Why I Shoot Film (And Why the Types of Film I Use Matter)
Film photography isn’t just something I “add on” to weddings. It’s something I genuinely love, something I’ve chosen intentionally because of the way it makes me create, the way it makes me slow down, and the way it makes moments feel.
I shoot both 35mm film and medium format film (also known as 120 film) because they each bring something completely different to a wedding day. Different cameras. Different processes. Different perspectives. Different emotional textures.
And honestly? I love them both for different reasons.
Film Isn’t Just a Look, It’s a Way of Photographing
A lot of wedding photographers who offer film are using a 35mm point-and-shoot, and that’s amazing. It works for so many people, and it creates beautiful work. I’m not here to compare or critique what anyone else is doing, if it works for them and their clients love it, that’s what matters.
But for me, I’m deeply drawn to the technical side of film photography. I love learning the mechanics of film cameras. I love how intentional it forces me to be. And I love how different the experience feels, not just how different the photos look.
Because when I shoot film, I’m not rapid-firing through moments. I’m choosing the moments.
My Main 35mm Camera: Canon A-1 (And Why I Love It)
My main 35mm film camera is a Canon A-1, a vintage camera from the 1980s. It’s a fully hands-on experience: manual focus, manual metering, and no shortcuts. That means every single time I take a photo, I have to slow down and ask myself:
Is this moment worth it? Then I have to take the time to:
meter the light correctly
dial in the settings
focus carefully
commit to the frame
And I love that! Not only because the photos come out beautiful, but because the moments feel different when I shoot them this way. Film naturally brings out the quieter in-between moments. The slower movement, the softness of a glance, the stillness of a breath.
It creates a kind of presence in the final images that makes me really happy, and I’ve found it makes my clients feel something deeper, too.
Why I Love Shooting 35mm for Documentary + Wide Moments
35mm film has a sharpness and realness to it that I can’t recreate any other way.
I often shoot 35mm with a 24mm lens, which is wide enough to capture the full environment, not just what’s happening, but where it’s happening.
It gives you context. It gives you atmosphere. It makes the image feel like you’re inside the moment again.
I’ve always felt like my 24mm lens feels closest to the way your eyes remember a scene, like you’re instantly transported back.
So for me, 35mm film is perfect for:
documentary moments
movement
wide storytelling frames
landscapes + setting
candid “you had to be there” moments
Medium Format (120 Film): A Totally Different Feeling
Medium format is where things get really special. My main medium format cameras are a Mamiya C330 (1969) and a Mama 645 (1975).
If 35mm feels like a memory you lived in, medium format feels like a moment you can hold.
It has this rare combination of being:
incredibly sharp
unbelievably soft
creamy, dimensional, and timeless
It’s hard to explain until you see it, but once you do, you can’t unsee it.
Medium format images have a depth to them. They feel elevated without feeling stiff. Romantic without feeling forced. They have clarity, but they still feel gentle.
Why Manual Film Matters to Me (And Why It Changes Your Photos)
Most of my film cameras are fully manual. Some don’t even have light meters.
Every photo requires:
deciding if it’s worth photographing
metering the light intentionally
focusing manually
slowing down enough to do it right
And if you break it down, each film photo costs money, roughly around $1+ per frame when you factor in film + developing + scanning.
So no, I’m not taking 100 random film photos just because I can. I’m taking the ones that matter.
That intentionality is what makes film feel so special to receive as a client. It’s not just “pretty tones.” It’s a different pace, a different level of care, and a different kind of attention.
Film Isn’t Just for Weddings, It’s Part of My Life
Film isn’t something I pick up only when I’m “working.” I shoot film personally all the time, hanging out with friends, documenting everyday life, slowing down in moments that would otherwise pass too fast. Using manual cameras has honestly shaped the way I live. Even in fast moments, it forces me to slow down, to be present, and to notice what’s worth remembering.
The Real Reason I Shoot Film
At the end of the day, I shoot film because I love it.
It makes me excited to learn.
It makes me excited to create.
It makes me feel connected to what I’m doing.
And I love that I get to use tools that are older than me, cameras built decades ago, to create art that people will keep for the rest of their lives. Not just images they’ll enjoy for a season, but photographs they’ll cherish forever. That’s what makes it all worth it!
