A Summer Wedding Made Nostalgic by Film
Have you ever thought about having your entire wedding shot on film photography? That is what I did for Sage and Cameron’s wedding at Log Haven in Salt Lake City.
Photographing a wedding completely on film has been a bucket list for myself for a few years now, so when I posted on Threads about it and was reached out to by Jazmin (an amazing Utah wedding photographer), I was over the moon. She photographed the wedding as the main shooter on digital, and I acted as second photographer all on film.
The first thing I had to work through was deciding what cameras and film to use for the wedding. I have always loved Portra film and it flows well with my digitals, but I also have a MASSIVE love in my heart for the different Cinestill films stocks as well. I love being a film wedding photographer for the versatility and creativity that comes with the different types of film, as they can really change how your day ultimately look when they are developed. It was quite the debate for me, with Cinestill being the ultimate winner for my primary cameras.
As far as camera setup goes, I had a medium format Pentax645N shooting off Portra 400, a small point and shoot camera for black and white film, and two 35mm cameras (one semi automatic and the other completely manual) filled with Cinestill 400D film for the bulk of the main wedding moments. Though I probably looked slightly crazy with my four cameras hanging off me, this setup worked perfectly for me as my cameras all had a different purpose and look I was desiring for those specific films.
Wedding at Log Haven Venue in Salt Lake City
Late in the morning, Sage and Cameron got ready on the Log Haven property. The bridal suite area opens out to the ceremony location, whereas the groom’s room is in the main venue lodge. While they got ready, they had a live singer play music for the guests as people milled about. Swans and ducks floated on the pond that sits on the Log Haven property, making for a serene and laid back morning. Me and the other photographer and videographer milled about taking candids and popping into the bridal suite to see Sage’s bridesmaid’s helping her with her veil and dress.
Outdoor Summer Wedding Ceremony on Film
Around 11AM, the processional music started. They got married with a view of the pond and in front of a beautiful broken arch of flowers (that they later used for a flower bar – how fun and unique!!). Cameron’s Dad was the officiant, and it was an emotional and touching ceremony. Outdoor summer weddings on film – I am in LOVE. It was extremely serene and special to be a part of documenting.
Post Ceremony Candids + Formals
After the ceremony, we took a few minutes to shoot some formals photos around the property. Log Haven has many spots you can take wedding portraits at and is quite the beautiful area to explore. It was really nice to be able to slow down for a bit at this point and be really intentional behind the camera, something other wedding film photographers can probably relate to.
After Celebration + Grand Exit
Once formals were done, we headed into the Log Haven cabin for the luncheon. The food was AMAZING and had everyone talking. This area was very lowly lit, so I used a variation between some longer shutters on Portra 800 and the occassional flash on Cinestill 400D film to photograph this small portion of the day. You will see the two distinctive looks in the following photos! All beautiful, but totally different vibes.
The wedding cake was one of my favorite parts. It was a single tier vintage aesthetic cake and I absolutely died for the film pics of it.
Their wedding day was finished off with a grand exit out the main entrance, and they drove off in the most beautiful old red truck. The whole morning and afternoon was such a vibe through and through, and matched Sage and Cameron’s personalities perfectly. It was the perfect mix of artistic vintage and chic modern for this summer wedding.
What I Learned from Shooting a Wedding All On Film
I’ve been doing film photography for a few years now, but never thought I’d have the opportunity to shoot a wedding all on film. I was grateful for this low stakes opportunity to push my technical skills as a photographer and learn techniques that will aid me in future weddings.
This all being said, there were four things that I took away from this experience:
I could probably be even more intentional with what I photograph, but I should not be stingy.
A BIG focus of my work is candids and the imposed interactions of people. There were moment I knew I as running out of film because I’d shoot off multiple frames of the same moment in one g. I want to be more intentional in the future to make sure I’m nailing things from the get-go. However, I do not want to be stingy about WHAT moments I photograph.
I would benefit from having a specific plan for shots when using medium format film – particularly noted during the ceremony.
I thought I gave myself enough time to change film during the ceremony, but I didn’t beyond my 35mm rolls and I wasn’t able to put a new medium format roll in. The first kiss and aisle ended up being shot all on 35mm, which was fine, but I really dreamed of those shots on 120 film! So I’d like to have a definite action plan next time with more specific and controlled shots.
I need to prepare for and expect to use the entire dynamic range of film on a wedding day.
My camera bag was filled with everything from 160 to 800 sensitivity film, but I could have used some 1600 or even 3200 at one point. I used flash and played into the ambient lighting, but I would have missed a whole section of the day had I not had those prepared. Film feels more contained than digital. I think a more sensitive film and flash are necessities to have on hand in case of restrictive lighting.
It is good to be over prepared when it comes to film photography.
Along the same lines as above, it pays to go overkill on preparation. I brought twelve rolls and shot nine during a four hour wedding (and some of that time was just setup)! I honestly expected to shoot less than I did, but I am very happy with the photographs I got from these! Overshooting can bring beautiful images, you just have to be prepared.
Film for the Win When it Comes to Nostalgia
This was an amazing opportunity that I hope to have again at some point. Film is a beautiful form to really emulate nostalgia, and it was the perfect medium to document this summer wedding on.
If you’d like to see my favorite film stocks for photography, check out this blog of mine!!
Travel Wedding Photographer & Videographer
Hi, I’m Elayna! I’m a Utah-based wedding photographer and videographer by trade, but a nomad at heart. If you’re imagining cinematic photos that evoke a sense of nostalgia, whether it be film or digital, I’m the photographer for you. As a storytelling photographer, I love a good adventure and travel often to capture romances not just in Utah, but all around the world. Want to see how I can bring your dream photos to life? Take a look at the packages I offer and let’s have a chat about how I can capture your unique story.
