Charleston, SC Wedding at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Why I Love Photographing Weddings on Film (And Why You Will Too)

As a wedding photographer who uses both digital and 35mm film, one of my favorite things to offer my couples is the magic of film photography woven throughout their wedding day gallery. There’s something about film that feels different—something timeless, intentional, and beautifully human.

Digital photography is fast, flexible, and reliable—perfect for quickly adapting to changing light, catching fast-paced moments, and delivering a complete story of your wedding day. It gives me the ability to shoot freely and abundantly, ensuring nothing is missed—from the big “I do” to the quiet tear your mom wipes away during the ceremony.

But film? Film brings the soul.

Film Photography Brings a New Texture to Your Wedding Gallery

Think of it like this: if your wedding gallery were a love letter, digital would be the flowing script, and film would be the pressed flower tucked between the pages.

Film introduces a softness and richness that digital can’t fully replicate. It responds to light in a completely different way—highlighting skin tones with creamy, dreamy warmth, and adding an organic grain that gives every image a painterly, timeless quality. Colors are true-to-life but elevated in an almost ethereal way, and each frame feels more like a piece of art than just a photo.

When couples receive their gallery and come across the film scans, they often pause. These are the images that make you linger. They feel like memories—not just pictures of a moment, but the emotion inside the moment.

The Process of Shooting Film on a Wedding Day

So how does it work on your wedding day? First, know this: film is slow and intentional—and that’s its greatest strength.

I typically shoot film during slower, more intimate moments: getting ready, bridal portraits, the ceremony, quiet in-between moments when the light is just right. These are the parts of the day where things naturally slow down, and film thrives. Each roll has only 36 frames, so every shot is carefully composed, exposed, and timed. I wait for the real moment—not just a pose, but a glance, a breeze, a laugh.

That slower pace is a gift. It lets me connect more deeply with what’s unfolding, and invites you to slow down too—to breathe, to be present, and to savor.

Of course, I’m still shooting digitally throughout the day to make sure we capture every detail, every family grouping, every dance move. But film is my love note to you within your gallery—a reminder that your wedding day was not just a blur of events, but a beautiful, sacred celebration worth preserving with care.

Is Film Right for Your Wedding?

If you’re drawn to romance, nostalgia, and storytelling with a soul—film is for you. It’s not for perfection or polished poses. It’s for emotion. For authenticity. For feeling.

Adding film to your wedding day is like choosing a handwritten vow over a scripted one. It’s real, raw, and unforgettable. And long after the cake is eaten and the dress is stored away, those film frames will remind you not just how your wedding looked—but how it felt.

If you’re curious about including film photography in your wedding day, let’s talk. I’d love to share how it can elevate your story in the most beautiful way.

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