There’s something about film photography that just feels different. It’s more than the way it renders color (although that is dang pretty) —it’s a mood, a sense of timelessness, a softness that’s hard to replicate. I first fell in love with film for exactly those reasons, and over time, it became an essential part of how I document weddings. It’s exploded in popularity these days, which I love. But should you have it at your own wedding? In this post, I’ll go over what film actually is and what it isn’t, and everything you should expect if you want your wedding to be photographed on film.

Film Slows Everything Down—in the Best Way

Shooting on film is a slower process, and that’s part of the magic. There’s no clicking through hundreds of shots, no instant gratification. Instead, it invites a more intentional way of seeing and documenting. I’m thinking about light, emotion, composition—and trusting myself to wait for the moment rather than chase ten versions of it. In fact, one of the main reasons I love shooting film is entirely selfish. It’s because I love how it makes me a better photographer. It enables me to be more present on a wedding day and it made me a better observer of what is happening all the time around me. I also love the honesty film brings to a moment. In most cases, you’re not able to shoot film at super high continuous shutter speeds. So you pick your moment and your shot, and then accept it for what it is and let it breathe. My main reason for shooting film will always be that I love the artist it allows me to be.

What Film Photography Is—and What It’s Not

Before we dive into whether you should have film, we need to clear up what film isn’t. I get so many inquiries asking about film and then sending a mood board along full of photos that are actually digital, or with clients who say they love the “film style.” Absolutely no shade to any of you who have said that – you just might not actually need to hire a film photographer! So, there’s clearly a lot of confusion out there about what “film wedding photography” actually means. Crucially, film photography isn’t a style—it’s a medium. It’s physical, analog, and it requires light and chemistry to create a photo. Just like with digital, the style of the photography is dictated by how you shoot it, not the medium you are using.

Film photography isn’t abstract photography. You can shoot both digital and film in an abstract style, with motion blur or other abstract elements. I often see people labeling film as abstract but it isn’t unless you shoot it that way. I love abstraction, and I shoot abstract photos on both film and digital, like the photos you see below. One is film and one is digital.

Film isn’t direct flash. Many people seem to equate direct flash photos with film photography, probably because it’s a bit retro and a lot of us have old family photos with direct flash on film. But you can have direct flash photos on digital, too! Here are some examples of direct flash photos on both film and digital.

Shooting on film doesn’t mean your wedding photos will be abstract or shot with harsh flash or a vintage filter. That’s a style choice—not film itself. In fact, I shoot film in a really honest, documentary way. No gimmicks. Just light, composition, and feeling.

Film isn’t necessarily super grainy or “imperfect.” It can be this way, when it is underexposed or when you are using a film stock that was manufactured to have a lot of grain. But film photography isn’t inherently grainy. I do love some underexposed, grainy film moments, but most of the time the photos I shoot on film are exposed for a true-to-life documentary feel. All of the photos below were shot on film, but only one of them is heavily grainy because of underexposure.

Documentary photography doesn’t mean film photography. You can get imperfect, moment-driven photography on digital or film. It’s all in the approach your photographer chooses, regardless of medium. All the photos below are candids and they were shot on a mix of film and digital.

So then why have film at all?

The Colors, the Texture

Film has a softness and texture that just can’t be mimicked. The skin tones are beautiful, the highlights fall off more gently, and there’s a painterly quality to it all. I often hear from couples that their film images “just feel more romantic”—and I completely agree. But I am a photography nerd. Anyway, I may be biased, but film has an intangible quality to it that I just don’t feel in digital.

Emotion Lives in the Imperfections

Film isn’t about perfection. Sometimes the light leaks a little, or the focus is soft, or there’s a tiny imperfection in the frame. But somehow, that just makes it feel more real. It captures the moment as it felt, not just how it looked.

It Adds Variety and Depth to Your Gallery

Most of the weddings I photograph are hybrid—shot on both film and digital. And I love how the two work together. Film brings nostalgia, creamy colors, and little surprises, while digital is great for fast-paced coverage and low-light situations. Together, they give you a wedding gallery that’s rich, dynamic, and full of contrast in the best way. In fact, one reason I love film so much is because of the wide variety of film cameras available to use. For example, all the photos from the wedding day below were shot on film. You can see how much variety there is!

Film Works Beautifully in Natural Light (Especially in WA)

One of the things I’m especially excited about is how film performs in the light and landscape of Western Australia. The dry warmth, the open skies, the bright native flora—they all interact with film in a way that makes the tones feel luminous and tactile. I can’t wait to photograph a wedding in the forests near Margaret River, or a sunny field in the Perth Hills, or a sunset session on the beach.

It’s an Experience, Not Just a Medium

There’s something kind of romantic about knowing your wedding was captured on film. It’s a tangible, chemical process—light touching emulsion, something created with your hands. For many couples, that becomes part of the story too. Couples and guests often want to see the vintage cameras I use and hear their stories.

Why Film Photographers Tend to Cost More

Ok, now we have to talk a little about the elephant in the room. This is something couples often ask, and I totally get it: film photographers are usually a bit more expensive, and here’s why. Film is a physical cost—each roll has a price, and each photo takes time to process, scan, and handle with care. I work with a trusted film lab to get those dreamy scans, and I build that cost into my pricing. Just as an example, a single roll of film can easily cost $50 or more between buying the roll and having it processed.

There’s also the experience and trust that goes into shooting film well. There’s no checking the back of the camera. No “let me try that again.” It takes confidence, patience, and a really practiced eye to shoot film on a wedding day.

But for couples who value artistry, intentionality, and the emotion that film brings, it’s always worth it.

Why Film Might Be the Right Fit for You

If you’re drawn to a wedding gallery that feels timeless, textured, and truly emotive, film might be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s not about being trendy or retro—it’s about choosing a way to document your day that’s rooted in presence, intentionality, and emotion. And honestly? The magic never wears off.

In the end, I made this post to educate people so they have more language to describe what they are looking for in a wedding photographer. Maybe you genuinely love film, or maybe it’s just abstraction or a documentary style you’re drawn to. In the end, the most compelling reason to have film at your wedding is because you absolutely love the work of a photographer who shoots it.