Long before the invention of the digital camera and the smartphone, photographers have been documenting beauty and timeless memories on film. You may (or may not) remember a time before the digital camera, when you would buy rolls of film for your 35mm camera, gently roll it in the camera back, and carefully compose each frame, knowing that you had to trust your instincts and technical expertise because looking at the back of your camera simply was not an option. The invention of the digital camera completely revolutionized the photography industry and changed the way that photographers work. 

Fast forward to today. The art of film photography has had a huge resurgence over the past decade. There’s just something dreamy about its grain, its timelessness, the aesthetic imperfections, and the element of surprise. 

Here are 3 reasons why I love film photography.

1. Authentic color and softness: Film is incredible when it comes to capturing skin tones resulting in creamy, warm colors and soft, glowing skin. I rarely have to retouch my film, because it doesn’t have that high-definition quality that digital can have where every pore and imperfection is present. 
2. Artful composition: With film, images are thoughtfully composed and carefully crafted to capture special moments artfully and with purpose. Each shot a film photographer takes costs them money, so because of that, it requires them to be so much more intentional about their work. Each shot is equivalent to (about) $4. When I work slower, I find that I am truly present in every moment.
3. Film is timeless: Trends come and go, but film has and will always remain the same – a beautiful, timeless, and tactile medium.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there is also a time a place for digital photography. A digital camera can snap dozens of images in seconds, so during fast-moving moments like when the bride is walking down the aisle, I always make sure to snap several images on my digital camera to ensure that I get one great photo of her during that very emotional moment that is over in the blink of an eye. A digital camera also can easily take images in low-light situations. In a dark ceremony or reception, I lean more heavily towards my digital camera to ensure that I’m able to beautifully capture the entire day – even the moments that aren’t well-lit.

Ultimately, for me, it’s all about choosing the right tool for each moment, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that your wedding images are timeless heirlooms that you will pass down for generations to come. 

Remember #filmisnotdead