35mm Film at weddings

WHY I CHOOSE TO PHOTOGRAPH WEDDINGS ON AN ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY…

A Film Photo in black and white of a wedding ceremony outdoors, showing a bride with a veil and a groom standing together with their backs to the camera, facing an officiant and guests under a tent.

Why Film?

I didn't really take too much notice of cameras and photography as an art form until my first daughter was born almost thirteen years ago. The need to solidify memories in a real, touchable, archivable format became much more apparent. Instagram was still new to me, and there was this boom of photo sharing online. Of course, I took part, but I didn't want just photos on my phone, it needed to be with intention and be something that was part of the real world immediately around me. Yes, you can print digital photos too, (AND PLEASE DO!) But film, felt different, and with a life event as big as... well, a life. A 35mm Film photo holds so much more value.

before that, I'd carry a film camera around with my old band, never really thinking of the photos I was taking, just documenting. It was a Plastic Diana camera, a medium format camera that took pretty awful pictures (or maybe that was me?), but it had a vibe—that's lomography, I suppose! That experience planted the seed for my love of film, the idea of capturing something that felt real, imperfect but full of character.

Film photography isn’t just an aesthetic choice; it’s a way of seeing and preserving the world as it happens naturally. It doesn’t chase perfection, it captures life as it is, rich with emotion and depth. If you’re looking for wedding photos that feel, film might just be the missing piece in telling your story.

A black-and-white photo of a couple in wedding attire standing on a cobblestone street. The bride holds a bouquet and is dressed in a long, elegant gown, while the groom wears a suit. They stand close together, looking at each other, in front of a large wall mural with abstract shapes.

Weddings photographed on 35mm and medium format film, and Analogue experiences for couples who crave something a little different, that means more and steeped in a forgotten tradition. Real moments caught on film is a magical experience that is ‘almost’ one of those unexplainable things…

A couple in wedding attire standing on a rocky beach near a lighthouse, with the woman holding a bouquet of flowers and gazing at the man.

The Feel of Film vs. Digital

You know those wedding photos that look overly polished, a little too perfect? That’s where film stands apart. The way it renders skin tones, the natural softness, the way highlights roll off instead of being blown out—it all adds up to images that feel like memories rather than just pictures.

Film to me isn’t about being “timeless” in the way digital editing trends come and go, it’s about capturing time itself. Unlike digital sensors that record separate exposures as data, film physically absorbs and holds onto the light energy of a single moment, imprinting it onto a negative. That fraction of a second, the exact light that surrounded you, is literally preserved in the film. a tangible memory etched into something real.

Analogue Film offers:

  • True-to-life colours that don’t rely on digital presets

  • A softness and depth that makes photos feel organic

  • Gorgeous grain and texture that add character, not noise

  • Flattering skin tones without artificial smoothness or over-editing

With film, your wedding photos won’t feel like they’re trying to fit into a particular era of photography trends, Film always has and always will be cool! They’ll exist as they are, just like the moment they capture.

A black-and-white photo of a couple standing outdoors in a field, with the woman in front and the man behind her. The woman has tattoos on her arms and is looking down thoughtfully with her hand near her chin. The man is gazing into the distance with a serious expression, his arms around her waist, and they are both dressed casually. The background shows open land and a distant tree line under a cloudy sky.
People dressed in formal attire walking onto a boat docked at the harbor, in black and white photo.

How Film Changes the Experience

film photography makes the whole process more intentional. I don’t fire off hundreds of frames hoping for a good shot, I anticipate, compose, and press the shutter when the moment feels right. It means that instead of you feeling like you’re in a constant photoshoot, we slow things down. You get to live in your wedding day, knowing that the images we create will be thoughtfully captured, full of depth and meaning.

The process of film also means:

  • You spend less time being posed and more time in the moment

  • Every shot is considered, making each image part of the story

  • The anticipation of seeing your photos becomes part of the excitement

Makeup artist applying eye makeup to a young woman with light brown hair, sitting against a neutral background.
A man and woman dressed in wedding attire standing next to a brick wall, with the woman in a white dress and the man in a black suit with a pink tie and boutonniere, outdoors in an urban setting.

PRICING - FILM PHOTOGRAPHY Collections

Choosing film photography means investing in a unique, tangible way to preserve your wedding day.
The best way to capture the entirety of your story is with my full day coverage which is purposefully unlimited in the timeline.

