Film photography is making a comeback and I am SO here for it, y’all. Ever since I started testing out my film camera at elopements and shoots, I’ve been completely obsessed. Now I tell literally EVERY one of my couples that they should add film to their package. If you’re trying to decide whether you should book film photography for your elopement, you’re in the right place—I’m about to answer your elopement film questions and break it all down for you!

Elopement Film Photography FAQ’s

Let’s start with some general FAQ’s about booking film for your elopement. And know that when I say “elopement film,” I mean film photography—NOT film as in videography! As much as I wish I was a talented videographer, I’ve got plenty of amazing people I can refer you to if you’re looking to add elopement videography to your day 🙂

What’s the difference between film and digital photography?

Time for a mini lesson on film photography! The first roll of film was invented back in 1889, which was also around the time when Kodak started selling its very first film camera. Film photos are shot using, well, film, instead of a digital sensor, which experiences a chemical reaction when hit with light. Once you’ve filled up a roll of film, it needs to be developed; thankfully, in modern times, you don’t actually have to have your own dark room in order to develop film—you can send it in to a professional developer who will do it for you! 

The main difference between images shot on film and images shot using digital cameras is the sharpness of the details. Digital cameras use sensors to capture a lot more light than film cameras are able to, making for precise details that you can see clearly in the final image. Film photos are very often more grainy, gritty, and blurry, depending on the camera used.

Film is a lot more unpredictable than digital as well, given that images can vary in grain and you have a lot more opportunities to mess up your images through exposure to light and chemicals. Overall, digital is way more reliable and predictable, which is why it’s so amazing that we have such easy access to the modern technology of digital photography these days. You essentially have COMPLETE control over your images when you shoot on digital, being that you can adjust all the different settings very precisely; whereas film leaves a lot more room for error.

Wait, wedding photographers still use film?

Yes! Well, some do, and some don’t. I really think film is making a comeback lately, with how many people I’ve been seeing buy their first film camera or pull out the old ones their parents/grandparents have had in their garage for years. While film definitely isn’t as popular as it used to be when it was the only medium of photography readily available to most people, it’s gaining traction again and I’m SO glad it is. Sooo many wedding and elopement photographers I know have either been shooting on film for years or are now adding it to their packages, so you’ll probably come across film photos quite a lot nowadays when searching for a photog for your big day.

Are film photos good quality?

The quality of film photos really depends on a few things: the type of film you use, the type of film camera you’re shooting on, your experience with film, and whether or not you’re comparing them to photos from modern digital cameras. 

Most of the time, the quality of film photos is going to be different (though not necessarily worse) than the quality you’ll see coming out of the latest Canon mirrorless camera—the technology is just different! Just like digital cameras, though, film cameras range from $50 to thousands and thousands of dollars, so there’s a huge range of quality that you can find depending on how much money you’re willing to spend. 

A lot of the photographers I know who shoot on film, shoot on super high-quality film cameras that produce photos that, when edited, honestly look like they were shot digitally. But then there are people who shoot on cheaper film cameras because they want more of that gritty, nostalgic vibe that we often associate with film.

So yes, film photos can be AMAZING quality—but they can also be the grainy quality you’d expect from an older, cheaper camera. It all depends!

What type of film camera do you use?

Right now, I’m using a Contax T2 that I bought new-to-me from Cute Camera Co. Ever since I got it I’ve been having a blast trying out different film types, testing it at shoots, and learning what it’s all about—and I can tell you right now, I’m OBSESSED. I’ve been carrying it around daily to capture my own fam life and it’s been so fun adding in film into my work more and more.

Will you edit our elopement film photos?

Yes! Just like I’ll edit your elopement photos that I shoot digitally, I’ll edit your film photos to make sure the colors and lighting are as beautiful as possible. The editing style will be consistent across all of your images, both digital and film, but the coloring may be slightly different between the two as film just captures colors differently than digital cameras do. Those nostalgic, filmy colors that we all love are the reason so many modern photographers actually edit their digital photos with film as their inspiration!

How will we receive our film photos?

You’ll receive your film photos just like you will your digital ones: in an online gallery, where you’ll be able to download your images, favorite + save them, and print them out to have tangible keepsakes forever.

Why You Should Add Film Photography to Your Elopement

Now that you know the differences between film and digital photography, let’s talk about WHY film photos are such an amazing thing to add to your elopement!

