How come some people are still using film for weddings?

Question

I met one photographer tonight who still uses film. He told me film will never be dead.

Answer 1

Agree with Antoni.... There is still a unique look associated with film that is difficult or perhaps impossible to achieve with digital.

Its a subjective judgment as to which look you prefer. Personally, I enjoy the results produced by both mediums, but find that digital is the medium that makes the most sense for my business. I love the look of a well-executed and well-processed digital file, but Antoni will probably always prefer a perfectly exposed Tri-X or Velvia. I guarantee you that if Antoni were getting married tomorrow, he'd be looking for a photographer like the one you met that still shoots a Hassy.

Answer 2

There are several reasons why some stick with film. One of the biggest reason is the latitude problem with digital. The latitude of film is that you can overexpose by 4 stops and underexposed by 2 stops and with the help of the labs, you could still get an image that looks like it was properly exposed. The latitude of digital is about 1.25 stops overexposed and 2 stops underexposed. This creates a problem with many photographers who had been shooting incorrectly for many years and when they tried their method of shooting in digital, they were getting horrible results, especially like blown away brides dresses 2 stops overexposed, where the loss detail cannot be recovered. Remember in film days, overexposing your film by 1 stop was the norm. Now with digital it can kill you. That's why photographers who shot slide film, made the transition to digital much easier than negative shooters, slide film has about the same latitude limitations that digital has. Funny how in the film days, many felt that slide film shooters were better photographers technically than negative film shooters. Another big reason is that some people don't like change and refuse stop something that they've grown use to and its the only thing that they've ever known. Believe it or not, digital music is 25 years old now, and their are folx out there who have never purchased a CD and will search the world high and low to find a phonograph record. There are some differences in image quality of film and digital, but no one can really say with the differences which is best. Just because something looks different from the norm, doesn't mean its a bad thing. I would say that any Pro or Prosumer 6MP DSLRcamera, could make images up to 11x14 that would look just as good as any 11x14 from any type of film camera smaller than a 4x5. Any 10MP+ pro/prosumer DSLR could do the same up to 20x30 and any 12.5 MP + pro/prosumer DSLR would do the same up to 40x60. IMHO neither one beats out the other. I just prefer digital because because it takes greater skill to get the image right and that makes it more fun to see when it it right. Also, I can work with the image from cradle to grave without any help from labs or anyone else. That way I can truly say that this s my work and only my work. No one else did anything to it but me.

Answer 3

It's simply a matter of how a photographer wants to work. It doesn't say much for most pros one way or another as far as skill or capabilities. You tell me you want something shot on film, I simply say 'Done!' I am just as good (or as bad) either way.

A good wedding photographer is going to nail it no matter what. I know a lot that shoot in JPEG, which is as unforgiving as film.

Most of what has driven the 'digital revolution' for most pros has been the economics of digital. You can provide better customer service and satisfaction within a digital workflow. Also, the market demand has moved on beyond just wedding albums to include images for the web, DVD albums, etc. By shooting in digital, you have removed one step in the process and it's associated expense in either time, money, or both.

However, you can meet these demands with film as well. No pro I know does their own film in a production environment, so when the film is processed, you get back digital files if requested.

So, you get back to it being a matter of what the photographer wants to do. The quality will be the same for either and the customer needn't worry about it. I think it was Evan who mentioned that there is a difference where a medium format is used and, in absolute terms, that's true. However, in the sizes we are talking about for wedding images, the increased quality is latent. You won't see it. However, the econonomic incentive for a pro to shoot digital isn't really there for a wedding photographer. A Hasselblad with a Phase One P45 digital back will run something like $40,000 USD and that is for only one (1) lens. Then you have to add in the cost of the computer and software.

You can't go down to your local computer store and just pickup a computer to process these images. Your looking at another $2,000+ or so for a special order on that. Maybe another thousand in software.

Without being able to demonstrate a tangible superiority to customers of digital so that THEY want it, why invest?

For small format shooters, it's a personal choice to shoot film or not. That should be enough an answer.

Vance

Answer 4

Perhaps he simply likes the results with film. Plus, he's probably using a Hasselblad and that looks nothing like any digital camera - DSLR or digicam. When people see his camera they perceive value. Think about this: Which indicates greater value to you? "I'll have your prints tomorrow" or "I'll have your prints in two weeks". Its similar to "Yeah we can set this doublewide up in a day" vs. "Building your new house will take 6 months" Which indicates greater value, in your opinion?

Answer 5

why not use film? its traditional and so are most weddings. Lets face it the digital age is here but, some of the digital photos still look superimposed.

Answer 6

film is about the look, the fotog is proberly getting great results from film and has no need to use digital

film will never die its like saying paint brushes will die, its about the look

if they are shoooting medium format film then they can provide clients with enlargements not posible from DSLR's

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