Why I Shoot with Film
I picked up my first digital SLR camera 12 years ago and even now the majority of photographers shoot digital. I had no idea people still shot film professionally until I started to do research to hire my own wedding photographer a few years ago when I got married. It was at this time I was introduced to the world of professional film photography and was instantly smitten. To put it simply- it’s just magic!
So why film?
Timeless aesthetics and colors: The most inherent quality of film is the timeless look that film photography gives you. There’s a softness to the image that gives it a rich and romantic look. The colors and tones are just special and unique and cannot be consistently replicated on digital cameras.
Intentionality: It pushes me to take more careful consideration in taking each photo which has helped me to become a better visual storyteller and photographer. Unlike digital images, you cannot see the shots you have taken from the camera. This causes me to slow down and be more intentional about the composition of my subjects.
Its fun (!): From a photographer’s perspective there’s an anticipation of waiting for and seeing your photos after your ship them off to be developed. Receiving your images from the photo lab feels like Christmas morning!
So why do you also shoot digital?
Digital is well suited for certain shooting situations: Digital does well in low light situations and is also good for fast moving subjects. It is more predictable as you can see the images immediately and doesn’t require time to develop.
Faster image shooting: You can potentially take a greater number of images in a shorter amount of time. For example: due to advanced technology my digital camera can take 12 photos each second and doesn’t require me to change a roll of film during shooting. This is useful for branding and commercial photoshoots where a large number of product photos may need to be taken.
Investment: Digital does not have the investment and associated costs required to shoot film such as the cost of film, shipping to a professional film lab, and developing the film.
When I made the decision to pursue photography as a career, I purchased my first medium-format film camera. Since film cameras are no longer being produced, I had to order it from a camera shop in Japan! I love film and this is my preferred medium for photography but there is also a place for digital in my work. I use both digital and film to create timeless, refined, and romantic images with feeling. It always makes me so happy when people want to learn more about film so please feel free to ask a question or leave a comment below!