Wedding Film Photography in Boston – Why I Love Film
As a Boston wedding photographer, I’ve loved incorporating film photography into my packages over the last few years. It is such a beautiful craft, and such a unique addition to your wedding photos! If you’re unfamiliar with wedding film photography, in this post I’m sharing all the reasons why I love it so much and how I include it in my packages for my couples.
Why I Love Wedding Film Photography for Boston Weddings
It’s Emotive. There’s just something about looking at photos taken on film that evokes even more emotion. Film can give a softer feel. This medium seems to have a life of its own given the different variables. From the shooting (varying light, weather, etc.) to the developing process – all the variables bring life to the final product.
It’s Timeless. Film photographs are so classic and have stood the test of time for decades – and this will always be true. It’s a timeless art form. Film photos give off a nostalgic feeling as well, especially with the slight bit of grain that you get from film. With film, every frame becomes one of a kind and you’ll never have to worry about your photos going out of style. 20 years from now, you will not have to say, “Oh gosh, that editing was so 2015.”
It’s Artful and Technical. I love film photography because it allows for different artistic elements. The images are true works of art. At the same time, it’s also a very technical process. It requires strong and practiced knowledge to deliver consistent and quality film imagery from manual and professional cameras. I love the combined technical and artful elements of film photography to deliver impactful images that tell your story.
My Approach to Wedding Film Photography
So you may be wondering, how does wedding film photography work? My approach is a hybrid of both film and digital photography. I use multiple cameras throughout the day to capture your celebration. This allows me to take advantage of the strengths of both digital and film photography in every scenario and every moment. Film is such a beautiful complement to digital photography and I absolutely love this combination for my couples. I edit my digital photographs to complement the film images for a cohesive and balanced gallery.
Technical Specifications and Workflow
Most couples looking to add film photography to their wedding package are looking for a unique and timeless aesthetic. Rich colors, soft tones, and natural grain, which cannot be replicated with digital cameras, are also advantages. As photographers, we love the precision required to shoot film. Unlike digital cameras, film has a limited number of exposures per roll. This limitation encourages us to be more selective and precise with our shots, resulting in a higher percentage of keepers. Regarding the specific equipment and materials used, the technical setup includes:
- Cameras: Contax S2 and Canon SLR.
- Lenses: Contax Carl Zeiss 28mm and 50mm.
- Development: Jobo Processor and tank with Kodak and Fuji Chemicals.
- Scanning: Noritsu LS600 minicab Scanner from the 2000s.
After we shoot the films, we label them with the date and name of the couple. We develop all our films with Kodak and Fujifilm chemicals in our Jobo processor and tanks. After development, we let the film dry overnight. In the morning, we scan the film in our Noritsu LS-600 professional film lab scanner. After scanning, the images are lightly edited and uploaded to your online gallery. What you can expect is 36-150 film photos (in addition to a full digital gallery) of highlights from throughout your day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What about low light situations?
Because film has a wide dynamic range, we usually don't worry about low light situations. Besides that we photograph at night with flash and high ISO film speed. So, low light is not a problem.
How long does it take to receive the final photographs?
We'll likely send you sneaks as soon as we develop and scan the photos, with that said you can expect to receive them on final gallery delivery day. Because we hand develop and scan all film ourselves, we trust our process completely.