Awesome Benefits of Shooting on Film

Have you been wondering why so many photographers are turning to film in 2020? Today I want to share with you my top 5 benefits of shooting on film. Are you ready?

5 surprising benefits of shooting on film

Learn to slow down

It’s crazy to think how easy it is to snap a one photo or a hundred of images in a single click of the button! Whether it’s a DSLR camera or an iPhone, we’ve became so lazy! Auto-focus, auto shooting mode… all we do is just snapping away.

When you are using an analog camera, you are forced to take your time and think about every image. You only have 36 (or 24) frames in a roll! Oh boy, developing film is not cheap. With that in mind you might want to double, even triple check your camera settings, composition, lighting and if the focus is on point (which is fully manual!). Think of it as a math equation: every single element is important for the final shot to come out great.

Going through this hassle really teaches you patience and focus, which in turn helps you become a better photographer. Think about an idea, plan your image, make sure the settings are right, and snap!

Learn manual

Light metering, exposure triangle, manual focus… It’s not easy, but the lessons learnt from shooting film makes it so much easier when you turn back to digital.

Back to basics: when you shoot in manual mode, you are in full creative control of the image you’re getting. You can make a photo moodier and more dramatic, or light and airy if that’s the look you are going for. Example? When you put your settings to “auto”, images often come out flat, with no contrast, no character, and NOT the way you envisioned.

Manual mode is not just a basic knowledge, rather a tool that will enable you to be creative.

Don’t get discouraged if it sounds complicated. All you need is to try! The process is fun actually (Standing in the middle of a street trying to figure out the correct settings, and then anticipating the moment to press the shutter…)

Cheap gear

In digital photography world a “nice” lens would cost you a couple of hundred pounds (at least!), even if it’s a used one.

I love film photography gear so much; it lets you get creative on budget. For example you can get a decent film camera in working condition for £20-100 easily, and a vintage lens for £10-30. Bargain! The price will mostly depend of where you go. If you’re lucky, you can pick up a vintage gem in a charity shop for only £5-10. If you are looking at an antique shop, expect to pay the price of a “rare collectible”. In case you you are after some particular brand of vintage camera/lens, check out Ebay, Depop, and other online marketplaces.

The best thing about vintage film photography is that you can try a variety of different brands, lenses without hurting your bank account.

Authentic vintage feel in the images

It’s 21st century, I know… “Use photoshop to create this grainy vintage look,” they say. But imagine, no filters, no Photoshop – real grain and beautiful unique film colour rendition right in the camera! I hardly ever edit my film photos, because they are so beautiful just the way they are (maybe just clearing up a model’s skin a bit).

If you are not a Photoshop genius, and want to experiment, film photography is the way! It requires zero to minimal editing.

You can learn other ways how to get vintage look on photos in my previous blog post.

Talking about creativity…

Film photography is creative and often unexpected

It’s a gamble. Every time you pick up a film camera you just don’t know how an image is going to turn out.

Firstly, you never know if the camera is fully functional when you buy it, unless you’re a tech genius (not me!). Secondly, a variety of problems might occur with your camera: holes on the curtain which lead to white (overexposed) marks on the images; light meter might be dead, and you’ll need to literarily guess your settings; film not rolling after you pressed the shutter, focusing problems, you name it!

Be prepared for the unexpected and embrace it (just like English weather)!

If you’re interested in experimental film photography, make sure to check out The Lomographic Society International. Lomography movement has skyrocketed in the recent years. Lomography is “all about having fun while taking good pictures” and it often refers photography using cheap and quirky analog film cameras. Distort your images, blur them out with a soft focus, expose your photos multiple times; there’s no limit to creativity!

Did you know that you can soak your film rolls in a ramen soup and get fascinating results? Check out Polina Washington’s incredible work and try it yourself!

Manual film cameras are not from my era. I grew up with automatic pocket film cameras, which are similar to disposable plastic film cameras. So it’s also a kind of a time machine for me, using technology from before I was born.

Film photography is not something they teach you at school these day. It’s not ‘common knowledge’. How exciting it is to be able to do something not many can!

I hope you enjoyed this week’s post. Which is your favourite one of the benefits of shooting on film? Pop it down in the comment section below.