FILM Analog Wedding Photography: FAQ

What is analog film wedding photography today?

Film photography has come a long way in the past few decades. Today, an analog photo on film is made differently than the film photos of the 1980s, although the process of developing and printing has remained largely the same. Like the traditional wedding albums of our grandparents and parents, a modern wedding film photo shoot manages to give a vintage and classic atmosphere, while at the same time expressing a certain modernity in the framing, in the lights and colors of the images as well as in the print finish.

Will my whole wedding be shot on film?

Yes. Although analog film photography tends to be more difficult to achieve, requires good natural light and a higher cost, I offer a wedding shoot entirely shot on film. I use film photography both for the ceremony in any environmental situation and for all the details such as flowers, clothes, as well as for the portraits of the spouses and guests and for every moment of the wedding party. Eventually it is possible to have a second digital photographer to have all the photos typically used for social media.

How are the photos taken during the event?

Since it is necessary to prefer the quality of the shots over the quantity, the film photos taken will be made with great care. Instead of continuous, rapid and sequential shots, the photos shot on film are refined and well-calibrated. Often customers also prefer this approach, which gives them the opportunity to slow down and experience the various moments of their day in total tranquility.

How do you know that the photos are good, if you can’t see the images right away?

Thanks to over 25 years of experience in the field and the constant research I carry out, as a film wedding photographer I rely on my ability to “focus on” the scene, the light and the colors of the moment, without having to rely on to a screen. It is a skill obtained through years of dedication and practice, which still today I improve day by day, experimenting with new films and lighting techniques.

How are wedding film photos printed?

Once the photographs are taken, the rolls are developed by me in my studio for developing the darkroom prints and scanning the negatives. In this way I get both high resolution files to give to the spouses to be able to share on social networks and the negatives to make the hand prints in the dark room. The printing process respects all the canons of Fine Art Photography. Each gelatin silver print is handmade and obtained from photosensitive photographic paper with a chemical process in a dark room. Each print represents a unique work.

How long does it take to see the photos? How many will they be?

In a film wedding photoshoot on average I use 15-20 rolls: each roll contains 16 images for the medium format and 36 for the 135 format so I get about 350/500 wedding photos. I provide 120/180 images as downloadable high quality JPEG files and 40/50 printed photos, individually paginated. Usually it takes 2/4 weeks for the delivery of the files and 6/8 weeks for the printed photos.

Are there any additional costs for printing photos on film?

No. I have integrated all the costs of film and photo paper into my different price packages so that all costs are covered, from developing the negatives to printing the photographs. For me it is really worth it: being able to shoot all the rolls I want and photograph on film made me fall in love with photography again, and there is no price for it. Being able to give a unique and exclusive product to my couples is the greatest satisfaction for me, and therefore I don’t take more than 8/10 weddings a year on film.