Is Film Worth the Price? Adding Super 8 and Film Photos to Your Wedding
There is a huge rise of the retro trend for weddings and mirco weddings now, and super 8 video is taking the lead in beautiful, nostalgic, memories captured on film. Since super 8 is real film, it can start to get really expensive and has most engaged couples wondering if the cost of the film is worth adding super 8 on to their wedding day. The rise of retro is back, but I believe it is here to stay and there’s so many amazing reasons why hiring a super 8 videographer and film photographer is worth the price!
What Makes Film Unique?
As a photographer that grew up in the digital age, I could see the difference between the two mediums. I love how hands on film is, the timeless look it gives, and how these photos go away from trends! Many photographers have a unique editing style, and some may age poorly. With film, you have a classic look that will flow seamlessly with wedding photos from your grandparents and parents. The editing style won’t age your pictures!
What Makes Film Better Than Digital
Film gives the modern day photographer/videographer space to be present during your wedding day. Digital photographers and videographers are often consumed with looking back on footage they took to make sure it’s exactly how they wanted it. When shooting film, we have the chance to see and capture all the in-between moments, feel good in the memories we’re capturing, and we can be present to also celebrate you at your wedding!
Film Colors
Every film stock is a little different with how it processes colors; however, they always look timeless! Many digital photos and videos have filters and presets that dictate how colors look, and some people have a very unique style that may age your wedding photos and video in 20 years (think of the bad 80’s trends!) When you have film photos of your day, you have true to color photos that look timeless and won’t become a trend.
Film is high quality photography!
Before digital cameras existed, photographers were taking high quality photos, on film! There are some people that use lower quality, disposable cameras that aren’t great quality, but when used correctly by a photographer or videographer, these photos can be better quality than digital! Investing in someone that knows how to expose and use film professionally will get you photos you adore and end up loving even more than your digital counterparts. Film does a great job preserving highlights. When looking at film photos or super 8 video, you’ll notice they sky isn’t blown out white. Film is able to expose the highlights, subject, and shadows well when used properly. Even celebrities have hired photographers to shoot film at their weddings, Nick and Priyanka Jonas’ Wedding was shot partially on film!
Why Film is Coming Back
For those that have already lived through the film age, then have used digital photos for years, it’s sometimes confusing why we would go back to a more expensive and older medium for capturing people’s weddings. There are some pros for going back to the basics and using film and super 8 at weddings.
Film has a timeless feel
Like I’ve touched on before, film has such a timeless and nostalgic look. The photos you get back have a true to color look that doesn’t age. Film has been used with your parents and grandparents wedding photos as well so it seamlessly blends and complements the photos your ancestors have! Digital photography is still relatively new and photographers and videographers can get very artistic with editing to a point where the colors and editing is very styled. Hiring someone that shoots film guarantees a timeless look that won’t age!
The photographer or videographer capture more details
When shooting film, your photographer or super 8 videographer is so much more present during your day. We don’t have the ability to look at what we captured, so our face isn’t glued to our cameras! This makes us able to really look around the space and capture all the details- your parents squeezing hands at your ceremony, a butterfly flying through your reception space, or grandparents wiping a tear is something we’re able to notice so much easier because we get to look around and be present. Since we only have so many exposures, every photo is intentional and has meaning behind it. We are also required to be good at our job! Someone that shoots on film is skilled in exposing and composing photos fast and correctly! When it comes to hiring someone that take film photos or super 8 video, you know you’ll have a person that is around to notice, work fast, and take great photos!
The Benefits of Super 8 Video
What is Super 8 Video?
Super 8 video is a video recorded on film! These cameras take a reel of film and run it through the camera, exposing it and capturing video! Super 8 video has a very nostalgic look, just like old home videos your grandparents may have had of your parents growing up! It was popularized in the 60’s and placed in the hands of average people to document their life. Hiring a super 8 videographer gives you a video that is also a special nod to your grandparent’s wedding video or other home movies they used to make!
Why Super 8 is Perfect for Weddings
Video gives a new way to relive your wedding day!
Super 8 video is such a sweet way to capture your wedding day! Video just has something a little extra that photos can’t mimic. Video captures movement and emotional moments so well and making it a nostalgic film makes it that much better!
The nostalgic feeling Super 8 video has on weddings
Super 8 video is the homemade video your grandparents used when they got married, or how they documented their kids growing up, or family vacations! Super 8 video is how they got to preserve some of their best memories, and now you get to use that with film at your wedding or micro wedding! It’s totally a sweet and sappy way to get all the butterflies going from your big day.
It’s short and sweet!
Super 8 video does an amazing job and getting short clips to highlight your day. For some couples, that’s all the video they need! Something fun to remember the movement, touches, and emotions of the day in a highlight film without having a 20min long video. Super 8 is perfect to snuggle up on the couch and rewatch a home video of your favorite day with your partner.
FAQ’s about Film and Super 8
How long is a super 8 video?
Each reel of super 8 film is about 3 minutes long. After editing, expect a 1.5 minute video for each reel of film.
Is film better than digital?
Film does a great job at preserving highlights and correct colors! Film is a high quality way to capture photos or video.
Is there sound on super 8 videos?
Usually, super 8 video cameras do not record audio. When you receive your final super 8 video, there will be music that plays with it.
Will I regret not having a wedding video?
Most wedding couples love having a super 8 video because its all highlights from their day! Some people may not feel the need to hire a videographer, but asking someone to take short clips to make a highlight video of their wedding is something everyone loves!
Why is film and super 8 expensive?
Buying film, processing film, and scanning film is an expensive undertaking. 35mm film ends up being $35 a roll and super 8 is $110 a reel. On top of that, you are paying for someone’s skills, knowledge, and time when hiring a film photographer or super 8 videographer.
How Much do Super 8 Video and Film Photos cost for Weddings?
Depending on the length of time, location of your venue, and if you’re hiring someone for super 8 videography and film photography, the cost of weddings can fluctuate. These are my starting prices for shooting film!
Oregon and Utah Film and Super 8 Wedding Packages
How much does Super 8 video cost?
Super 8 video for weddings starts at 4 hours of coverage and start at $1,600
How much does Film wedding photography cost?
Film wedding photography starts at 4 hours and starts at $2,000
How much does Super 8 video and film photos cost for a wedding?
To shoot both super 8 video and film photography at a wedding for 4 hours starts at $3,200
Oregon and Utah Super 8 Videographer and Film Photographer
If you’re interested in hiring a film photographer or super 8 videographer (or both!) for your wedding or micro wedding, I’m your gal! Shooting film is my bread and butter and something I have been doing for years. I have lots of experience in the digital world, but once I started learning about film and shooting it exclusively at weddings and elopements, I fell in love with the process and how everything turned out!
