WHY EVERY COUPLE SHOULD ADD FILM PHOTOGRAPHY TO THEIR WEDDING
There is something about film that digital simply can't imitate.
It's not just the grain, the softness or the colours. It's the feeling.
In a world where we're constantly surrounded by perfectly edited images, 35mm film offers something beautifully refreshing. Photographs that feel honest, nostalgic and timeless. Images that don't chase trends, but instead become treasured heirlooms.
For couples dreaming of a wedding that feels effortlessly editorial, deeply romantic and entirely their own, adding 35mm film photography to your wedding package is one of the most meaningful investments you can make.
Here's why.
WHAT IS 35MM FILM WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?
35mm film photography is exactly what it sounds like—photographs captured on traditional film rather than a digital camera.
Unlike digital, every frame matters. Your photographer carefully considers composition, light and timing before pressing the shutter.
The result?
Images with incredible depth, soft organic tones, natural grain and a richness that simply can't be replicated by a preset.
It's why so many of the fashion editorials we continue to save on Pinterest, and many of the photographs found in the pages of Vogue, still rely on film.
IT CAPTURES EMOTION, NOT PERFECTION
Film has a remarkable way of preserving feeling.
The quiet inhale before you walk down the aisle.
Your grandmother wiping away a tear.
The wind catching your veil for just a second.
The way your partner looks at you when nobody else is watching.
Because film encourages a slower, more intentional approach, the photographs often feel less posed and more deeply connected to the moment itself.
They're imperfect in all the right ways—and that's exactly what makes them beautiful.
FILM NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE
Wedding trends come and go.
Editing styles evolve.
Colours become warmer, cooler, moodier or brighter depending on the decade.
Film has remained timeless for generations.
Look through your parents' or grandparents' wedding albums and you'll notice something remarkable: those photographs still feel beautiful today.
Their longevity isn't accidental. Film possesses an enduring quality that transcends trends, creating images you'll love just as much in fifty years as you do the week after your wedding.
THE COLOURS ARE BEAUTIFULLY AUTHENTIC
One of the reasons couples fall in love with film is its colour.
Skin tones appear soft and luminous.
Greens feel natural rather than oversaturated.
Whites retain detail instead of appearing harsh.
Golden-hour light seems to glow from within the frame.
Rather than striving for perfection, film embraces subtle imperfections that make every image feel more alive.
EVERY FRAME IS INTENTIONAL
Unlike digital photography—where thousands of photographs can be captured in a single day—film is beautifully considered.
Every roll contains a limited number of frames.
That means your photographer slows down, observes more carefully and waits for the moments that genuinely matter.
It's a completely different creative process.
Rather than documenting everything, film celebrates the moments worth remembering.
IT ADDS DEPTH TO YOUR GALLERY
One of our favourite ways to photograph a wedding is by blending digital and film together.
Digital allows us to document fast-moving moments with precision and flexibility.
Film brings artistry, atmosphere and emotion.
Together, they create a wedding gallery with incredible depth—one that feels both polished and wonderfully nostalgic.
Many couples tell us their film photographs become the images they frame, print and return to most often.
YOUR WEDDING BECOMES AN HEIRLOOM
Long after the flowers have faded and the cake has been eaten, your photographs become part of your family's history.
They'll be passed between generations.
Shared with future children and grandchildren.
Displayed on walls long after trends have changed.
Film has always been associated with legacy because it carries a tangible permanence.
There's something incredibly special about knowing your memories were captured using the same medium that documented generations before you.
FILM CREATES AN EDITORIAL LOOK WITHOUT BEING FORCED
If you've found yourself drawn to the pages of Vogue, The Lane or beautifully curated European wedding editorials, there's a good chance you've already fallen in love with film photography without even realising it.
Film has a softness that feels effortlessly luxurious.
It elevates beautiful architecture.
It makes candlelight richer.
It transforms simple moments into something cinematic.
Rather than looking overly polished, your photographs feel relaxed, elegant and naturally refined.
It's luxury without trying too hard.
THE BEAUTY IS IN THE UNEXPECTED
One of the things we love most about film is that it leaves room for surprise.
The way light softly wraps around a moment.
The subtle grain that adds texture.
The anticipation of waiting to see your photographs after the film has been developed.
In an age of instant everything, there's something incredibly romantic about slowing down and embracing the unknown.
Those tiny imperfections often become the photographs couples treasure most.
35MM FILM
35mm is wonderfully spontaneous.
