What I love about Film
An ode to the medium that revolutionized my photography.
The Rocky’s from the car window, February 2023
Before I started shooting film, I was a good photographer. I understood shooting manual, and thinking creatively on the fly, and capturing beautiful moments.
Now, I’m a great photographer.
On the way to Park, City, UT, February 2023
Let me explain my bold statement.
As a wedding photographer, we have to plan as well as we have to think on our feet. Timelines change, drinks get spilled, and weather is unpredictable. We have to know how to take the formal family photos and squeeze them into a small reception space because it decided to pour outside. We have to know what to do when one of our camera batteries dies but there’s still two hours of a reception left. We have to know what to do when the groomsmen don’t finish getting read on time so we’re running late for the first look. All of these things, we plan for as photographers; and before shooting with film, I could perform these necessary things well. Now, as a film photographer, I’ve learned not simply to speed up when we’re running behind, but actually how to slow down, concentrate on the foreground as well as the background. I’ve learned how to manually focus my subject so I can truly see my bride’s beautiful earrings that her mom also wore on her wedding day. I’ve learned how to look at light, and understand when to overexpose a bit for the shadows in film, and when to underexpose a bit to account for the highlights in digital.
Film has leveled me up as a photographer so that I can serve my clients better.
On a more technical note — in analog film photography, ISO (International Standards Organization) refers to the film's sensitivity to light. It determines how the film reacts to the available light and influences the overall exposure and image quality. Different ISO film types offer varying characteristics and are suited for specific shooting conditions. As I am, personally, still working on finding my favorite film stock; let’s explore the differences between common analog film ISO types:
Low ISO (ISO 25-200): Low ISO films have lower sensitivity to light, requiring more light to create a well-exposed image. They are often referred to as slow films. These films are known for their fine grain structure, excellent detail rendition, and rich tonal range. Low ISO films are ideal for situations with abundant light, such as outdoor landscapes or well-lit studio settings. They produce images with high resolution, sharpness, and a smooth transition between tones.
Medium ISO (ISO 400-800) (My personal favorite): Medium ISO films strike a balance between sensitivity to light and grain structure. They offer increased versatility, allowing photographers to shoot in a wider range of lighting conditions. Medium ISO films are popular choices for street photography, photojournalism, and everyday shooting. They offer a good compromise between image quality and the ability to capture subjects in lower light situations.
High ISO (ISO 1600+): High ISO films are highly sensitive to light, making them suitable for low-light and challenging shooting conditions. They allow photographers to capture images in dimly lit environments without the need for additional lighting equipment. However, higher ISO films tend to have a more pronounced grain structure, which can add a unique aesthetic quality to the images. High ISO films are commonly used in concert photography, night photography, and documentary-style work.
For weddings and events, medium ISO is my film of choice. Here are some of my favorite medium ISO film frames —
These were taken in Colorado in February, 2023
It's important to note that film sensitivity is fixed for each roll, unlike digital cameras where ISO can be adjusted on the fly. When shooting with analog film, you typically select a specific ISO film based on the lighting conditions you expect to encounter. This is one reason why photographers that shoot hybrid or full film typically charge more than digital-only photographers. Having individual rolls of film on different cameras for various light situations throughout your wedding day is quite costly, and requires significant prep work that digital-only photographers don’t provide.
Choosing the right ISO film type involves considering factors such as available light, desired image quality, and the desired aesthetic of the final image. Each ISO type offers its own unique characteristics and creative possibilities, allowing photographers to express their vision through the medium of film.
Ultimately, experimenting with different film types and understanding their strengths and limitations has expanded my creative possibilities and helped me get closer to achieving the desired look and feel in my analog film photography; and it’s helped me to transform it into fine art wedding photography.
Washington DC Wedding Photographer | Local and Destination Elopement Photographer | Film Photographer and Enthusiast