Why I Still Photograph Weddings With Film.

A lot of people have decided to move away from film photography in the wedding photography industry - again. But this is why as a wedding photographer I still shoot film. Like Kodak Portra 400 film.
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[@linusfotograf]

This was the best explaination of why film is so much fun and artistic that I’ve heard

[@lukewtcleland]

Wow thank you! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching!

[@allisonsmith4875]

Would LOVE a video on how you expose your film + the processing preferences you have!

[@lukewtcleland]

Good idea Allison - I'll add it to the list! :)

[@lisapeterson6097]

Love your passion for photography and for film too.

[@yadiratackett7897]

🥰 I love it. Thank you Amazing photos 📸 👰‍♀️🤵

[@parishino1]

I LOVE your film images they're all BEAUTIFUL!!! I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate film into my wedding workflow... I shoot film with my trusty Contax S2/Aria cameras with an assortment of Zeiss lenses.

[@lukewtcleland]

Thank you so much! That’s great!

[@davidlyon1383]

Ifs so refreshing to hear your reason for shooting film. I came up on film and now shoot large format, though mostly landscapes. I just did an environmental shoot with a dear friend. She asked if I was going to make the photos in b/w. I was able to tell her that the first two shots were going to be in color, and second shots I have don’t in 5x7 Porta 160. Same set up and I shot two on Illford HP. Okay, I shoot doubles when shooting sheets. Better to spend more on film than miss it and have to come back. As you pointed out the cost, I told Julie that to shoot b/w it was costing me $6 for the Illford and $15 for the Porta, and that was just Film coat. It’s money well spent.

[@lukewtcleland]

Thanks! I've never tried large format, but I would definitely like to! Money well spent!

[@mattjpnw]

you've inspired me to shoot some portra on my old nikon 35mm. Do you have any advice to share on how to best meter/expose this film? Thanks!

[@lukewtcleland]

Yes! Try it! I would get a light meter, and meter for the shadows/mid-tones. You do that by metering away from your subject, either directly away, or away and down. And Portra likes to be over exposed generally. I’ll do a video on how I expose my film. Hope that helps!

[@dennielightlejr]

It would be cool if you compared digital and film photos side by side!

[@dylanhill1640]

I still shoot film at weddings. My 4x5 makes it all worth it.

[@lukewtcleland]

Ooo a 4x5

[@crystalvanantwerpen5743]

Are you using flash at all when shooting film?

[@caleidoo]

The thing that stops me from doing is, apart from changing my style from shooting a couple of shots without interfering into what's happening and making sure I get the good shot showing the genuine emotion in the moment.... to a more static type of photography with some limitations (low light, AF speed, ....) is the reliability of old cameras. Especially old electronic ones. What is your view on the risk here? Do you send your Contax in for maintenance and check-up every year at the end of the season? Do you have a backup? Do you explain to couples that shots done with the Contax (or any other old camera) might end up useless or 50% useless because a transistor might explode in the camera and underexpose each shot by 5 stops or something goes wrong with the shutter curtain or film transport. I'm curious how you approach this. Or do you do/say nothing and just shoot and hope for the best ? I have a Hasselblad 503cx, a Pentax 645II (comparable to your Contax) with multiple prime lenses and a Pentax 67 with a 50mm F4 and of course, the 105 F2.4 (50 f1.2 equivalent with bonus swirly bokeh). It would be great to use one of those - preferably with a built in light meter (and an external one for difficult exposures)

[@lukewtcleland]

Great questions! I don't change the flow of shooting when I use film, I typically use it when it is naturally a slower moment. Obviously they are not great when focusing speed is of utmost importance, and that's not what I need it for. I never would use an internal light meter for that reason. I only use hand held light meters, that I know work, and a lot of the time I know what the settings should be even before I meter the scene, just because I'm so use to shooting in certain conditions, I already know the range my settings should be in. I don't see much of a risk to be honest. I've never lost or had much of an issue with a film photo that I didn't anticipate, of course there's a possibility, but that same possibility is there with digital cameras as well. No tool is going to be perfect. But you are right, I'm working with older gear that will break down eventually. So yes, I have a back up Contax 645 as well as a lens, and they both get regular maintenance and check ups. There is no risk to my couples photos, because I don't shoot 100% film at my weddings, I also shoot digital, and sometimes I'll take digital back ups of the photos I shoot on film, and I have a second shooter. So no, "shooting and hoping for the best" is a terrible way to run a business, and I would not recommend that to anyone. The hasselblad and pentax are great cameras! I would highly recommend trying those out with a hand held light meter, I wouldn't use the internal ones. Adding film will definitely change how you shoot, and I always recommend starting out with personal shoots, or just take a couple shots on a job if you have extra time. For example, shooting a couples portrait on digital, and then taking one on film if you have the extra time. Starting with that can give you an idea if it's something you want to do more of. I also plan on making a video soon about introducing film into your workflow. Thanks for the great questions and for watching!

[@caleidoo]

@@lukewtcleland Makes sense. Thanks for the reply!