Why Add Film to Your Wedding Gallery?
If you’ve spent any time on Pinterest or Instagram lately, you’ve seen those soft, dreamy, slightly grainy wedding photos that look like they belong in a vintage family album. Maybe they immediately reminded you of your parents’ or grandparents’ wedding photos. Or maybe they just made you feel something that modern, crisp images don’t always capture.
That’s the magic of my favorite thing ever, film photography.
One of the most common questions I hear from couples is, “Should we choose film or digital for our wedding?” And while both are beautiful in their own ways, my honest answer is usually this:
You don’t have to choose. You can have both.
Instead of thinking in terms of film versus digital wedding photography, I encourage couples to consider how they can add film to their wedding day alongside digital coverage. Together, they create a richer, more emotional, more layered story of your day.
Let’s talk about why.
What Does It Mean to “Add Film” to Your Wedding Day?
Adding film to your wedding day means your photographer uses real film cameras and rolls of film to capture a portion of your wedding, in addition to digital photography.
This can look like:
A roll or two of film during getting ready
Film portraits of you and your partner
Film during your ceremony
A handful of film shots of your details (rings, florals, vows, invitations)
A full hybrid gallery made up of both film and digital images
Film isn’t meant to replace digital on a wedding day it complements it. Digital photography handles the speed, movement, and must-have moments. Film handles the emotion, nostalgia, and artistic lift.
Together? They tell a more dimensional story.
The Emotional Magic of Film Photography
There is a reason film has made such a big comeback in weddings.
Film photographs don’t just show what happened they feel like memories.
Film typically has:
Softer contrast
Natural, warm color tones
Subtle grain
Less perfection, in the best way
An almost timeless quality
It doesn’t look overly polished. It looks human.
That softness and natural texture can make your wedding images feel more romantic, more intimate, and more real. Moments like a quiet glance, the way your dress moves in the breeze, your parents’ expressions during the ceremony, or the lighting at golden hour often look especially meaningful on film.
It captures the feeling more than the detail and for a day as emotional as your wedding, that matters.
What Digital Photography Brings to the Table
Now, I absolutely love digital photography too. There is a reason it is still the primary way most weddings are captured.
Digital photography is excellent for:
Fast-moving moments
Large group photos
Low-light situations (like receptions)
Lots of images and angles
Quicker previews for couples
On a wedding day, things happen quickly. There are hugs, tears, dancing, speeches, spontaneous laughs, and tiny moments you don’t want to miss. Digital photography is reliable, flexible, and efficient and that’s exactly what you want for big parts of your day.
That’s why I don’t recommend choosing only one or the other for most weddings.
Digital gives you coverage. Film gives you a feeling.
Why Film + Digital Works So Well for Weddings
Adding film to your wedding day alongside digital coverage gives you the best of both worlds.
Here’s what that really looks like:
1. You get more depth in your final gallery
Your final wedding gallery won’t feel flat or one-dimensional. You’ll have a mix of:
Clean, crisp digital images
Soft, nostalgic film images
A variety of textures, tones, and moods
It brings visual interest and emotional range to your memories.
2. Film slows things down in a beautiful way
Film requires intention. I can’t take hundreds of film photos in a few minutes. Each photo is chosen carefully.
That intentional pace can create some of the most meaningful images of the day. These are often the photos couples fall in love with most the ones they print, frame, and pass down.
3. You get something that truly feels timeless
Trends change. Editing styles change. Technology changes.
Film has already stood the test of time. Photos taken on film 40 years ago still feel beautiful today. Adding film to your wedding day ensures that a portion of your photos will feel just as special decades from now as they do when you first see them.
When Film Really Shines on a Wedding Day
While film can be used at any point, there are certain moments where it absolutely glows:
Getting Ready
The anticipation. Soft window light. Details like your invitation suite, jewelry, perfume, and dress.
Portraits
Couple portraits, bridal portraits, and even some family portraits have such a romantic quality on film.
Ceremony
Film handles natural light beautifully, which is perfect for outdoor or well-lit indoor ceremonies.
Golden Hour
This is one of the best times to use film. The warm, glowing light and soft shadows look unreal on film.
Details & Flat Lays
Film gives your detail shots a fine art, editorial feel.
If you’re planning an intimate or outdoor wedding in Arizona, film can be especially stunning against desert tones, open skies, and natural landscapes.
Is Film Wedding Photography More Expensive?
Yes, and it’s important to understand why.
Film photography requires:
Physical rolls of film
Professional development and scanning at a lab
Extra equipment (film cameras + lenses)
More time invested in the entire process
However, the value isn’t just in the photos themselves. It’s in the legacy.
Film photos often become the ones that live in albums, frames, and future family stories.
Is Film Right for Every Wedding?
Not necessarily, and that’s okay.
Film tends to work best for couples who:
Love nostalgia and vintage aesthetics
Care about emotion over perfection
Want photos that feel soft, romantic, and raw
Are drawn to artistic or documentary style imagery
Appreciate slow, intentional moments
If you’re planning a very large, fast-paced wedding with lots of dark indoor lighting and a tight timeline, film might play a smaller role. That’s where digital takes the lead.
And that’s exactly why combining both is so powerful.
My approach as a Film + Digital Wedding Photographer
As a film wedding photographer in Arizona, I don’t see film as a trend. I see it as a storytelling tool.
When you add film to your wedding day with me, I approach it intentionally. I’m not just pulling out a film camera for fun I’m looking for the moments that deserve to be preserved in that medium.
I typically recommend a hybrid approach:
Digital coverage for the majority of the day
Film used during specific, meaningful moments
A final gallery that blends both seamlessly
You won’t get two “separate” galleries. You’ll receive one cohesive story of your day, filled with variation, emotion, nostalgia, and truth.
How to Decide If You Should Add Film to Your Wedding
If you’re considering adding film to your wedding day, ask yourself:
Do I love the look of vintage images?
Do I care more about feeling than perfection?
Do I want some photos that feel almost like memories instead of just pictures?
Am I drawn to softness, warmth, and texture?
Do I value something unique and timeless?
If you’re saying yes to any of those, film might be something you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.
Final Thoughts
Your wedding day will be one of the most emotional, meaningful days of your life. Long after the music fades and the cake is gone, the photos will be what you return to again and again.
Choosing to add film to your wedding day isn’t just about an aesthetic it’s about honoring the feeling of your love in the most timeless way possible.
If you’re planning a wedding or elopement in Arizona and want to explore what film and digital coverage together could look like for your day, I’d love to talk through it with you.
You deserve wedding photos that don’t just show what happened, but let you feel it all over again.
