My affection for 35mm film photography is, of course, rooted in nostalgia. Wer’re living in an era of AI evolution, and the poets and romantics of the world (i.e. the couples getting married) are longing for what’s real. You only need to look at the surge of analogue formats like vinyl to know it’s prevalant. But the film format itself goes far beyond trend. It’s the OG, right? And I choose to shoot 35mm film at weddings because it does something digital simply doesn’t – not better, or worse, just different in ways that matter when you’re photographing real people, real light, and real moments that won’t happen again. So in this post, I want to explore with you what I feel 35mm film adds to your wedding images – and why it can’t be replicated with presets or editing tricks.
Film Responds to Light the Way the Human Eye Does
One of the biggest differences between film and digital is how it handles light. Film doesn’t fight highlights, and it doesn’t panic when the sun hits a veil or a white dress. Instead, it softens bright areas and holds detail in a way that feels natural and calm. This is especially noticeable during outdoor ceremonies, backlit portraits, midday summer weddings, and moments where light changes quickly. With film, light rolls off gently rather than harshly. Skin tones stay believable. Whites stay white. You can imitate this look digitally, but you can’t imitate the way film records light in the first place.
Skin Tones Look Like Skin (without being perfected)
Film is incredibly kind to our skin, without being retouched into something unrecognisable. It captures colour in a way that prioritises warmth and subtlety. It doesn’t exaggerate reds or over-cool shadows, and it doesn’t require heavy correction to look balanced. This is why film portraits often feel timeless. There’s no obvious “style” stamped on top, just honest colour and gentle contrast. It’s pure.
Film Slows Everything Down (in a good way)
When I load a roll of film into a camera, my entire approach to shooting a wedding shifts. I’m more deliberate. I watch moments longer. I wait for the right expression instead of firing through ten almost-moments. This affects the images more than people realise. Film encourages intentionality – not just from the photographer, but from the pace of the moment itself. Couples often feel this without being able to name it. Things feel calmer. Less performative. And those quieter, more considered frames often become the ones people return to years later.
Grain Has Depth, Not Texture
Digital grain is added after the photo has been taken. Film grain is part of the fabric of the image itself. It lives within the highlights, the shadows, and the midtones differently, and adds depth without distraction. This is why film photographs often feel tangible – like you could step into them, rather than view them on a screen – and often why we romanticise pre-2000s movies shot on film. No preset can recreate that relationship between grain, colour, and light because it isn’t layered on top. It’s built in.
Why I Use Film Alongside Digital
Film doesn’t replace digital, at all. We’re really lucky to be in an age where we can shoot a wedding on such reliable, digital equipment, and that will never go out of fashion. But 35mm film does compliment it. Digital allows flexibility, speed, and adaptability, and film brings depth, softness, and intention. Together, they create a wedding gallery that feels complete – modern but timeless, polished but human. I don’t use film for every moment. I only use it where it adds something meaningful. Because at the end of the day, wedding photography isn’t about showing how something was photographed. It’s about how it feels to look back at it years later. And film has a way of making photographs feel like something, not just images.
What do you love about film photography, and would you consider a hybrid photographer for your own wedding? I’d love to hear from you if this is something you’re currently looking into. Feel free to complete my wedding form here with all of the details required, and I’ll be back in touch with you within 48hrs to confirm my availability.
Love,
G x
