The Renaissance of 35mm Film Wedding Photography
For something that requires waiting times, costs more, and doesn’t come with instant previews, 35mm film wedding photography is enjoying a genuine renaissance.
In a world obsessed with perfection, couples are choosing something slower, softer, and a little raw and unfiltered. Here’s why I think film is back – and why it’s not just a trend.
Digital is amazing (but sometimes a bit too perfect?).
Honestly, let’s not get it wrong: there are numerous reasons why digital photography is amazing. It’s sharp, reliable, and always gets the job done. But when everything is crisp, colour-corrected, and optimized, wedding photos can start to look a bit… well, kinda the same.
Film shakes things up. It’s not about perfect skin tones or razor-sharp focus. It’s about texture, light leaks, motion blur, dust and scratches – and those slightly off moments that somehow end up being the most real ones.
Film feels like real life.
There’s a reason film photos hit differently. The grain, the softness, the way colours flow instead of pop – it all feels closer to memory than reality.
And its why it works so well for weddings. Weddings aren’t clean and polished the whole day and neither is film. The best ones are messy, emotional, loud, quiet, rushed, and intimate all at once. Film handles that wonderful chaos beautifully.
Letting go (just a little).
One of the biggest shifts with film is trust. There’s no screen to peek at. No instant “Can we redo that?” energy. And honestly? That’s kind of the point. The joy is in the unknown.
Couples who choose film tend to be more present. They’re not thinking about how they look in every photo – they’re just living the day. Less posing, less performing, more real moments happening naturally. It all ties in beautifully with how I’ve always liked to shoot.
It doesn’t age like trends do.
Editing styles come and go. What looks cool on Instagram this year can feel dated fast.
Film is different. The colours and tones have been refined over decades. That’s why film wedding photos from the ’70s still look incredible – and why couples trust that their own photos will age just as well.
It’s not trendy. It’s timeless. And it’s why over the last few years I’ve tried to bring my digital edit as close to my film work as I possibly can.
Film isn’t replacing digital – it’s adding to it.
Like me, most photographers shooting 35mm film today are doing hybrid coverage. Digital handles the must-have moments and the main body of work – but the film brings the feeling.
For me, it’s the best of both worlds: Reliable when it needs to be, but still full of soul and character.
More than a vibe.
Yes, film is aesthetic. But it’s also a mindset. It’s about embracing imperfection, and valuing the experience over the instant result. Many years ago, I trained using wet film and dark rooms and I for one am here for what I see as the renaissance of 35mm film wedding photography.
Here’s some examples from my gallery of 35mm film work from the previous couple of years…
I don’t think choosing 35mm film wedding photography to sit alongside digital photography is about being nostalgic. It’s about wanting photos that feel real. And for whatever reason, right now, that kind of honesty feels pretty modern right now.