EP 142 - Everything That Goes Into Photographing a Multi Day Wedding (Copy)

Aug 13

I’m so excited about this week’s episode because I’m sitting down with Jonathan Canlas, someone who has been shooting film for decades and has played a huge role in keeping film photography alive within our industry.

Jonathan started photographing weddings back in 1999 and has since built a career that goes way beyond just shooting. He created the Film Is Not Dead workshops, founded the FIND Lab, and has spent years teaching photographers around the world about film, creativity, and finding their own voice.

Meet Jonathan Canlas

Jonathan has been shooting film since long before its recent resurgence. While so many photographers moved toward digital, he stayed committed to the medium and eventually built an entire community around it.

“I love film, and I've been pretty adamant about keeping it alive and, like, proselyting it,” Jonathan shares.

We talk about what it was like photographing weddings on film in the early days of his career, how the industry has changed, and what it has been like watching film become exciting to a whole new generation of photographers.

Shooting for Yourself

One of my favorite parts of our conversation was talking about personal work and how important it is to make photographs that have absolutely nothing to do with what your clients want from you.

Jonathan is a huge believer in shooting for yourself, especially when you’re feeling creatively stuck.

“I think the most important part is to start shooting for yourself.”

We talk about personal projects, experimenting without worrying about whether something is “good,” and why sometimes the best thing you can do for your client work is go photograph something that has nothing to do with your business.

That idea is also a huge part of his Film School Road Trip, where photographers get out of their normal routines, make work together, and reconnect with why they like photography in the first place.

Building Community Around Film

Jonathan has also taken his love for community offline with the Analog Community Center.

What started as a space centered around photography has turned into something much bigger, hosting creative gatherings, events, karaoke, music, and all kinds of things that bring people together.

We talk about what it looks like to actually create community in real life and why having physical spaces for people to make things and connect feels especially important right now.

Let’s Talk Film

Of course, we also get into the actual nerdy film stuff.

Jonathan shares some of the film stocks he loves, including Kodak Ultramax, and we talk cameras, flash, experimenting with different stocks, and not being afraid to make things a little weird.

“I love Ultramax 'cause it's a little contrasty. It's punchy.”

We also get into the Contax G2, Lomo Purple, shooting in places like Iceland, and why knowing the technical side of film gives you more room to experiment with it.

Stop Looking at Everyone Else

Jonathan also shares something I think a lot of photographers probably need to hear: stop consuming so much work from people doing exactly what you’re doing.

“Stop looking at anyone's work who's doing what you're doing... because all you're doing is muffling your own voice.”

Instead, we talk about looking outside of your immediate industry for inspiration, studying photographers who came before us, and giving yourself enough space to figure out what you actually like.

This conversation goes into so many different corners of film photography, from the technical side to creativity, personal projects, community, and building a career that continues to evolve.

If you love film, want to shoot more of it, or just want to feel more excited about making photographs again, this is such a fun one.

Click the links below to see the Iceland photos we mention in the pod:

⁠Lomography Purple 1⁠

⁠Lomography Purple 2⁠

⁠Lomography Purple 3⁠

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