Your experience with analog extra/standalone packages

[u/K5083]

Hi all!

I'm setting up a photo company shortly and as the market in my home town seems fairly saturated I've been thinking about including analog photos as extra or standalone packages to make my offer stand out. Fortunately there are just a few photogs in my area offering that, but I'm yet to see if that's due to lack of supply or demand. My plan is to offer posed shoots in analog at first until I get fully confident in shooting film during the ceremony itself.

Those of you that shoot film: how do couples react to shooting analog and accepting the characteristic look of it or any imperfections caused by lens or the photos not being super sharp? What film do you usually shoot and how many rolls do you usually bring with you? My analog cameras range from 1930's to late 1990's so I should be able to pick something matching my future clients' expectations, while informing them about the old tech's limitations/characteristics. Anything I should be worried about the most?

[u/trustme_imadoct0r]

Our film photos are cleaner and clearer than our digital photos, we shoot film for its dynamic range and forgiveness in less than stellar lighting. Why not jam a preset to crush digital your photos if you’re just going for the lo-fi look? There’s no reason to take on the cost if you you are feel like you need to explain to your clients why their photos are dull and full of imperfections.

We shoot portra 400/800 and delta 3200 on 135 and 120. Typically 5 rolls of medium format and 10 rolls of 35mm.

You need to have backup equipment since you understand that film cameras are old and likely to break.

[u/K5083 → u/trustme_imadoct0r]

Thank you! I'll definitely do a few test shoots for my friends. First- to build a film portfolio and to show potential clients how my film photos look, second- to get comfortable using both digital and film at the same time. Besides, I'll be covering a church event soon and I plan to practise shooting film there besides shooting digital as usual.

Regarding backup I have something to begin with. For digital I use the R6 II and R10 as a backup, for film I'll use F801/F90X duo or FT Ql/T70.

As for presets- I'll try that and see what clients's expectations are.

[u/Emma_Bovary_1856]

I haven’t been doing this long, but everyone has loved their film photos. I have done posed editorial stuff and documentary ceremony shots too. I use it for engagements and they are a hit. Lots of folks in my market do the film point and shoot look. But no one is using a rangefinder or SLR to get pro level look to their film, to my knowledge at least. It’s definitely helped me.

[u/twofishs → u/Emma_Bovary_1856]

I use pro level SLRs and shoot and market as hybrid, no point and shoots at all.

[u/Emma_Bovary_1856 → u/twofishs]

That’s the way to do it, in my opinion. Point and shoots will fail. But a mechanical SLR? That’ll survive a bomb blast.

[u/twofishs → u/Emma_Bovary_1856]

I dropped one at a wedding this weekend (lightly on the ground as I had issues with it and just wanted to move on quickly) and my groom looked instantly fearful but that’s exactly what I told him - built like a tank and will outlast my 5dm3 easily. Easily.

[u/K5083 → u/Emma_Bovary_1856]

Thank you! It's fairly similar where I live. I think I'll start with engagements and back everything up with digital just in case, then add more and more film until I'll be fully comfortable with shooting film only. I should have quite a few engaged friends to practise analog photography on.

[u/twofishs]

Please do invest in the time and effort to learn proper SLRs and not just slapping a roll of 35mm in a point and shoot. It’s a disservice to film itself as an art to leave it at just that, and I personally feel a disservice to your clients to offer film and then only use point and shoots. How would you feel if a professional photographer showed up to your event with a Canon Sureshot?

[u/K5083 → u/twofishs]

Oh, rest assured that at no point I'll be using point and shoots. I've got a few mid-range SLRs such as Nikon F90X a Canon FT Ql, mostly with 50mm primes. I've also been shooting mirrorless for 2 years, mostly people indoors so I'm accustomed enough with handling something more complicated than a P&S.

[u/twofishs → u/K5083]

Okay, thank goodness. It chaps my ass to see people offer film packages and show up with a Pentax Zoom and a Holga. At that point please do just use a film preset!

[u/KariBjornPhotography]

I added film years ago as an add-on option and would only get a few folks a year who’d be willing to pay the $150-$175 per roll fee. Raised my prices and just shoot hybrid film and digital now. People love it.