Film photography has a special magic. It’s nostalgic, earthy, and maybe even a little mystical in its intimacy. Holding your memories in your hands just feels different than scrolling through them on your phone, especially when it comes to milestones like weddings.
As an Adirondack wedding photographer, I’m so inspired by documenting my personal life. I do a lot of that on film photography. The photos highlighted in this blog post are from my own wedding reception in the Adirondacks and subsequent honeymoon in Salem, Massachusetts.
In this blog post, I explore:
- Why I Love Film Photography
- Nostalgic Photos of a Unique Wedding Reception
- Documenting Our Witchy Honeymoon
- Film Photography for Your Wedding
Why I Love Film Photography
Slowing Down
I love using film photography to document weddings. On fast-paced days, film slows me down. It requires a different level of intentionality than digital photography does. Film gets me to look at the events, places, and people around me differently than I normally would. That’s when wedding photos become art.
Rooted in Truth
One of the most important things to me about my photography is that it’s rooted in my clients’ truth. It shows them as their most authentic selves on one of the most special days of their lives. Film photography is perfect for that. It’s not about complicated editing on the backend; it’s about being present with people as they really are.
Artistry in Light and Shadow
Film also gives me a chance to play with light differently. My photography explores the interplay of light and shadow. Instead of focusing on the “light and airy” look that’s typical of a lot of wedding photographers’ styles, I like to use light and shadow to illustrate the depths of the emotional experiences I’m documenting.
Nostalgic Photos of a Unique Wedding Reception
The film photography from my wedding reception is a great example of what’s possible with this medium. My husband Drew and I did a pig roast for our family and friends. If you’ve ever done a pig roast, you know it’s a lot of work. It really illustrates the old adage “It takes a village.” That was my favorite part of the whole experience.
These film photos show how our community came together to make it all happen. I love the candid images of people laughing over the fire and working together to prepare the food. The images are so nostalgic and give a strong sense of the emotions we all felt that day.
Drew has become my partner in business, too! Since we got married, he’s become my second photographer. We also offer a special elopement package. Drew officiates, and I photograph! You can learn more about that experience in this blog post.
Documenting Our Witchy Honeymoon
In some ways, our honeymoon was just as exciting to me as our wedding. We headed to Salem, Massachusetts. I documented it all on film photography.
As a photographer and practicing witchy, Salem offered my endless inspiration. Every historical marker, whimsical garden, and misty cemetery felt like an invitation to create art. And I did!
Film made so much sense for preserving our memories of Salem. It has a timelessness to it that connects that past and present. Like Salem, film is rooted in something deeper than what you see on the surface. Along with light and shadow, the images’ grain make the moments they document feel so close and tangible.
A few of my favorite things about these images are
- The golden afternoon light casting long shadows
- The stark angles of the architecture against the deep blue sky
- The texture of stones and trees as they’re conveyed on the film
Film Photography for Your Wedding
As you can tell, I’m really passionate about film. That love isn’t new. I went to college for photography and earned a BFA. I love bringing that skill set and artistry to documenting weddings.
Are you interested in having film photography for your wedding? It is such an incredible medium to include in your coverage. I include it in all my wedding photography packages now because it’s such a powerful way to preserve your wedding with authentic images.
Maybe you’re a little untraditional, a little witchy, a little wild. Maybe you don’t mind
getting your dress a little dirty, running through a field, twirling in the rain, or feeling
the earth beneath your feet as you say your vows.
Maybe you see beauty in contrast — light and shadow, color and mood,
softness and grit. You don’t care about perfection; you care about how it feels.
That might mean walking down the aisle beneath towering pines, hiking to say your
vows with Lake George stretching out below you, or stealing a quiet moment in a
sun-drenched field, just the two of you. Maybe it’s a candlelit barn that’s seen a hundred
years of stories before yours, its walls holding echoes of the past as you start something new.
Some places hold history. Some places hold energy.
And some places feel like they were waiting just for you.
Some love stories glow. Others burn.
Yours does both.
