Paper Birch Collective
- Nov 29, 2023
- 4 min read

Why We Love the "Feel" of Film Photography for Weddings

why use film photography at your wedding, shot by Paper Birch Collective, Orange County Wedding Photographers Award Winning

Hello there! If you are seeking a unique, memorable, and beautiful way to capture your wedding day, you might want to consider incorporating film photography. Film photography is not just an increasingly popular and nostalgic trend, but a stunning way of creating art and preserving memories that digital photography cannot match. We absolutely love the art of film photography. There are a number of reasons why documenting your wedding memories with film photography is extra special. In this blog post, we will explain why we love the special “feel” of film photography that makes it perfect for capturing your wedding memories. We hope this blog and the film photos we share from some of our favorite weddings help convince you to use film photography for your special day!

Film Photography Forces You To Slow Down and Be Present

One of the reasons why film photography is extra special is that it forces you to slow down and be more intentional with each shot. Film is both expensive and limited, so you must make every frame count. This means you will have fewer but more meaningful and memorable images, rather than hundreds of similar and mediocre ones. Film photography also encourages you to slow down and enjoy the moment, rather than constantly chasing that next shot. You cannot just simply snap hundreds of photos and delete the ones you don’t like. You must think carefully about the composition, the lighting, the focus, and the moment. You also must trust your instincts and your skills. Shooting film is a beautiful way of being present and mindful in the moment.

The Unique Look of Film Photos

Film photography produces a beautiful and timeless look as its rich colors, soft tones, and beautiful grain texture create a unique natural look. We love the "feel" of film because of its ability to capture light and shadows in a more flattering and artistic way, which is perfect for creating a romantic and nostalgic mood for your wedding photos. Film's wider dynamic range also means it can capture more details in the highlights and shadows, and it does not suffer from pixelation when using traditional enlargment methods. The unique look and high resolution of film photography is one of the many reasons why we LOVE using film for documenting your special wedding memories.

The Anticipation Waiting for Film to Develop

Another reason why film photography is special is that it creates an exciting sense of anticipation and surprise. With digital photography, you get quick satisfaction when can see your results instantly on the screen, but this takes away from the magic and mystery of photography. On the other hand, with film photography, you have to wait until the film is developed and scanned to see the final images. This can take days or weeks, depending on the lab and process. During this waiting time, you are filled with excitement and curiosity, wondering how the photos turned out. You are also more likely to forget all the details of each shot, so when you finally see the photos, you are amazed and joyed by the final products. Waiting for your film to develop also results in you rediscovering the emotions and the stories behind each photo. You will appreciate the beauty and the imperfections of your film photos, such as the grain, the colors, the contrast, and the light leaks. Waiting for your film photos is like waiting for a special gift or valuable treasure!

Film Photography Makes You Feel

The difference between digital and film photography is not just technical, but emotional. Digital photography captures a moment in time, but film photography creates a memory. Film photography makes you remember the whole process, the whole journey that led to that one photo. Film photography makes you feel something that digital photography cannot. That is why film photography is special, and that is why we love it.

Thank You for Reading!

We hope this blog post has inspired you to consider film photography for your wedding. If you are interested in hiring us as your wedding photographers, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss the details with you. We are a team of passionate and professional film photographers who have years of experience in shooting weddings. We use high-quality film cameras and lenses, and we work with the best film labs in the country. We will capture your wedding day with creativity, elegance, and authenticity. We will create images that you will cherish for a lifetime. Thank you for reading and we hope to hear from you soon.