Why Shoot 35mm in 2025?
Coco Beach, Florida
In our world today we are saturated with digital photos. It is a place where many will take a digital camera and shoot hundreds of shots and choose one to two. When we think about photography, choosing a photographer, one should really think about a photographer and photography through a different lens.
What is 35mm film photography? In its most basic form, 35mm is simply a different medium of art. It is a different way to tell a story. Digital photography does provide absolutely beautiful photos, the difference I have found between these two is that I am more connected to the story behind film photography. So, 35mm film is a roll of film with emulsion that is baked on one side. This emulsion is what will react to light and get dark when exposed to light. Thus creating the image and photo. This is why when one takes a shot with a film camera the exposure of light to that piece of film is short. But if you are looking at taking photos in dark lighting conditions that same exposure will need to be longer. Playing with this exposure, is where photographers can create art with 35mm film.
Why does film capture images differently than digital? In one aspect I feel that with film you as the photographer will need to read expressions, read emotions, and read the surroundings. Doing this the photographer will need to think about every shot, slowing down the photo shooting process. Being patient and waiting for those perfect moments.
Without going into too much detail about 35mm, each roll of 35mm film is labeled with a “box speed”, “film speed” or an “ISO” as commonly known as. This film speed can start at as low as 25 and as high as 3200. Each film speed is suited to different lighting conditions. If I’m shooting at night or low light, I’ll choose a high ISO. My film of choice lately has been Cinestill 800T. This is a film that has been amazing in my experience. It shows a distinctive glow around lights and pop of colors.
Downtown Omaha, Nebraska
And on the other hand, I’ll use a low ISO film like Kodak Ektar 100 in bright lights and if the sun is out.
Coco Beach, Florida
Now for an all around film stock, I’ll typically shoot something like Kodak Portra 400. Mid range ISO of 400 and this film is versatile and gives you amazing grain in the end image.
Now with some artistic tricks, there are some fun ways to get beautiful images by exposing film multiple times on the same frame of film. Doing this will create a form of layers and double exposing the film. One can take an image of a landscape or flowers then take a portrait, creating the layered image.
Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota
Can a couple choose to simply hire a digital photographer and use filters and post edits tricks/hacks to get this 35mm film vibe. Well, yeah they most likely could. There are many filters out there, some are even on your phone I’d bet. All with a “vintage” style filter. But it just isn’t the same. It isn’t the true feel of a grainy photo, unedited that captured that single moment in time. That moment that can and will not ever be repeated. These photos are timeless photos that can be handed down for years. Plus the beautiful part of shooting film in today's digital world is that all film can be scanned onto a computer. You can enjoy the beauty of the vintage feeling with each photo right in the palm of your hands. All available to share to your friends on Instagram.