This week on Summer School, I'm joined by Andrew Tallon, an Australian photographer currently living in Denmark who shoots weddings entirely on film. Andrew and I dive into what it actually looks like to run a wedding photography business shooting exclusively on film, from the logistics and challenges to why he made the switch in the first place.
Going All In on Film
Andrew didn't start his career shooting film. Like many of us, he started with digital before eventually making the leap to shooting weddings entirely on film about three years ago.
We talk about what pushed him to make that decision, whether he was nervous about how clients would respond, and how shooting film has changed the way he approaches weddings.
One thing I found particularly interesting was how intentional Andrew is with his film stocks. He'll actually scout venues ahead of time and plan out which stocks he wants to use throughout different parts of the wedding day. Rather than trying to make everything look the same, he embraces the different looks that film can create depending on the lighting and environment.
The Logistics of Shooting 100% Film
Of course, I had a LOT of questions about the logistics of this.
How do you deliver sneak peeks when everything has to go through a lab? How do you keep track of all your rolls? And how do you make sure you're prepared for every lighting situation?
Andrew walks us through his process, including how he organizes and labels his film throughout a wedding day so he can send specific rolls to the lab for rush processing.
It's a really interesting look at how he's built an entire workflow around shooting film without sacrificing the client experience.
Bringing Back Physical Albums
Something else I loved hearing about was Andrew's approach to wedding albums.
Rather than simply delivering a digital gallery and calling it a day, Andrew works with small businesses to create really beautiful, personalized albums for his couples. We're talking custom fabrics, little watercolor paintings, and all sorts of thoughtful details.
We chat about the importance of tangible photographs and why the experience of actually sitting down and flipping through an album is something we shouldn't overlook.
Are Photographers Taking Over Wedding Days?
This was probably one of my favorite parts of our conversation because I think it's something more photographers need to be talking about.
Andrew brings up how photographers can sometimes become so focused on getting the shot that we forget there's an actual wedding happening around us.
We talk about respecting other vendors, being mindful of how much space we're taking up, and remembering that the couple's experience should always come before our portfolio.
Especially when it comes to moments like getting ready, it's worth asking ourselves whether we're documenting what's happening or unintentionally directing the entire experience.
Final Thoughts
I loved getting to hear Andrew's perspective on photography, especially because he's doing things a little differently than most wedding photographers.
Whether you're already shooting film, thinking about making the switch, or just interested in approaching weddings more intentionally, I think there's a lot to take away from this conversation.
We get into the technical side of film, but also the bigger picture of what it means to create meaningful work and give your couples an experience that goes beyond just beautiful photographs.
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Connect with Andrew:
Website: www.andrewtallon.com
Instagram: @atweddings