Analogue Film wedding photography coverage begins at £3000

ENQUIRE HERE!
Three women at an outdoor celebration holding glasses of champagne, dressed in colorful attire with sunglasses, smiling and enjoying the moment.
A woman with red hair and a man with light brown hair standing close together, with the woman looking at the camera and the man kissing her face, in front of a brick house with a brown roof. The woman is wearing a white dress with sheer sleeves decorated with pearls.
A man in a maroon suit and black tie standing outdoors in front of a rustic shed with wood and metal debris.
An elegantly set dining table with floral centerpieces, candlesticks, wine glass, and a menu. The tablecloth is blue, and the setting includes a fork, knife, and spoon, along with a pink napkin.
Close-up of a person holding a large, colorful bouquet of flowers during a wedding ceremony, with the bride in a white dress and veil in the background.
Close-up of a bride's back wearing a white lace wedding gown with button details.

But What About...?
FAQ’s

  • Absolutely. Shooting film doesn’t mean fewer memories, it just means they’re made with more intention. I work with a mix of film and digital across the day, so you still receive a full, considered record of your wedding, with both mediums working together rather than competing.

  • Not really. While film does go through a developing and scanning process, it’s comparable to the time spent editing digital RAW files. The colour science is already baked into the film stock I use, which means less time spent tweaking in post. I work closely with my lab partners, Lens Fayre, and with that workflow in place, film is typically turned around within 3–4 weeks.

  • Film photography has been trusted for over a century, and when handled properly, it’s extremely reliable. All my film cameras are professionally serviced and calibrated, I shoot with multiple cameras and rolls throughout the day, and I use trusted labs to handle development and scanning. There’s always a level of trust involved with film, but that care and intention is part of what gives it its depth and character.

Group of people at a wedding celebration outside, including a bride kissing an elderly woman while others smile and chat nearby.
Man wearing a large sombrero playing a trumpet indoors, with string lights on the wall behind him.
People gathering outdoors at a social event, with some standing and conversing while a man in a white shirt and kilt sits on a bench, smoking and holding a drink, and another man stands nearby with sunglasses, drinking and talking.
A wooden dining table set with clear glasses, silverware, pink and red flowers in small cases, and pink place cards, in a dimly lit room with brick walls.
A man wearing a suit, sunglasses, and a boutonniere standing on a city sidewalk with modern buildings and potted plants in the background.

Why I Won’t Just Turn Up with a Point & Shoot and Call It “Film Vibes”

Film is having a moment. But there’s a difference between snapping away on a £20 thrifted camera and actually shooting film the way it’s meant to be done. And Look, I’m throwing it out there that I love a good point & shoot for fun, but when it comes to your wedding? I’d like to bring a little more to the table too!

Film isn’t just an aesthetic—it’s a physical, living thing (well it seems). Get a film negative under a microscope and you’ll literally see peaks and valleys, like a tiny mountain range holding onto the light! Digital sensors? Flat. Clean. Perfectly even. That’s why film has depth and texture in a way digital never will.

Every frame matters. No instant preview. No burst mode. No “just fix it later.” Shooting film means reading the light, trusting your instinct, and knowing when to press the shutter because once that moment’s gone, it’s gone.

Your wedding deserves more than a ‘film vibe.’ Anyone can wave around a point-and-shoot camera, and in fact, I hand those out to guests! That's the whole idea behind my business, Flash Bstrds, where guests get involved and capture the day from their own perspectives. (See a couple of them below!) It’s a brilliant way to bring in a raw, unfiltered look at the day, adding a layer of spontaneity and personality that complements the professional storytelling. But when it comes to shooting film intentionally, that's a whole different skill set. So if you want real film—the kind that has soul, texture, and timeless beauty—you need someone who knows how to use it properly.

Man wearing a maroon suit with a boutonniere, black tie, and visor hat, holding a large inflatable ice cream cone, at a party with faint string lights in the background.
Two women making silly faces, one wearing pink sunglasses and a pink outfit, holding a drink, and the other with a painted face, holding a drink with a straw, both excited.

The Value of Film Photography AT WEDDINGS

Film is more than a photography style, it’s my commitment to creating something lasting. It’s about crafting images that don’t just show what your wedding looked like, but how it felt. Especially all those little in-between moments, film preserves these things in a way that feel significantly important.

Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Shouldn’t your photos reflect that? If you want to capture your wedding in a way that feels like a little bit of you, then hit the button below let’s have a chat!

ENQUIRE HERE
Bride in a white wedding gown holding a bouquet walking beside a man in a black blazer in an urban alleyway with brick walls and modern buildings in the background.
Table cluttered with a bouquet of flowers, instant film photos, a camera, a photo album, boxes of film, and miscellaneous items.