The romance + nostalgia

The nostalgia of film photography is what makes it so freaking magical, and is why it’s becoming so popular again in the age of crazy digital technology. We all long for the good old days, right? Maybe for you, the good old days look like time spent with your loved ones around a campfire when you were a little kid, or running around in the backyard with your siblings. Maybe, when you think back on the best days of your life, you think of the years you spent in college, laughing and studying and going out for drinks with your best friends. The beauty of film is that it brings all of those moments back in an instant. The nostalgic colors, quality, and graininess of film photos immediately makes you feel like you’re back in that moment when you were having the best time ever with your favorite people, reliving those memories over and over again. There’s something about looking at a film photo that just reminds you of how GOOD life can be.

Now think about the two of you looking back on your elopement photos 10, 20, 50 years from now; think about your grandchildren and their children flipping through albums of your elopement photos way in the future. Yes, the quality of the digital photos will be beautiful and will show them all the amazing details of your day, but the film photos are what will really invite them into those moments that they’ve heard millions of stories about. The nostalgia combined with the romance of your elopement day creates such an amazing collection of images to look back on; images that really tell the story of your day in a way that digital photos simply can’t.

The intentionality

Part of the reason why I love film so much (and why I think it’s become so trendy again) is the fact that it requires you to slow down, be thoughtful, and go about every photo really intentionally. With digital cameras, you can literally take as many photos you want, as quickly as you want—so there’s never ANY risk of missing a meaningful moment. It’s insane how fast the shutter on my Canons can go, it’s almost impossible to miss anything! But with that incredible technology, you kind of lose out on the purpose + intention behind taking photographs; you miss out on the thoughtfulness that went into capturing every image. 

When I document elopements, I’m ALWAYS intentional about the photos I’m capturing—but when I’m shooting on film, I’m limited to a smaller amount of photos, so I really have to make sure that every single one counts. That’s really what makes film so beautiful: when a photo turns out well, it’s even more rewarding and exciting to have it + hold onto it forever.

The in-the-moment feeling

I don’t really know why, but I feel like film photos just capture that in-the-moment feeling better than digital ever could! You know what I mean? The feelings I get from looking at film photographs are always different than looking at digital—it’s a more reflective, nostalgic, and thoughtful experience, making you feel grateful that you got to live that moment and that you now get to look back at it for the rest of your life + pass it down to your family. It’s hard to explain why that is, but I feel like you get it!! It’s just different!

The way it captures color + light

Like I said before, some digital photographers intentionally edit their photos to feel filmy—including myself! I literally created my Open Roads Presets to pull out the best colors in photos with just enough grain and grit for that film-like feel, turning your special moment into a timeless legacy. The colors you can get on film are rich, vibrant, and full, and look absolutely incredible when documenting elopements.

The variety it adds to your gallery

Finally, I just love the variety that film photography adds to your elopement gallery! You’ll receive an already-amazing collection of digital images that capture the essence + tell the story of your special day, but in my eyes, the more variety the BETTER. These photos are the ones you’ll be sharing and looking at over and over, for the rest of your lives, so if you have more photos that capture different angles, perspectives, colors, and emotions, you’ll be able to relive those moments in the most authentic way possible, no matter how much time passes. It’s so much fun to scroll through film photos on your phone, to print them out to frame on your wall, and to add them to your heirloom elopement album.

Tips for Hiring an Elopement Photographer Who Shoots Film

Before you go, I wanted to give you a few quick tips for finding an elopement photographer who shoots film!

Make sure they’re experienced

You should always, always make sure that the photographer you hire has experience shooting on film, and that your elopement won’t be their very first time. Because film is so unpredictable and volatile, it’s important that your photographer knows what they’re doing and that you can fully trust them to document your day like you’re paying for them to do!

Find someone with a style you love

This one’s obvious, and goes for finding an elopement photographer in general: you want somebody whose style you LOVE and are obsessed with. Take a look at both their digital and film photos so you can see the difference, and so you can see what their editing looks like on each medium. This way, you’re confident that you’ll love whatever they create for you + that you’ll want to print and frame all of the photos on your walls!

Ask about turnaround time

Lastly, I would recommend asking them what the turnaround time is for your film vs. digital photos, so that you know what to expect! Film photos take time to get developed, and then time to edit, so make sure you know when to expect everything back from your photog.

Oregon Elopement Film Photographer

As an adventure elopement photographer who shoots on both film and digital cameras, my approach blends lifestyle documentary with breathtaking landscapes to create images that resonate with heartfelt emotions. If you’re dreaming of an elopement album that reflects your unique spirit, journey, and relationship, let’s connect—I’d love to be a part of your special day and tell your story through beautiful images, both film and digital.

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