Why Shoot Film?

If you’ve followed along for awhile, you might have noticed film creeping into my conversations. All of my inspiration boards are comprised of film images. My shooting and editing style has become brighter and airier, with minty greens and pops of contrast, which emulates film. Film first caught my eye last fall when I attended Rachel May’s wedding workshop. Surrounded by film & hybrid photographers, I fell in love with the process. It finally dawned on me that the photographers whose work I most admired nearly all shot film!

Over the winter, I took time to reflect inward and analyze what this would mean for my business. I’d have to completely overhaul and rebrand, and that felt scary. But honestly, I rebranded myself when I became a photographer, so simply becoming a different sort of photographer should be a breeze, right?!

Now that I’ve met my wedding booking goal for 2019 and 2020 is filling nicely, I’m ready to make that leap. Throughout the remainder of 2019, film will be incorporated into weddings and portrait sessions, with the goal of “officially” being a hybrid photographer by 2020. This blog series will break down WHY I’m making this change, what it means for you, and to bring you along on the journey as I work towards this goal! To start, I’ll answer a few basic questions about hybrid photographers and what to expect from the experience.

What is a hybrid photographer? A hybrid photographer is someone who shoots on both film and digital cameras. When I say film, I do NOT mean videography! It’s literally those old school canisters of film your parents and grandparents used!

What’s the benefit of shooting film and digital? Film and digital mediums each have their own pros and cons. Therefore, a hybrid photographer can analyze any situation and photograph it on the medium that will give the best results. By “best”, I mean imagery that is timeless, classic, and dreamy. Exactly what a photograph should be! For example, wedding day details, portraits, daytime ceremonies, and anything in full sun is best shot on film. Digital is generally best indoors or in dark conditions, such as receptions and dancing. By offering both mediums, I’m more equipped to give my clients the very best imagery possible.

What can I expect during my session or wedding? The experience of being photographed is much more thoughtful on film than it is on digital. Each click of the shutter costs about $5 on a film camera! We’ll shoot very intentionally, making sure every detail is perfect before taking a photograph. We’ll spend lots of time talking and interacting, letting moments happen organically versus rushing through the experience. Film does have to be sent to a lab to be developed, so it’ll take 1-2 weeks to get those images back. I promise it’ll be worth the wait! Because we’ll also shoot digital, you’ll still receive a sneak peek and blog post right after to help that excitement build.

For current clients, nothing will change in terms of the cost of your collection, your experience, or the final product you can expect. I’ve taken film education courses, invested in multiple film cameras and lenses, and even arranged for back-up second shooters for my 2019 weddings to ensure we don’t miss a beat. Film images created during your session or wedding will be delivered to you as a happy bonus! Starting in 2020 I will offer a variety of hybrid wedding & portrait collections. Working with film truly feels like making magic, and I cannot wait to share this journey with you!