Danny was recently asked why I liked to shoot film (especially at weddings), and right away he said it’s always been a dream of mine to shoot weddings hybrid.

He told the gentleman that I adore the nostalgia of film, and how it timelessly capture a moment and instantly has a way of sending you straight back to the moment in a raw and emotive way.

Digital is curated, it’s easy to fix and fast to act and get everything right. Its an art in its own way, and to then take that and create a moment in post that locks in that emotion is again a skill in and of its own.

But film…

Its thought over, and raw. It’s art in its purest form. Capturing what our eye sees. It’s a skill to be learned, and in my heart I’d say knowing how to shoot film makes your more intentional and present in your art.

It makes you look at photography, light and moments just a little different. Ensuring you get it JUST right to really tell the story of the moment as you see and feel it.

That’s why I love film photography. I love that it’s made me more present in my art and more creative for my couples and myself. It just lights a little creative flame inside me and keeps me passionate about my art.

So that got me thinking, why haven’t I added film to my wedding packages yet?

For a format I’m so passionate about, and working in weddings where my role as a wedding photographer is purely to storytelling through my art. I wasn’t actually sure why I hadn’t yet.

I’ve been shooting film since I was in high school at the young age of 16, and now I was 26 and forging my path as a wedding photographer. So it’s about time I add wedding film officially to my wedding photography packages from 2024.

with that being said, I know a few of my own couples (and obviously you since you’re here reading this post) have asked: “why should I hire a hybrid wedding photographer for my wedding?”

So here’s my list of reasons why you should opt to add a film package to your wedding photography..

Reasons To Hire a Film Wedding Photographer

01. Film wedding photography keeps you present

As I mentioned earlier, film photography keeps me present. Not to say I’m not in digital alone. But it builds my intention and creativity. When you’ve only got 36 frames to capture a section of a day you decide how to tell a story in only a few stills that captures the emotion of the wedding day.

With digital I find we often fall into a spray and pray method. Over shoot, and hope for the best. But with film I remain in the moment and put thought into every image I create. Shooting far less but creating at a far higher quality because I’m remaining present in the wedding day and intentional with every wedding image I create.

02. Film wedding photography is timeless

Trends in the wedding world come and go. But the one thing that has managed the rest of time is film photography. It’s the format that started it all, and it holds its own when telling the story of a wedding day. No post production (past the obvious development). It’s colours and true to tone and timeless, making time stand still

It’s beautiful and full of character without heavy editing, filters, or tweaking.

03. Film Wedding Photography is creamy and romantic

Film wedding photography is just a little softer and dreamier that digital. The way digital sensors keep an image tack sharp is incredible, but I often find myself softening the images to match the creamy and dreamy nature that comes with film photography. This in my humble opinion adds to the nostalgia each image natural creates. Taking you back to a moment instantly in a vivid sense.

04. The way film captures colours is unparalleled

Film captures skin colours so naturally and effortlessly. Don’t get be wrong digital has come a long way to capture skin tones correctly, and can be manipulated in post. But I never find myself wanting to tweak the colour of a film image at a wedding. I also do with a digital.

You can now emulate film through digital photography, which my editing style does. But being able to shoot film in the first place to match my digital images to is critical in learning those editing patterns and understanding my craft more.

05. Understanding Film makes you a better photographer

Now this is a controversial statement. Some will agree and some won’t. But I wholeheartedly believe that understanding how to shoot weddings on film and create consistently, makes you better at your craft.

being able to create beautiful art without being able to see the back or the camera or tweak settings when you see things are off is a skill and takes a level of trust in yourself to know you’re hitting the mark for your client.

06. Shooting hybrid covers your wedding photographers back

Whilst shooting purely film would be incredible, for a wedding it’s not practical in todays age. There will always be times and places where film won’t work because it’s dark, or you need the speed of digital for a fast past moment you can’t miss (couples loveeeee to fly through that first kiss and those confetti shots at times). Shooting hybrid keeps you prepared for everything but allows you to remain intentional with your art work in the fast paced environment of a wedding day!

In all, because of the skill it takes to learn film, the intent behind it and the timelessness of it - I truly recommend every couple opt for a hybrid wedding photographer who shoots both digital and film!

having the ability to stay engaged in the day and devoted to the work whilst being able to switch around in the fast paced environment of a wedding day is a skill. And shooting hybrid builds that craft and skill level in a wedding photographer.

You can see a few of our recent film scans below: