Confessions

Confession. Most of what you’ve seen lately on the blog…. is film.

When I started my career as a wedding photographer almost six years ago I had come from a background in black and white film photography. As a senior in high school, I learned the basics in Ms. Wescott’s classroom with a pinhole camera made from a shoe-box. It was trial and error, but so much fun to watch images appear in the developer tray from a piece of white paper, magic it seemed. We progressed on to real, manufactured cameras and I was really hooked. At eighteen I had committed to UNCG to pursue a career in recreation, parks and tourism. I loved my classes, my professors and especially my adviser, Dr. Gladwell. As I was nearing the end of college, she was sitting with me to look at my class schedule for my second semester of junior year…. I needed an elective. I’d plowed through college taking everything “required” but not much for fun. I was probably the only rising senior still needing electives. I piped up and said I wanted to take photography if their was a class available, their was.

The spring semester of 2005 arrived and I was giddy to walk into the classroom. During the semester I think we spent one day in class and one day in the lab (T/Th schedule), but you could sign up for darkroom time outside of regular class. My name was on that sign up constantly. I had my favorite enlarger picked out and many nights you could find me there. I went on to graduate, become a real person and earn a living. My college degree didn’t get me too far at first. I worked five part-time jobs in the year and a half following graduation, living in Wilmington. While I worked there, I met a co-worker who asked me if I could do any job what would it be? Photography, I answered. A few weeks later he showed up at work with an old camera he’d found. It sparked me to grab a roll from the drugstore and run it through the Minolta I still had from college. I didn’t have access to a lab to produce black and white, so I took it to the local shop and had it developed. It was less than stellar, as it was color and I had no experience with that…. but never the less, it got me thinking about photography again. With 5 part-time jobs, I was struggling to make ends meat much less have funds to pursue photography.

Fast-forward, Jeremy and I got married in 2009 and with some left over wedding money I purchased my first DSLR and fell in love all over again. I then began to realize the look I loved so much wasn’t coming from a digital camera, but instead a film camera. I still had my Minolta, but wanted to experiment with medium format film, so I purchased my Bronica.

I love that camera. Period. It’s my favorite to shoot when the conditions are right. Color film requires a hefty amount of light, so it doesn’t always make the best option… but when it’s right…. it’s right! The images are velvet, and  I feel like I can really get a sense of true textures in the prints.

OK…. so WHY am I telling all this? Simple. I want to shoot more and more film. In an effort to hone skill I am going to offer 3 free sessions… here’s what I’m looking for….

1. A couple. (like an engagement/anniversary/maternity session)
2. A bride. You will likely need to provide your own dress, but we can work to find you one if needed.  I will provide a bouquet.
3. A wedding (not a real wedding, but a couple willing to dress up as a bride/groom). You’ll likely need to provide your own attire. I will provide a bouquet and boutonniere.

Sessions will take place in the Charlotte or Carolina Beach areas. I will be shooting 2-4 rolls of film per session and will supply you with the digital files for your participation.

If you’re interested in participating in one of these sessions, please apply here! Applications will close on September 3 and those selected will be notified. Thank you!

*All images in this post are film!