I love that film photography is re-entering the chat (and you should too!)

My trip down memory lane

When I was growing up, my mom always kept a bunch of disposable cameras on hand. There was almost always a camera in her purse or car. Every trip we made to Walmart included a stop at the photo development counter and the prints all found their new home in a shoebox under my parent’s bed. Looking through hundreds of shoebox photos became one of my favorite ways to pass boredom during the summer. This is a fond memory I look back on and perhaps, it started my love for photography.

Film photography today

Today, there are barely any places around us to develop film. It’s widely considered a thing of the past because it’s outdated, not made as available to consumers, thus making it more expensive, and isn’t available for us to view and share immediately like a digital image is. Most photographers are forced to mail in their film for development and finding a good and operational film camera can be a challenge. Film seems like so much extra work? Is it really worth it? Here’s why it absolutely is. 

Why film is just *magic*

Just like those shoebox photos of the past, film holds a special feeling that can’t be explained, like a rose-colored memory. The colors and the emotion of a film photo simply cannot be replicated by any digital camera, no matter the editing. The feeling of taking a film photograph and knowing you won’t be able to see it until it has been developed and scanned forces photographers to slow down and be more intentional with their shooting. It also forces us to live in the moment. I know when I am taking a film photograph, I tell myself “this one can’t be photoshopped” and make sure I am extra focused on my camera settings, subject matter, lighting, and composition. There’s just a special feeling about film, like listening to an old record. Shooting film also prompts us to print our images so we can hold them in our hands and appreciate them rather than posting them on our social media accounts and never taking the time to really bring them to life. 

Why I shoot film

I made the decision to learn more about film photography in 2023 so I could take photos of my family while still being present. After practicing, searching for my favorite film type and a camera that did everything I needed it to do, I now proudly offer film as an add-on to all my photo packages. I enjoy talking about my love of film to my clients and sharing my stance on why among all the silly resurfaced trends, it’s actually a really special and important one. 

Want to book a shoot on film? 

Meet Jillian

Your Missouri wedding & family photographer

We don’t often realize the importance of images until we lose a loved one or see how fast our babies grow. While I love photography, it’s the people and their stories who really fill my cup and inspire my why. I want to help you preserve those memories for years to come.