have a question for a wedding photographer - Would you suggest film or digital?

Question

My sister got married in 2005 and used film because she was told by her photographer that if something happened to a roll of film she would be out about 15 pictures, but if something happened with digital, she would be out everything. Has anyone heard of this and what about for a 2009 weddng? Film or digital?

Maybe I should have been more specific - I think the issue is that with the film if a roll of film got lost or damaged then 12-15 pictures would be lost or damaged. But if digital then if the memory card (I guess) got lost or damaged then 50 or 100 or 200 or more pictures would be lost or damaged. That is why I'm wondering about the film vs digital question. Can people please give me their opinions for a 2009 wedding? Thanks.

Answer 1

digital all the way. you can take many more shots, and see them immediately so you know if a retake is necessary. there's no reason for film.

if something happens to a roll of film, those pictures can no longer be developed. if something happens to digital photos, assuming you're not stupid about it, there's no problem because you should always have a BACKUP (or three).

Answer 2

What if the "something happened" to the roll that had all the ceremony shots and "walking down the aisle" shots on it?

Sounds like the photographer was still using film and trying to come up with some "creative" ways of convincing people that film is still "better" than digital. Both have their place, their goods nad bads, and their unique characteristics. Thing is, most people don't have a clue, don't care and trust the photographer they go with.

I shoot weddings with my digital as the primary, with a film backup. I've never needed the backup and I've yet in the three years of shooting to have any problems with the digital.

Like was stated before, I'd pick a photographer based on the strength of their portfolio and if they have a good reputation. Not on whether or not they shoot film or digital.

Answer 3

It sounds like an ill informed photographer.

Some film photographers are reluctant or naive when it comes to digital photography.

I think? what he was saying is that there is an inherent risk of losing images on a memory card. This is true, I've seen it happen. Digital cameras are like tiny computers, there is a potential risk of errors. However I've had things go wrong with film cameras as well. That's why professionals carry more then one of everything.

A professional photographer should be knowledgeable enough to know how to greatly reduce this risk of data loss, as well as ways to recover most if not all the images should something terrible happen. When I was testing the digital waters (prior to using it professionally), it happened to me, but I fully recovered from it and learned some important lessons along the way. A "Good" professional photographer is knowledgeable, well informed, and keeps up to date. They don't take risks that jeopardizes their clients photos. In fact they take extra steps to insure the safety of these images. However there are a lot of Hacks out there who buy "one" camera, hang a shingle out that says they are a "Professional" when they barely know anything, and people will use them. Buyer Beware! This is one of the reasons you pay what you pay for a true professional photographer. Being a professional photographer is a LOT more then having a nice camera and clicking a button.

It's a valid concern but I wouldn't worry too much about it. For your own sanity you could ask the photographer your hiring about it.

Things can happen to film as well. I have heard about film getting lost in the mail, or in one case a local lab that has pickup and drop off service had their vehicle stolen. Dozens of brides lost their photos that day.

I converted to fully digital a few years ago and would NEVER go back to film.

Answer 4

What about the film processing center that accidentally exposes ALL of the film from a wedding?

The bottom line is that there are pitfalls to both film and digital. I use compact flash cards no larger than 2gb (about 100 pics), so that the loss of any one card would be less devastating than 4gb or larger cards. I backup my data immediately upon return from a wedding, and use fire-proofed long-term backup in addition to my primary on-site backup.

There are many reasons that a photographer may elect to use film or digital to chronicle a wedding (most choose digital now), but reliability is not a viable reason in my opinion. Professional due diligence is necessary in either medium.

Answer 5

i'm a digital photographer and shoot weddings. i will make this short and to the factor. I unquestionably have considered many wedding ceremony albums finished of undesirable photographs that are underexposed, out of concentration, poorly framed and so on, all finished via action picture photographers. I unquestionably have under no circumstances considered this with digital photographers. reason being, with action picture you dont understand if some thing has long gone incorrect till this is too previous due. With digital, you realize there and then if everying is okay. I unquestionably have under no circumstances lost wedding ceremony photographs and under no circumstances will. If a action picture photographer have been to lose one action picture, that action picture might maximum in all probability be interior the bag with the different videos he has additionally lost.

Answer 6

Most wedding photogs are digital. A few (very few) are using 35mm, and some still use medium format. Some use both. I agree, that seems like a flimsy reason for using film. (Not that using film is bad, but he shouldn't feel the need to justify it.) Don't worry about the media used to capture the images. Pick your wedding photographer on the strength of his/her portfolio and personality.

Answer 7

I have no idea why your sister's photographer say that. I would assume that he is not keen enough with backing up his data from his digital camera. And besides... something happen, what possibly could happen? Someone took the film/memory card? I believe most photographer will be careful enough to keep his/her film/memory card carefully so they won't lose or break it.

Answer 8

This would be about the last reason I'd pick for choosing between film and digital.

The main reason for film over digital for weddings these days is to use emulsions like Fuji FP160S and Kodak Portra 160NC that are better suited to fleshtones than practically any digital except the Fuji S5 Pro.