Why Shooting Film Doesn’t Make You a Better Photographer from Sarasota Wedding Photographer Nina Bashaw
- Nina Bashaw
- Jul 30
- 5 min read
Why Shooting Film Doesn’t Make You a Better Photographer
Honest Thoughts from a Sarasota Wedding Photographer
I’m going to start this post by saying something that might ruffle some feathers: shooting film doesn’t automatically make you a "better" photographer.
There, I said it.
Before the pitchforks come out, let me explain. I’m not bashing film or film photographers. I have a deep respect for it because I grew up with it. I shot film throughout my childhood and well into my teenage years, developed it in a darkroom, and learned photography through trial, error, and patience. My own wedding photos were shot on film. They're beautiful, imperfect, nostalgic and also terrifying, because what we have is all we’ll ever have. There are no backups. I don’t have the negatives. And that’s just the reality of film.
Film Photography Today is Not the Same as It Once Was
Let’s be honest: film photography today is a completely different process than it used to be. Back in the day, if you shot film, you had to understand photography. You had to know how to expose for light, how to choose the right film stock for your environment or subject matter, how shutter speed and ISO would affect your outcome. You had no luxury of seeing the back of the camera. You waited days or longer to see if what you created actually worked.
Now? Most film photographers are sending their rolls off to labs that scan them and send back JPEGs. You can edit those JPEGs. You can color correct. You can remove blemishes. In my opinion, that kind of defeats the purpose of shooting film. It's not the same medium anymore when it becomes a digital file that can be manipulated endlessly in Lightroom, exactly how you process a digital image.
Clients Don’t Care That You Shoot Film
Here’s a truth most people in this industry don’t want to admit: clients don’t care if you shoot film. Brides and grooms aren’t sitting around zooming into their photos to try and identify grain. Unless your couple is full of fellow wedding and elopement photographers or highly creative individuals who understand the nuances of film, they’re not going to know or care if their images were shot on Portra 400 or a mirrorless camera. They care about how they feel in the wedding photos, how you treat them, and whether you delivered what you promised.
The Illusion of Being a "Film Photographer"
Another thing that frustrates me is the lack of transparency. A lot of wedding photographers market themselves as hybrid or film shooters, when in reality they shoot 90% digital and maybe throw a roll of film into a Contax for some flat lays or couple portraits. This is going to be controversial but I'm goint to say it; that’s not being a film photographer. That’s dabbling, and while there’s nothing wrong with dabbling, it becomes deceiving when you sell yourself as something you’re not. A true film photographer shoots mostly film, a true hybrid photographer shoot 50% film and 50% digital. Shooting a roll of film once a month doesn't make you a film photographer. It makes you a wedding photographer that occasionally shoots film.
Clients deserve to know what they’re really getting. If you’re shooting one roll of film on their wedding day and the rest of their gallery is digital, be honest. If your editing mimics film but you didn’t actually use any, just say that. The wedding industry is already hard enough to navigate. Let’s not add more smoke and mirrors, just be honest!
Using Film as a Reason to Overcharge is Problematic
I've said once, I'll say it again; shooting film is expensive. Believe me I get it. Between the cost of rolls, shipping, development, scanning, and maybe even reshoots if the film doesn’t turn out yes, it adds up. But shooting film shouldn’t be your golden ticket to charging five figures for a wedding when you don’t have the experience to justify it. A higher price tag should come with consistent work, trustworthiness, skill, and experience not just the ability to load a roll of Kodak and ship it off to a lab. There’s a growing trend of wedding photographers using film as a shortcut to “luxury” status, and honestly, it’s disingenuous. Luxury isn’t about the tools you use. It’s about the experience you provide for your clients on their wedding day.
The Subtle Judgement from Some Film Shooters
Let’s talk about the unspoken attitude. If you’ve ever been told, “Oh, I shoot film,” with a little smugness behind it, you know what I mean. There’s a vibe that often comes along with certain film photographers, a tone that implies they’re more artistic, more purist, more elevated. And to that I say. . . come on! Shooting film might make you more aware of light and more intentional with your compositions, but it does not make you more qualified or inherently more talented than someone who has mastered digital photography.
There are some absolutely incredible Sarasota wedding photographers and Sarasota elopement photographers working exclusively with digital cameras. Their work is emotional, crisp, thoughtful, and full of life. And their clients are thrilled.
Film Can Make You a More Well-Rounded Wedding Photographer, But Not a Better One
Yes, learning film photography can make you a more well-rounded artist. It can teach you to slow down, to pre-visualize, to get it right in camera. I genuinely think every photographer should try film for the learning experience alone. It teaches discipline. It’s humbling. It reminds you not to overshoot. But let’s not confuse being “more well-rounded” with being “better.” Better is subjective. Better means consistent results, happy clients, and strong storytelling—regardless of whether you shot it on a vintage Leica or a Canon R6.
My Thoughts as Sarasota Elopement Photographer that use to shoot film but now shoots with mirrorless digital cameras.
At the end of the day, photography is about connection. It’s about storytelling. It’s about giving people memories that last a lifetime. Whether you shoot film, digital, or a mix of both, just be transparent about what you’re doing. Your clients deserve honesty and clarity, not gimmicks or marketing ploys. So no, shooting film doesn’t make you a better wedding photographer. It might make you a more thoughtful one. But better? That’s earned with time, trust, and experience not the kind of camera you hold in your hands.
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Nina Bashaw is a Sarasota wedding photographer and Sarasota elopement photographer who believes in honest storytelling, timeless images, and transparency with every client. Whether you're planning a luxury wedding here in Sarasota or a quiet destination elopement, your memories deserve to be captured with heart not hype.
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