I’ve long admired several film photographers in the family/motherhood niche of photography. I always felt that photos captured on film, paired with the right lighting/wardrobe/etc., just had this “look” that I was in love with. The photos felt dreamy, soft, and graceful. I found myself trying to emulate a lot of that in my digital work, but never quite achieving the look I wanted.

A lot of people wonder why in the world, when technology and digital cameras are so advanced, would you shoot film?

There are certainly a lot of inconveniences to shooting film, however, I think the benefits outweigh the cons. I wouldn’t be shooting it if I didn’t think so! Also, it’s important to note, that I don’t fully rely on film for everything. There are certain situations when I pull out my trusty digital camera and I’m very thankful to have it. For example, in a low-lit situation, trying to photograph a rambunctious toddler, or personal photos when I don’t necessarily want the costs associated with film.

Some of benefits of shooting film are for me as the photographer, and some are benefits to you as the client. I wanted to explain in more details some of the benefits of shooting film photography.

Shooting film allows me to be more present.

By not having the settings and digital preview, I can be more present to my surroundings and interactions with my families. I’ve noticed that I take a little more time between each shot making sure the angle, light, subjects are exactly how I want them. After shooting a session with my digital camera, I could easily come away from a session with 500 images to cull through! It would leave me feeling overwhelmed and burned out. From taking more time with composition to having to reload film in between rolls, my sessions feel a little slower and more thoughtful.

Film photography evokes nostalgia.

You will come away with photographs that truly look timeless. A lot of photographers describe film as dreamy, and I think that’s the perfect word! There’s something special about being photographed in the same way that your great grandparents were photographed, and it shines through in the photographs.

Shooting film makes me a better photographer.

No longer can you snap a photo, look at the image, and then tweak your settings, angle, etc. Shooting film requires me to be more intentional with every shot by analyzing the light, paying attention to every detail, and envisioning what I aim to capture. Better photographer=better pictures!

Film creates the most dreamy, perfect colors and skintones!

It requires VERY little editing, if any! Film renders the most beautiful creamy skin tones and retains details in places that digital wouldn’t (like a bright sky). A lot of digital presets are designed to replicate the “film look” and you could spend hours trying to make your work have that film-like quality.

….To put it simply, film gives me the fine art look I love and believe others love too!

I hope this was helpful to those of you wondering why one would shoot film in this day and age. I plan to more posts about film including what the process is like from start to finish, as well as tips to get started shooting with film- so be on the lookout!

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Whew… it’s been quite a year! 2020 didn’t quite turn out like we expected, but I hope you’ve still been able to find some good in this whirlwind of a year.

I have felt so fortunate to have met and photographed so many incredible families this year. From outdoor newborn shoots (thanks to Covid) to motherhood shoots on the beach, it’s been a year of pushing myself creatively and pinpointing more accurately the kind of photographs I want to create for my clients. As I watch my own children develop right before my eyes, I understand the importance of preserving these memories even more. I wanted to share a few of my favorite photographs from the year, but before I do, here’s a sneak of what’s to come in 2021!

• I purchased my dream camera this past Fall - a medium format film camera - so you’ll see me incorporating more of that into my shoots this next year! Be on the lookout for a blog post explaining why I choose to shoot film!

• I’m now offering short videos as an add-on to most sessions. These will be a few minutes long and will essentially capture the highlights from your session. Can’t wait to share more about these.

• New refresh on my website, new packages, new client management systems in place… Lots of little changes happening to fit my style and brand better!

Thank you so much for following along. I’ll leave you with my favorite images from 2020 which are a mix of personal and professional, digital and film. You’ll see that many of my favorite images are of my two girls, where much of my time, energy, and creativity go to.

I was so excited to photograph this beautiful mamma and her family! Jamie is a home decor blogger with amazing style and is one of the most gracious, sweetest people ever! We decided to keep the outfits neutral and organic to complement the setting and highlight the connection between family members. I love how the different textures add depth and interest to the photos. 

We were fortunate enough to have a beautiful, crisp Fall day for our shoot. The light was especially pretty this evening! As I was scoping out the location I noticed a large, overgrown bush with the most beautiful light filtering through the leaves. However, that beautiful spot just happened to be right next to a public bathroom and large transformer, ha!  But luckily Jamie trusted me as I led her to this strange spot and everything came together to make my photographer dreams come true- pretty light and perfect weather, a big field, and a happy family.

As you can probably tell from looking at the pictures, there is a lot of love in this family! It was very evident that they enjoyed being together making memories as a family. It took a little work (and some corny jokes) to get some genuine smiles out of big brother, but he soon warmed up. I am so honored each time someone asks me to capture their family, and this was no exception <3

Check out Jamie’s website here and find her on Instagram as @montgofarmhouse!