27 Jul Photographing Weddings on Film

Photographing Weddings on Film

I never officially “became” a photographer, I’ve always been one.  Photographing weddings on film, it’s an extension of the way I’ve documented since I was a child.  My first camera was a tiny 110 with a flash mounted on top. I carried it everywhere. Looking back, I realize I was always the person photographing our entire family. Every Christmas, there was a new camera waiting for me under the tree. My favorite was the Polaroid Captiva. The sound of a photograph disappearing and reappearing was magical.   As a person who loves surprises, there’s something exciting about not knowing what you’ve captured. Since there are no second chances, you trust your eye and your instincts.

Why should I have my wedding photographed on film?

Couples often ask about if I will continue to photograph with film in a world that is driven by instant gratification.  The answer to that question is -yes! Film is beautiful.  Whether 35mm or medium format, every frame is rooter in love. Rendering a small amount of grace, it’s equally as perfect as it is imperfect.   Film preserves time and also carries history.  My obsession with the  Kennedy and King weddings deepened my appreciation for film.  The real moments in those weddings seemed even “more” real.  Those images are unforgettable because they’ve endured through generations.  True beauty never depended on color. Black and white or Kodak bright, Coretta and Jackie carried an elegance that transcended the medium. They remind us that images aren’t remembered for the color palette, they are remembered for the people.

The Beauty of  your Wedding Film Negatives

Photographing weddings on film has defined my work as an artist because there is no need to photograph everything.  Wait for the moments that matter. Slow down, observe and pay attention. Every frame is discipline and a decision.  My couples love the way film makes them feel and they undeniably see themselves and the history they are creating.   They leave their wedding with something tangible, the original negatives. Presently, we live in a world where digital is the standard. Unlike digital files, every roll of film creates an original negative. Those negatives become physical pieces of your family history—objects that can be archived, printed, and passed down through generations. There’s meaning in knowing that you can hold something from your actual wedding day. The negative is the physical artifact.

The day that your film is processed, I travel back to that little girl opening a camera on Christmas morning.  Film isn’t the easiest path , it is the road less traveled.  For a person who despises a crowded highway, it’s the place that feels like home.