Its smaller, lightweight cameras allow photographers to move naturally throughout your wedding day, capturing fleeting moments as they unfold. The laughter during speeches, champagne being poured, your friends dancing long after sunset or the quiet glance you share moments before your ceremony begins.
There's an honesty to 35mm.
The subtle grain, soft colours and beautifully imperfect texture create photographs that feel nostalgic, effortless and alive. It's the format that often reminds couples of family photo albums and cherished memories from decades past.
120 MEDIUM FORMAT FILM
If 35mm feels candid, 120 medium format film feels cinematic.
With a much larger negative than 35mm, medium format captures extraordinary detail, creamy tonal transitions and incredible depth while maintaining the unmistakable character of analogue film.
Portraits feel refined.
Landscapes become expansive.
Skin tones appear beautifully luminous.
It's a format that has long been favoured by fashion photographers because of its ability to create images that feel both luxurious and timeless.
We love using medium format for portraits, details, editorial moments and the quiet pauses throughout your wedding day—the images that often become the ones couples choose to frame.
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WHY WE SHOOT BOTH 35MM AND 120 FILM
Rather than choosing one format over the other, we believe they complement each other beautifully.
Throughout a wedding day, each film camera has its own purpose.
We reach for 35mm when the day is unfolding quickly—capturing movement, emotion and beautifully imperfect moments that happen in an instant.
We choose 120 medium format when we want to slow everything down. During portraits, quiet moments together, thoughtful details and editorial compositions, medium format produces extraordinary images with a richness that's difficult to describe until you see it for yourself.
Together, they create a gallery that feels layered, intentional and deeply nostalgic.
Some images have the spontaneity of a cherished family snapshot.
Others carry the elegance of a fine art editorial.
The combination tells your story in a way that digital alone simply can't.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT 35MM FILM WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FILM AND DIGITAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?
Digital photography offers speed, flexibility and instant previews. Film photography provides softer tones, natural grain, richer colour and a timeless aesthetic that many couples describe as more emotional and nostalgic.
IS 35MM FILM PHOTOGRAPHY WORTH ADDING TO A WEDDING PACKAGE?
For couples who love editorial imagery and want photographs that feel timeless rather than trend-driven, adding 35mm film is one of the most worthwhile upgrades. It complements digital photography beautifully and creates a gallery with greater depth and character.
CAN YOU HAVE BOTH DIGITAL AND FILM WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?
Absolutely. Most luxury wedding photographers photograph with both mediums throughout the day. Digital captures fast-paced moments with precision, while film adds artistry, texture and emotion to key moments.
DOES FILM PHOTOGRAPHY SUIT EVERY WEDDING?
Film is especially beautiful for garden weddings, European-inspired venues, coastal celebrations, destination weddings and candlelit receptions, but its timeless aesthetic complements almost any style of wedding.
HOW MANY FILM PHOTOGRAPHS WILL WE RECEIVE?
The number of film photographs you receive will depend on the package you choose and how much film coverage you'd like included in your day. Most photographers offer film as an addition to your digital wedding gallery, with a set number of rolls captured throughout the celebration.
Unlike digital photography, where thousands of images can be created in a single day, every frame of film is carefully considered. A roll of 35mm film typically contains just 36 exposures, while a roll of 120 medium format film produces even fewer. Every photograph is composed with intention before the shutter is pressed, making each image feel thoughtful and purposeful.
It's also important to remember that one of the things couples love most about film is its beautifully unpredictable nature. Light leaks, subtle shifts in colour, grain and the occasional imperfect frame are all part of the analogue process and contribute to the nostalgic character that simply can't be replicated digitally.
For this reason, not every frame captured on film will make it into your final gallery. Some images may be softly out of focus, affected by changing light or simply not meet the standard we want to deliver. Just like shooting on film decades ago, there's an element of anticipation—you don't see the results immediately, and that's part of the magic.
The photographs that do make your final gallery are carefully selected to ensure they not only tell the story of your day, but also celebrate everything that makes film so timeless: its emotion, texture and beautifully imperfect authenticity
A LOVE STORE WORTH PRESERVING
Some memories deserve more than a screen.
They deserve to be printed, framed, passed around the dinner table and rediscovered decades from now.
That's the beauty of 35mm film.
It's not simply another photography add-on—it's a way of preserving your wedding with the same romance, depth and timeless elegance that made you fall in love with the day in the first place.WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 35MM AND 120 FILM?
Not all film photography is the same.
The two most common film formats you'll see in luxury wedding photography are 35mm film and 120 medium format film, and each brings something beautifully different to your wedding galler