynamic range, which means that film is able to retain a lot of highlight and shadow detail which is what creates a more natural looking image.
What is Film photography?
Film is inherently the essence of photography. The process of working with film relies on images being captured on light sensitive film. The image is physically burned into the film when the photo is taken. Processing film relies on chemical reactions to reveal the image on the film. Once the film has been processed, it is called a negative. The negative is essentially the “raw file” of the film world. The negative is scanned in order to create a digital file of the image. These digital files are colour balanced by the film lab and are the images that are included in a wedding gallery.
Aesthetics of Film
Film offers a nostalgic aesthetic through various imperfections such as light leaks, grain and double exposures. Embracing the imperfections of film offers a touch of authenticity to contrast the polished look of the digital photographs in your wedding gallery. Different types of film stocks have varying chemical compositions that affects their colour sensitivity, tones and contrast levels. For example, Kodak Gold is known for its warm tones and colour saturation. The more popular film among wedding and portrait photographers is Kodak Portra, known for its exceptional skin tones and fine grain, which make it the ideal choice for portrait photography.
Expectations of Film
Shooting film requires a more deliberate approach resulting in more thoughtfully crafted images. Since there are a limited shots per film roll, slowing down allows us to make each shot count. While point and shoot cameras are a fun way to snap some candids of your guests during a fast paced cocktail hour, slowing down for your portraits allows them to be more intentional. Film also requires a bit more patience when it comes to image delivery. Film processing takes anywhere from 1-3 weeks depending on the photo lab.
Final Thoughts
I really feel that film is here to stay in the wedding industry. While film has ebbed and flowed in terms of popularity it has never really gone out of style. There is a certain authenticity and aesthetic that film offers that digital doesn’t always compare to. Film is an honest image physically burned into the film by exposing it to light. The results end up being a chemical miracle.
What I love about film is that it looks soft, natural, and is able to retain details in a way that digital photos don’t. In all, I think film is a beautiful medium to capture your wedding memories on. Film photography allows us to cherish authentic photos the same way generations before us have. If you were interested in adding film photography to your wedding day, reach out and let’s chat more about it.
