Why Film Photography Is a Non-Negotiable in My Editorial Wedding 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.

What Are the Benefits of Film Photography in Wedding Photography?

Film renders light differently from digital photography. It has depth, softness, and a subtle imperfection that digital can emulate but never truly replicate. Colours feel romantic yet true to life, skin tones are luminous, and the grain reads as texture rather than noise.

When I photograph weddings on film, I work with greater intention. Every frame matters. I’m considering composition, light, emotion, and narrative before releasing the shutter. That deliberateness results in imagery that feels timeless, not because of presets or trends, but because of the way it was created.

How Film Complements Editorial Wedding Photography

Editorial wedding photography blends the elegance of fashion imagery with the honesty of real moments. It is cinematic yet intimate, intentional yet unforced. Inspired by fine art and magazine editorials, this approach balances sculpted portraits with unscripted moments that reflect the atmosphere of the day.

Unlike purely documentary wedding photography, an editorial approach involves gentle direction and a deep understanding of light, posture, and setting. Film enhances this process, softening transitions, elevating detail, and allowing moments to breathe within the frame. The result is imagery that feels considered, emotional, and enduring.

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.