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

Question

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

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?

Additional Details
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

Are you really worried about the media used to capture the wedding? Either will be fine. Mistakes could happen with either. A card could fail, or the lab could screw or lose the film. In fact, I would rather take my chances on being able to recover lost digital images than fix a roll of botched film.

If the photographer you like uses film, fine. If he/she uses digital, fine. Go with the one who's work and personality is a good fit and don't worry about which kind of camera is used. I think you will find that most wedding photographers are digital, though.

Answer 2

I'm a digital photographer and shoot weddings. I'll make this short and to the point. I have seen many wedding albums full of terrible photos that are underexposed, out of focus, poorly framed etc, all done by film photographers. I have never seen this with digital photographers. Reason being, with film you dont know if something has gone wrong until it's too late. With digital, you know there and then if everying is ok.

I have never lost wedding images and never will. If a film photographer were to lose one film, that film would most likely be in the bag with the other films he has also lost.

Answer 3

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 4

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 5

Select digital because it's versatile. Posed pictures can be
immediately checked and rephotographed if mistakes are
made -- all can be enhanced by using any of the creative photo programs out there in the market.

If a photographer uses film and mistakes are made (exposure
etc), he won't discover that until he has the film developed,
then it's too late.
Be sure you check the credibility of the photographer you choose and take a good long look at his work.
Also, to cover any mistakes that might occur, ask your family and friends to bring their camera and take lots of pictures.
You'd be surprised how many wonderful photos you'll receive from all of them ... can be an extra wedding gift to you.
Good luck !

Answer 6

Whatever photographer you find, you should be comfortable with him or her, no matter the media they use. However, most professional wedding photographers use digital - it's much easier.

Personally, I go on every shoot, wedding or not, with at least 2 camera bodies, 2 flashes, 2 battery packs, lenses and 8-10 memory cards. I also have software at home that will recover images from a memory card in the event something happens. I've only had to use it once, and it wasn't anything for a wedding. Any GOOD photographer will have back-up everything and will test all the equipment BEFORE the wedding to ensure everything is in working order.

Answer 7

question wedding photographer suggest film digital

Answer 8

Don't ask a wedding photographer—ask someone who is knowledgeable about the entire photography industry, film and digital, including knowledge of working with computers and digital files. The bottom line answer that you will receive is whatever format the photographer you choose uses because he is comfortable with that and also it is what he has to use probably because of the type of cameras he has to work with!

High end digital cameras are very pricey, and many photographers have not yet switched over to digital for that reason. Also, they will then have to learn how to work with digital files and computer programs, and digital labs—even more expensive equipment and a whole new learning experience. As a specialist in Adobe Photoshop doing graphic design work, I have had numerous photographers ask me to tutor them in Photoshop and digital work, or even do their processing for them.

However, unless your photographer is a total dunce, the quality of digital photos is absolutely exceptional with today's cameras (not 3-4 years ago). Digital files can be stored on a computer hard drive, burned to a CD or DVD, or both for back-up purposes. They are preserved long term for the future generations, unlike photographs or negative which disintegrate fairly quickly. Photographs can be printed directly from the digital files at any size (if your photographer used large format), at any time, used in emails, posted on the web, etc. You can even make a slide show of your digital photos and incorporate music with it and other types of art and then burn it onto a CD to give to friends and family. I am even making museum quality archival giclee art prints for clients with special effects like a watercolor painting, black and white art prints with hand-coloring in certain areas like the flowers, or the bride's eyes. It is endless what can be done with digital artwork.

Bottom line: digital will do everything film can do, plus much more, way better, and be multi-purpose in its use, as well as archived well for the future.

Film will eventually disintegrate as will the negatives, and if you want to use them on the computer then they have to be scanned professionally to get good quality digital files (and that is expensive!).

I have shot with a digital camera (as an art form, not weddings) for about 5 years now. I have never yet had a memory card fail me or lost pictures. And I have a fail proof back up system of my internal drive, plus two external drives for storage.

Ask your photographer more questions about digital work. If he can't answer them properly, move on down the road! Shop for the right photographer early, and book your dates with him early.

Best wishes to you!