(And What It Means for Your Wedding Photos)
When couples reach out, one of the first questions they often ask is: “Why do you shoot film?” It’s a fair question. Digital photography has been the standard for years, so why add film into the mix? For me, the answer goes back to where I started as a photographer, and it is woven into how I see, feel, and tell a wedding story.
My Story With Film
My love for film photography started back in high school when I signed up for a film elective without really knowing what I was getting into. From the very first class, I was hooked. We learned black and white film from the ground up: loading rolls, carefully composing each of the 35 frames, and spending hours in the darkroom.
What captivated me most was the anticipation. With film, there is no instant preview. You have to slow down, really see before you click the shutter, and then wait until the negatives are developed to know what you captured. By senior year, I was so in love with the process that I bought an enlarger and chemicals off Craigslist to turn my bathroom into a makeshift darkroom.
So when I bring film into my wedding photography today, it isn’t because it is trendy. It is because it is part of who I am as a photographer.
The Look and Feel of Film
Film has an emotional quality that is hard to describe but instantly recognizable. Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, everyone had a little film camera. The excitement of picking up those prints after summer camp or a family vacation is the same feeling film still carries today.
Film has warmth, texture, grain, and imperfections that make each frame beautifully human. It feels timeless, like flipping through your parents’ wedding album. Digital images are crisp, fast, and abundant, but film images hits differently. Together, they balance each other. Digital captures everything, while film captures emotion in a way that is impossible to duplicate.
How Film Shapes the Way I Shoot
With digital, I can shoot quickly and capture moments instantly. With film, every frame matters. The limitations of film force me to slow down, anticipate, and choose my shots with intention.
That mindset mirrors what I want for my couples on their wedding day: the chance to slow down, savor, and be fully present. In a world that moves fast, film creates space to pause. It allows me to tell your story with more depth and mindfulness, giving you images that do not just show what your day looked like, but what it felt like.
Why I Shoot Both Film and Digital
I am a hybrid photographer. Digital gives me reliability, speed, and flexibility. It ensures every detail of your day is captured beautifully. Film, on the other hand, adds layers of nostalgia, texture, and surprise.
Film is not fail-proof, but that is part of its charm. Sometimes a frame has unexpected grain, or light leaks create something magical. Together, film and digital give you the best of both worlds: modern coverage paired with timeless artistry.
Common Misconceptions About Film
Couples sometimes wonder:
• Will I still get digital photos? Yes. Digital is still the backbone of your gallery, with film woven in as a complementary layer.
• Does film mean vintage filters? Not at all. Real film has a depth and character that filters cannot replicate. The way I shoot film creates images that feel authentic, not gimmicky.
• Will it slow things down too much? Film requires intention, but it will not drag out your day. I carry backup rolls, cameras, and batteries so I can switch seamlessly. If I pause you for a second, it is only to make sure the moment is captured beautifully.
Where Film Shines in New England Weddings
Film is not tied to a specific venue or weather forecast. It works anywhere.
Some of my favorite times to shoot film are during outdoor weddings on Cape Cod in the summer, at golden hour when the light is soft, or even on foggy New England mornings where the atmosphere feels cinematic. Whether it is Beacon Hill, the slopes of Vermont, a backyard farm in New Hampshire, the rocky coast of Maine, or the mansions in Rhode Island, film adds magic wherever love and light exist.
Couples’ Reactions to Film Photos
While I am not there when couples first open their scans, I see how they respond. It is almost always the film shots that get tagged, shared, or printed. Couples are drawn to them because they feel different: timeless, fun, unique, and deeply memorable.
Film photos tend to be the ones couples return to again and again, because they carry that extra layer of emotion.
Why Film Matters Years From Now
Your wedding is one of the only times in life when everyone you love is in the same place, celebrating together. Having photos of that day is always special. But adding film into the mix makes your gallery unforgettable.
Film images hold up over time, just like the ones in your parents’ albums. They are not trendy. They are timeless. Decades from now, they will still feel true to life. That is also why I edit my digital images with the same philosophy. No heavy filters. No gimmicks. Just honest, timeless coverage.
Film is one of the most beautiful ways I know to record your story. A medium that captures not only how your wedding looked, but how it felt.
If you are planning a wedding in Boston or anywhere in New England and want photography that blends the timeless beauty of film with the reliability of digital, I would love to connect. Let’s create something nostalgic, modern, and completely you.