Is Film Wedding Photography Still Worth It in 2027?

I shoot film, I love it, and I get asked about it constantly, so let me answer the question honestly: yes, film is still absolutely worth it in 2027, but it isn’t for everyone, and I’d rather explain why than sell you on it.

What film actually gives you is a particular quality of light and colour. Highlights roll off softly instead of clipping harshly, skin tones come out warm and forgiving, and grain gives the image a texture that feels less clinical. When couples tell me they want photos that feel timeless rather than trendy, film is usually what they’re describing without knowing the name for it.

Film also changes how I work, and I think this is the part couples underestimate. With a finite number of frames, I slow down. I wait for the moment instead of firing through it. That slower rhythm tends to produce quieter, more honest images, and it makes the whole experience feel calmer for you too.

The honest trade-offs. Film costs more, because every roll has to be bought, developed and scanned. It takes longer to deliver. There’s no screen to check, so it requires a photographer who genuinely knows how to expose it. And in very low light, film has real limits.

That’s exactly why I don’t shoot film exclusively. My favourite approach is a hybrid: digital for reliability across the whole day, film woven in for the portraits and quiet moments where its character really shines. You get the safety of one and the soul of the other.

Should you ask your photographer for film? If you love warmth, grain and a timeless look, and you’re relaxed about waiting a little longer for your gallery, absolutely. If you need everything delivered fast and shot in dark venues, a hybrid approach makes more sense.

If you’d like to see what this actually looks like rather than just read about it, I have a whole analog series photographed on Lake Como.

View my analog film series from Lake Como