Why Film?

I didn't really take too much notice of cameras and photography as an art form until my first daughter was born almost thirteen years ago. The need to solidify memories in a real, touchable, archivable format became much more apparent. Instagram was still new to me, and there was this boom of photo sharing online. Of course, I took part, but I didn't want just photos on my phone—it needed to be with intention and be something that was part of the real world immediately around me.. Yes, you can print digital photos too, right?! (AND PLEASE DO!) But film, felt different, and with a life event as big as... well, a life. Film holds so much more value.

before that, I'd carry a film camera around with my old band, never really thinking of the photos I was taking, just documenting. It was a Plastic Diana camera, a medium format camera that took pretty awful pictures (or maybe that was me?), but it had a vibe—that's lomography, I suppose! That experience planted the seed for my love of film, the idea of capturing something that felt real, imperfect but full of character.

Film photography isn’t just an aesthetic choice; it’s a way of seeing and preserving the world as it happens naturally. It doesn’t chase perfection—it captures life as it is, rich with emotion and depth. If you’re looking for wedding photos that feel, film might just be the missing piece in telling your story.

Weddings photographed on 35mm and medium format film, and Analogue experiences for couples who crave something a little different, that means more and steeped in a forgotten tradition. Real moments caught on film is a magical experience that is ‘almost’ one of those unexplainable things…

The Feel of Film vs. Digital

You know those wedding photos that look overly polished, a little too perfect? That’s where film stands apart. The way it renders skin tones, the natural softness, the way highlights roll off instead of being blown out—it all adds up to images that feel like memories rather than just pictures.

Film to me isn’t about being “timeless” in the way digital editing trends come and go—it’s about capturing time itself. Unlike digital sensors that record separate exposures as data, film physically absorbs and holds onto the light energy of a single moment, imprinting it onto a negative. That fraction of a second, the exact light that surrounded you, is literally preserved in the film—a tangible memory etched into something real.

Analogue Film offers:

• True-to-life colours that don’t rely on digital presets

• A softness and depth that makes photos feel organic

• Gorgeous grain and texture that add character, not noise

• Flattering skin tones without artificial smoothness or over-editing

With film, your wedding photos won’t feel like they’re trying to fit into a particular era of photography trends, Film always has and always will be cool! They’ll exist as they are, just like the moment they capture.

How Film Changes the Experience

Shooting film makes the whole process more intentional. I don’t fire off hundreds of frames hoping for a good shot—I anticipate, compose, and press the shutter when the moment feels right. It means that instead of you feeling like you’re in a constant photoshoot, we slow things down. You get to live in your wedding day, knowing that the images we create will be thoughtfully captured, full of depth and meaning.

The process of film also means:

• You spend less time being posed and more time in the moment

• Every shot is considered, making each image part of the story

• The anticipation of seeing your photos becomes part of the excitement

But What About...?

I get it—choosing film might come with questions. Here’s what you need to know:

"Will we get enough photos?" Absolutely. Film doesn’t mean fewer memories; it just means they’re captured with more intention. And because I shoot a mix of film and digital, you’ll still get the full story of your day, blending the two to create a wedding gallery that feels authentic and considered.

I offer a hybrid approach, to give you the best of both worlds. If you love the idea of film but want a little more flexibility, you have the option to add film photography à la carte. For a full wedding day, I typically recommend adding 5 rolls of film to ensure a good balance between the two mediums.

"Does film take longer?" No, not at all. While film does go through a developing and scanning process, it doesn't take longer than editing digital RAW files. The colour science is already baked in to my film of choice, meaning there’s no need for hours of tweaking colours in post-production. I work closely with my lab partners, Lens Fayre, to ensure the processing of negatives and scanning is handled to the highest quality. With this workflow in place, I can usually turn around film in 3-4 weeks.

"What if the film doesn’t come out?" Film photography has been developed, refined, and trusted for over a century, this process is nothing new. The reliability of film, when handled correctly, is incredibly high. I ensure that all my film cameras are professionally serviced and calibrated before they make it into my workflow, so they perform at their best. Beyond that, I use multiple cameras, multiple rolls of film, and trusted film labs to ensure everything is processed correctly. Trusting the process is part of the beauty of film, each roll holds a story, carefully preserved and developed with expert care.

Why I Won’t Just Turn Up with a Point & Shoot and Call It “Film Vibes”

I get it—film is having a moment. But there’s a difference between snapping away on a £20 thrifted camera and actually shooting film the way it’s meant to be done. And Look, I’m throwing it out there that I love a good point & shoot for fun, but when it comes to your wedding? I’d like to bring a little more to the table too!

Film isn’t just an aesthetic—it’s a physical, living thing (well it seems). Get a film negative under a microscope and you’ll literally see peaks and valleys, like a tiny mountain range holding onto the light.! Digital sensors? Flat. Clean. Perfectly even. That’s why film has depth and texture in a way digital never will.

Every frame matters. No instant preview. No burst mode. No “just fix it later.” Shooting film means reading the light, trusting your instinct, and knowing when to press the shutter—because once that moment’s gone, it’s gone.

Your wedding deserves more than a ‘film vibe.’ Anyone can wave around a point-and-shoot camera— in fact, I hand those out to guests! That's the whole idea behind my business, Flash Bstrds, where guests get involved and capture the day from their own perspectives. (See a couple of them below!) It’s a brilliant way to bring in a raw, unfiltered look at the day, adding a layer of spontaneity and personality that complements the professional storytelling. But when it comes to shooting film intentionally, that's a whole different skill set. So if you want real film—the kind that has soul, texture, and timeless beauty—you need someone who knows how to use it properly.

The Value of Film Photography AT WEDDINGS

Film is more than a photography style—it’s my commitment to creating something lasting. It’s about crafting images that don’t just show what your wedding looked like, but how it felt. Especially all those little in-between moments, film preserves these things in a way that feel significantly important.

Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Shouldn’t your photos reflect that? If you want to capture your wedding in a way that feels like a little bit of you, then hit the button below let’s have a chat!