Why I Photograph Weddings on Film
Slowing Down
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WHY I STILL PHOTOGRAPH WEDDINGS ON 35MM FILM
Digital cameras are amazing. They’re quick, dependable, and very versatile. They help me work quietly in different lighting conditions, capture quick moments, and cover a whole wedding with confidence.
So why carry a film camera as well? The reason isn’t really about how film looks. It’s more about how film changes the way I see things.
FILM SLOWS ME DOWN
With digital, I can snap hundreds of photos without a second thought. Film doesn’t work like that. Every frame matters. Each time I press the shutter, it means something. That makes me think differently about each shot. Instead of just hoping for a good photo, I wait until I’m sure the moment is worth capturing.
I watch a little longer.
I listen a little more.
I have become more patient.
WEDDINGS AREN’T MADE UP OF PERFECT MOMENTS
They’re made up of quiet ones. A nervous breath before the ceremony begins. Your grandmother is watching from across the room. Two friends find each other during cocktail hour. Your partner is reaching for your hand without even thinking about it. Those moments don’t need to be rushed.
Film reminds me to give those moments my full attention.
IT’S NOT ABOUT NOSTALGIA
A lot of people think film is just for a vintage look. For me, it isn’t. I don’t photograph on film because it’s fashionable. I don’t use it because I think it’s better than digital. When I hold a film camera, I naturally slow down. It reminds me that photography isn’t about taking thousands of pictures. It’s about noticing the moments that really matter.
DIGITAL AND FILM WORK TOGETHER
I don’t choose one over the other. I use both because each one adds something special to a wedding day. Digital lets me react quickly as things happen. It helps me work quietly and confidently when there’s a lot going on. Film asks me to pause. It reminds me to look again before pressing the shutter.
That balance is something I value deeply.
YOU MAY NOT EVEN NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE
One of my favourite comments from couples comes after they’ve received their gallery. They’ll ask me which photographs were taken on film. Often, they can’t tell.
I love that.
Film isn’t meant to stand out from the rest of your story. It’s there to be part of it. The goal has never been for you to notice the camera I used. The real goal is for you to feel something when you see the photo. Every wedding I photograph has moments that deserve to be seen more slowly. It reminds me not to rush. In a business that frequently values speed, efficiency, and the latest gear, shooting film quietly reminds me why I started photographing weddings in the first place.
Real people.
Real emotion.
Real connection.
The camera has never been the most important part of that. Paying attention is. And every time I load a roll of 35mm film, I’m reminded to do exactly that.
If you value the nostalgia of tangible storytelling and want your day captured with intention, I would love to connect. Explore my full portfolio, artistic mediums, and travel details for documentary wedding photography in Cape Town and South Africa.
