NYC Film Wedding Photographer FAQ
Analog has a sneaky way of making a photo taken yesterday feel nostalgic…
There’s really nothing better than sitting on the floor getting lost in piles of old photographs.
We have so many shoeboxes stacked in our cedar closet, filled with prints and polaroids—every photograph I have from childhood up until my 30s was shot on film and printed, and I Im so grateful for this. We don’t have kids, so someday they will all end up in the hands of our nieces & nephews… or in a random antique store. We're fine with either.
We love talking about all things analog, so if you have any further questions not covered in this FAQ, feel free to reach out to us here.
How long have you been shooting weddings on analog film?
All our lives cause that's what we were raised on. My first camera was a Polaroid, and Mike's was an Olympus point-and-shoot. But professionally, weve been incorporating analog film into weddings for around 10 years.
In 2015, we began shooting weddings with a few rolls of film in our bag simply for our own satisfaction. Most of our couples didn't seem excited about it, or even knew what it was, so the pressure was off, which allowed us to get really creative and experiment with expired film stocks and all kinds of cameras. All those years allowed us to get weird on film - it made us so happy, and our clients loved it too. We have been hooked ever since. In 2022, when the rising demand for analog film at weddings picked up, we were ready with open arms and have gone full throttle ever since. Documenting weddings on analog film for this new generation of couples who genuinely appreciate it as much as we do has breathed new life and immense excitement into our process. And since analog limits us to a small, finite number of frames per roll, it has sharpened our intuition as photographers. Film has forced us to slow down, and as a result, our work has become so much more personal and intentional.
How much film vs digital do you shoot at weddings?
Mike shoots exclusively with film cameras; he usually has 5-7 cameras hanging from his body, a mix of ever-evolving 35mm and medium-format cameras. I (Chellise here), on the other hand, blend digital and film, typically delivering an average of 60% analog to 40% digital.
What’s your film shooting style?
A cross between New York cool kid energy and romantic surrealism. While we always get the money shots that are to be expected and that Mom wants, we’re not going for the polished "perfect" wedding feed - we prefer a more human, deeply personal touch with a little lucid dream dropped in for the art wall. We attract couples who don't want their photos to convey wedding strip-mall-pinterest-board-energy, and this has a lot to do with the cameras we bring to weddings that are not so typical.
What’s the biggest misconception about shooting weddings on analog film?
The most misleading phrase we keep hearing on repeat is that “film has its place” - implying that digital is needed for backup and for dark spaces. This statement is false and misleading, given that every wedding documented before digital took over in 2007 was taken on film. You only need to look at your parents' and grandparents' wedding albums for proof.
So…. it is not true. It simply depends on the photographer's level of expertise and comfort in film and using remote flash in dark, cavernous venues like those in NYC. Mike is exceptionally skilled in this arena. For a visual reference, see the images below.
How do you handle dark spaces at weddings when shooting on film? What’s your lighting setup?
This is a really good question that you should ask anyone youre considering. Unlike many film photographers, we do not use continuous lighting (floodlights that stay on constantly and, in our opinion, kill the vibe). Instead, we use discreet remote flashes, allowing us to pop flash for a nanosecond when needed without affecting the ambient lighting of your wedding.
Where is your film developed?
Our film is developed & scanned at Primary Photographic in NYC.
Do you edit the film?
To a limited degree, yes. Each film stock has its own defined color profile; however, we may adjust the color, blacks, contrast, and exposure to our liking.
How do you deliver film photos to your clients?
While we would love to send a massive box of 4 x 6" prints as the final product, that's not going to fly these days (unless you want us to?). All of our film is scanned in high resolution, color-toned in-house, and sent to our clients in digital format for download.
How much do your wedding photography packages cost, and what’s included?
All of the Collections we offer include 9 hours of coverage and an engagement session. Our couples have the option of me (Chellise) or Mike as their lead photographer. For 2027, our Collections range between $15K and $25K. Variables such as travel, additional coverage for multi-day events, fine art albums, support from a second photographer, or the preference to have us shoot together as a team (the dream team!) are factors in that range.
For smaller, intimate weddings, we offer an hourly rate - best to inquire about those since they vary so much.
We also offer à la carte engagement sessions and elopement packages - those range between $3K and $5K
How far in advance do you book out?
If we had to average it, 9 months to 2 years out is the zone for us as photographers. In New York, May, September, and October are the most in-demand months, as well as holiday weekends, so we get booked up quickly for those. We each take no more than 15-20 weddings per year. To enquire about our availability, contact us here.