Why Film Photography Is a Non-Negotiable in My Work

There’s a certain magic in holding a photograph you can’t scroll past.
Film photography slows you down, both in the making and in the viewing. It asks you to pause, to look closer, to feel.

For me, it’s not a nostalgic gimmick. It’s not a “trend” I add for variety. Film is an essential part of how I see and how I tell a love story.

The Tangible Difference of Film

Film renders light differently. It has a depth, a softness, and a subtle imperfection that digital can imitate but never truly match. The colours are truer to life yet more romantic; the grain feels like texture rather than noise.

When I photograph on film, I’m more deliberate. Each frame matters. I’m thinking about the story, the composition, the way the light falls across a face. That intentionality translates into images that feel timeless — not because of filters, but because of the way they were made.

Editorial wedding photography blends the elegance of fashion with the truth of real moments. It’s cinematic yet intimate, intentional yet unforced. Inspired by magazine spreads and fine art, it tells your story with a considered eye, balancing grand, composed portraits with the unscripted details that make the day yours.

Unlike purely documentary styles, editorial photography involves a certain level of direction, a knowledge of light, posture, and setting that elevates the ordinary into something timeless. It’s not about staging every moment, but about shaping the frame so that what’s real becomes unforgettable.

Why My Couples Love It

Film changes the pace of the day. Couples tell me they feel calmer, more present when I’m shooting film, because it’s not a constant click of the shutter. It’s slower, quieter, more considered.

And when the images return from the lab, they have a certain alchemy, skin tones are luminous, details feel rich, and the mood of the moment is somehow still alive in the frame.

Why It’s Non-Negotiable for Me

I don’t offer film as an “add-on” or a novelty. It’s part of my craft. It sits alongside my digital work, not in competition with it, but in harmony. Digital gives me speed and flexibility; film gives me soul and permanence.

Together, they create a body of work that feels complete - the precision of digital, the poetry of film.

The Legacy of Film

Long after the wedding day, long after technology has changed again, film negatives remain. They’re physical artefacts — something you can hold, archive, and pass on.

In a digital world, that’s a rare kind of permanence. And for a day as important as your wedding, I believe it’s worth having.

Closing Thoughts

Film photography is not just how I work - it’s how I see. It’s how I slow down and honour the small details, the fleeting expressions, the in-between moments.

If you value depth over trends, craft over shortcuts, and a visual legacy you can feel in your hands, film is not optional. It’s essential.