Film & digital photography // Washington Elopement photographer // Olympic Peninsula Elopement photographer
Isn’t film dead? Didn’t video kill the radio star? lol fair points honestly.
I love film, and not just because it decided to become trendy again. (Thank you, kids.)
For me, film photography is actually more about the control it puts on me as your photographer.
I can’t endlessly push a button and hope the 34th frame turned out because that’s literally not how film works. I have a limited number of frames. I have to notice something, decide it’s worth a frame, compose it, and commit.
And honestly, that’s how I want to photograph your elopement digitally too.
I don’t want to photograph your day by endlessly clicking a shutter. I want to stay curious about what’s happening around me and make photographs intentionally. (And really care about the composition or lens choice too because it all plays a roll in the final image)
Why I photograph elopements on both film and digital
In short, I love having a mix of art mediums in your final gallery. I’m a little selfish that way I guess…
Digital and film don’t see a moment exactly the same way, and I don’t use them exactly the same way either.
Yes, I love film for the grain and the colors. But more than anything, film forces me to slow down.
As someone with raging ADHD, slowing down does not come naturally to me. My brain loves to immediately jump into “I CAN FIX THAT FOR YOU” mode.
But that’s not always where I want my brain to be when I’m photographing you.
I want it to stay curious.
How do you interact when nobody is telling you what to do?
What happens right before one of you starts laughing?
What does your partner do when you’re nervous?
What tiny thing keeps happening between you two that I didn’t know about before today?
Once I start noticing those things, I can decide how I want to photograph them and whether that moment feels like film, digital, or both.
A tear starting.
A glance.
Someone taking everything in for a second.
The way you’re standing together when you don’t realize I’m paying attention.
If the light is right and I can feel that moment building, I’ll reach for the film camera.
Then instinctively I may grab my digital camera for whatever happens immediately afterward.
That’s one of my favorite things about photographing with both formats. I’m not trying to make two identical versions of the same photograph.
I’m letting each camera tell a different little piece of what happened.
How much of my elopement gallery will be film scans?
Okay.. well.. it’s hard to give you an exact number.
I don’t limit the amount of film I shoot, but I also don’t force film into your day just because it’s included.
If you have a lot going on, I might find myself reaching for it constantly. Another day might naturally call for less.
I would rather give you film photographs that actually mean something than shoot a certain number of rolls just so I can say I did.
Your final gallery is meant to work together.
Film is part of that story, not a quota I need to hit.
Do I need film photography at my elopement?
Nope.
You don’t need film photography.
But if you’ve found me because you love having both film and digital photographs in the same gallery, then yes, we’re probably speaking the same language.
There are also situations where film simply isn’t the best tool for what we’re doing.
Very low light, certain weather conditions, or parts of your plans may require additional equipment to expose film properly. I’m not going to force film into a situation where using my digital camera allows me to photograph what is happening better.
The moment matters more to me than proving I shot it on film.
What photographing an elopement on film and digital actually looks like
Let’s say we’re somewhere on the Olympic Peninsula.
You’re getting ready in your cabin that morning.
There’s beautiful window light coming in and one of you is quietly finishing getting dressed while your partner is somewhere else getting ready.
That’s probably making my film brain very happy.
I’ll slow down. Look at the light. Watch what you’re doing. Maybe take a couple frames.
But I’m still documenting everything happening around you digitally.
Later we’re outside and you’re walking somewhere together, talking, moving, laughing, wind doing whatever the hell wind wants to do.
I’m probably relying heavily on digital because it gives me the freedom to respond quickly to everything that’s changing.
Then we get somewhere beautiful and you both get quiet.
You’re staring at the mountains or the ocean like little kids because holy shit, you’re actually here.
That’s when I might slow down again.
Film.
One frame.
Maybe two.
Then something happens between you immediately afterward and I’m back on digital.
That’s basically the dance all day.
Digital gives me freedom to react. Film reminds me to stop and notice.
I don’t want one without the other.
My photography isn’t completely hands-off or completely posed
This philosophy carries into how I work with you too.
I’m not a totally hands-off documentary photographer, but I’m definitely not posing you down to your fingertips either.
I’ll direct you when you need direction.
I’ll gently guide you into something when the photograph needs it.
Then I might start a conversation, give you something to do, or just shut up for a second and see what happens.
I can’t completely predict what you’re going to feel.
I can make a pretty good guess sometimes, but you’re two actual human beings and that’s what makes photographing you interesting.
That’s the part I want to leave room for.
Want film and digital photography included in your Washington elopement?
If you’re specifically looking for an elopement photographer because you want both film and digital photographs, hiiii. I would absolutely love that.
But even more than that, I want to help you build a day where there’s actually room for those little moments to happen.
I’ll help with locations, timelines, logistics, backup plans, and all the things running through your brain so that when we actually get there, you can look around like a little kid and realize:
Holy shit. We’re actually doing this.
If you’re planning to elope in Washington, you can learn more about working with me and reach out there.
Follow me on Instagram // Olympic Peninsula Elopement photographer // Film & Digital photography
