My Leap of Faith into Film Photography | Maria & Josh’s Traditional Catholic Wedding on 35mm Black and White Film
For years, I've been thinking of exploring film photography. And this year, I finally took the leap, by bringing a single roll of black and white film and an old Minolta with a broken light meter to Maria and Josh's wedding. While I captured their full day on my digital cameras, I also carefully stretched that roll of film, shooting entirely off instinct, guided by over a decade of experience. Their ceremony at St. Joseph Church in Epping and reception at Camelot at the Holy Grail provided such beautiful backdrops, even with the rain.
My initial hope was simply that any photos would come out at all. After three weeks of anxious waiting for the film to be developed, I was absolutely blown away. Every single photo felt like a keeper. The details were incredibly rich, the lighting had an ethereal quality, and even the few "out-of-focus shots still captured the moment in an interesting way. I felt so deeply connected to the moments in these film photos.
This first attempt at film wasn't perfect, and there's much more to learn. But it was an incredible success, igniting a passion I didn't fully anticipate. I'm so honored Maria and Josh trusted me to photograph their day, and especially grateful for their openness to my film experiment. It was an unforgettable experience, and I can't wait to share more from my film photography journey.
Shot on Ilford HP5 35mm Film
