Once upon a time we had wedding photos that had character and emotion; the days of film wedding photography....
Today we have super sharp, comtrasty and saturated smart phone looking photos from todays technical wonders.
BUT ARE THEY BETTER?

I started my photography in the days of film, I grew up with the "look" of film as the "norm"
Then digital cameras came along; initially manufacturers wanted to mimic the "look" of film to entice photographers to move from film and but one of these new digital cameras.
By 2010 camera manufactuers were looking to the future and saw the phone camera.
Easy to use, totally automatic and with super sharp, perfectly focused images appearing instantly.
This became the expected norm for cameras and by 2012/13 both Fuji and Sony had "mirrorless" cameras that used the same technology as smartphones. Canon and Nikon followed soon after.
Today as a professional photographer it's impossible to escape the technology trap with the current breed of high tech, high megapixel, insanely good autofocus digital cameras.
Thankfully THERE IS A CHOICE....

For me as a wedding photographer who believes that character is more important than sharpness and perfection there are two choices:-
Use old lenses - a lens constitutes maybe 75% of the "look" of an image so whilst the camera maybe contemporary a more subtle "look" will be acheived with older lenses. For many years I've used Nikon's F mount lenses from around 2012. Compared to the current Z mount lenses these are more gentle, have more character and afford a more FILM PHOTOGRAPY look.
Use a LEICA camera - in 1953 Leica paunched their "M" range of cameras. Back then these were very small, lightweight cameras that were simple to use and built to last literally a lifetime. They've made these ever since! In 2008 Leica launched the digital version, the M8. Thier approach was and thankfully stilll is that a camera is a tool for an artist. It makes no attempt to be easy to use (it has no autofocus for instance). It is robust and meant to be used by photographers in any situation - even in the front line of a warzone; so a wedding is a doddle!
Their lenses are acknowledged as the best in the World where they combine a great level of sharpness yet retain the character and softness and subtlety that, for me, is perfect to create the film look photography for weddings and portraits.
Film photography at a wedding (or rather film "look") isn't for every couple - I understand. The colours are softer, the focus sometimes just a mm off perfection but for those wanting something more artistic, something that is more suited to the heirloom that hopefully wedding photos will become then this could be for you.
Just get in touch for more details and thanks for reading

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