Film Wedding Photographer- Is Film Worth It?
You may have noticed recently that film wedding photography has made a comeback over the last few years, although it never really went out of style- 9 years ago when I was just starting my wedding photography business, I remember seeing some high end luxury film photographers doing incredible work. As a Philadelphia and New Jersey film and digital wedding photographer, here are a few things to consider when thinking about adding film to your wedding day!
FIlm forces you to slow down, wait for the perfect moment, value each shot- each roll only has 36 takes on it, and film isn’t cheap! Each frame matters, and the result feels honest in a way that digital photos sometimes struggle to recreate in our rush to make sure we’re not missing a single second of what’s happening. Digital photos are fabulous for perfect, sharp, consistently good images – but to me, film has its own grainy, unpredictable magic that’s both nostalgic and feels new as it comes back around into the wedding photography world.
With film photography, there’s a different anticipation and delayed gratification. There’s no view screen on which you can check to see how the photo looks, you just send in your rolls and hope everything turned out as you wanted it to! And when it comes back and looks perfect- grainy, warm, beautiful light, occasional imperfections and light leaks included – it’s such an exciting moment to be able to send the scans off to my couples and hear how much they love them.
Photographing on film requires a different level of trust in myself, my gear, and my ability to frame with intent. I take my time composing the shot, making sure my settings are correct, and paying more attention to the little details – your veil catching the sunlight, the exact moment I can see you start to giggle, pausing for the moment your best friend tears up watching you come down the aisle. There’s a deeper sense of being present in the moment, a different realness to each chosen click of the shutter.
Is it worth it to add on film to your wedding photography package?
Ultimately, that’s up to you! If you think you would enjoy a unique, fun, nostalgic selection of photos from your wedding day, then film photography would be perfect for you. If you feel you would enjoy and appreciate the imperfections, and love the idea of some of your wedding photos looking like your grandparents, then this is right up your alley! I think it evokes that feeling of your childhood photo albums, & has a really special way of making us feel something different. More than just images, they’re a throwback to our memories of looking through family albums, the heirlooms of past generations kept for us to browse through decades later.
Choosing a wedding photographer who offers film photography means you’re investing in a more intentional storytelling approach. When you look back at your photos, film frames often stand out in a way that feels more cinematic, messy, and carrying the energy of the day in a unique way.
