I used to hate shooting weddings: Confessions of a film wedding photographer in Portland

I never thought I’d love shooting weddings. Five years ago it was just a way to make a little extra cash on the side of my 9-5. 

And then two years ago I started incorporating 35mm film into my wedding photography packages and everything changed. Suddenly I was forced to slow down with a limited number of shots in my arsenal. I was forced to focus in on the details that tell a full story of your day. 

Now a lot of my favorite moments have been captured on film. I think wedding photos on film often tell the best story of the day and capture the most timeless emotion. This was the point at which my wedding photography portfolio really started to level up. But it took a while to get there.

In my early days as a Portland photographer, my methods for finding clients were less than stellar. I relied on cheap lead-generation tools that often matched me with couples who weren't a good fit. I went into those early jobs stressed, unprepared, and with no systems or processes in place to back me up. 

I also didn’t really know what my wedding photography style was yet. I knew it was candid and documentary but I felt myself overshooting and not tuning into the small details and moments. Then I started to experience weddings through the eyes of a guest, friend, bridesmaid, sister, and saw firsthand the joy of everyone coming together to celebrate love - when you strip away all the weird traditional bs of a wedding, it’s a really nice concept. 

So I started to relax when I went into a wedding day and focused on shooting through the lens of a guest or a member of the wedding party. Now I talk to all of my couples about how my number one priority with their wedding photos is to focus on documenting their day so they can focus on the celebration. I want the photography experience to be as stress free and fun as possible, so couples can stay in the moment and be present on their wedding day.

But at the end of the day I’m also a sucker for digital portraits and photo print, so I love an additional digital gallery to give clients more options for printing photos or getting wall art. I still rely on digital for major events of the wedding day, like group shots, the ceremony and first kiss. Shooting both digitally and with film is the insurance that no matter what happens, your wedding day will be covered.

Now all of my wedding photography packages include a mix of film and digital photos. This means you’ll receive two galleries - one of your wedding day on film and another of your day on digital. I also offer an engagement photography package on film and digital.

If this sounds like you're vibe and you're in the marketing for a Portland candid wedding photographer on film, reach out today for a call, quote, or consultation.