What's the best film to shoot engagement/wedding photos?

Question

I'm shooting my first engagement/wedding photos this August and next October...The engagement photos are going to be taken outside. I was wondering what's the best type of film to use for them and also for indoor wedding photos?

Answer 1

Kodak Portra Professional NC. It has the most natural skin color of any current film. It's available in 35 mm and medium format rolls. (It's also available in 4x5 sheets, but you wouldn't normally want that for weddings...)

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/portra/portraIndex.jhtml
http://tinyurl.com/3cru9b

For weddings you need lots of detail, so never shoot high speed film or high speed ISO settings on a digital camera than you absolutely have to. If you want/need grainy photos it's easy to add the effect afterwards in Photoshop or even in the darkroom. If the original shot is too grainy, you can never reduce the grain.

I do hope you have some experience helping others photograph weddings...

Answer 2

Most wedding photographers (those who still shoot film) use a low contrast film like Portra nc 160 or nc 400. Some use Fuji, my preference was always Kodak. YMMV. Fuji has a new pro emulsion that I have not tried.

If you shoot 400, rate it at 320 for the saturation and finer grain.

Really, picking film might be the least of things which should worry you. I would be more concerned over whether I had the necessary photography skills to capture someone's "special day". Do you have backup equipment? Do you have fast lenses to capture the ceremony inside the church? (Or where ever) Are you comfortable with manual camera settings? Can you use fill flash and bounce flash? A few months is not much time to learn these skills. Make sure you have managed the couple's expectations so they fully understand what they will be getting. Unless you are an experienced and talented photographer, they will be lucky to get other than snapshots. Hopefully, at least they will be decent snaps and they will be pleased enough.

Good luck to you.

Answer 3

The higher the speed the grainier the images will be when enlarged. Slower films are the highest quality, but require lots of light. I would recommend taking some 100 ISO and some 200 ISO and let your meter dictate which is best at that time. But as a general rule if it is a bright day use the 100, if overcast go for the 200. Be sure to have a flash to fill any undesired shadows, common to outside shots. Go at a reasonable pace but never rush. Rushed photography is rarely good photography. Every one you do will get easier. Good Luck

p.s. Sorry i forgot to address the indoor shots. Take 200 & 400, your distance, the power of your flash, and how fast your lenses are will determine which is best. Consult with the church's wedding coordinator prior to the shoot to dictate any photography restrictions such as flash and position, that you may have imposed on you.

Answer 4

you can use Kodak and Fuji. Just make sure it is professional film. And nature balance film. I use to use Kodak NC film. you want to use 100 ISO or 160 ISO. for all your portiats. you may want to have one camera with 400 ISO for the church service shoots. Never shoot flash at the service. And most Church's will not allow you to. But everything else shoot 100 or 160. Make sure you shoot portiats with a 80mm or longer lens.

Answer 5

I use a high speed film, ISO 400. It's great for low lighting and will freeze any movement because your shutter speeds are faster when you use faster films.