The Resurgence of Film in Wedding Photography

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With once-in-a-lifetime celebrations like weddings, documentation is crucial. Every newlywed couple wants to memorialize their special day and have framed photographs to hang on their wall for years to come. While digital cameras can guarantee they get those shots in real time, three wedding photographers are turning to the slower medium in an effort to reflect the true depth of the occasion — meet JP Nitural from the Philippines, Cino from Malaysia, and Hannah Gunnell who is a dual citizen from the United States and Australia.

In this article, we’re getting to know them and how they continue to establish the resurging place of film in the wedding photography industry.

Photo Credit: Hannah Gunnell, Cino, & JP Nitural

Taking the first step

The magic begins when one finally takes the leap. This is especially true for these photographers as their path to shooting weddings on film would not have been unlocked if it weren’t for their courage to begin. The journey wasn’t immediate as they each had their own hesitation in deciding to use film professionally.

For Hannah, 38, film used to be reserved exclusively for her personal life. When delivering to clients, she relied on the digital format to ensure they were pleased with her work. It wasn’t until a few years ago that she took the leap and eventually specialized in film photography, describing the feeling as her “homecoming” for finally getting to embrace the medium she loved.

Hannah: I just realized that I adored working with film and that I had been denying myself what I truly loved by limiting myself to digital. The decision to specialize in film was a big part of a broader decision to allow myself to fully be me in my work and business.

Both JP, 30, and Cino, 29, tested the waters by starting with weddings of people they already knew.

Clouded with doubt at the time, JP initially tried to shoot on film during his cousin’s wedding — a mere experiment at first. Seeing the photos and how happy the couple was with what he had created was the turning point that set everything in motion for him.

JP: When I saw the results, I knew I wanted to keep using it. The journey wasn’t easy at first — film photography wasn’t really a thing for weddings in the Philippines, and I almost gave up on it. But I told myself, What if it catches on someday? I might regret stopping. I'm really glad I stuck with it because now, film wedding photography in the Philippines is finally becoming a thing — and I couldn’t be happier.

Cino, on the other hand, found joy in the chaotic learning process of his first try at a friend’s wedding — embracing all the blur and underexposure. Despite being a beginner at the time, Cino was grateful to have been entrusted with the opportunity to document a special occasion.

Cino: That wedding marked the beginning of my career, and it's a moment I’ll always cherish. It was the first time I truly believed in myself as a photographer and gained the confidence to pursue this passion more seriously.

Bumps along the road

Shooting weddings on film may come with extra challenges, especially with the uncertainty that naturally comes with it. Shooting fast-paced events like weddings, especially on a slow medium like film, can certainly be challenging. How do these photographers do it? Preparedness, attentiveness, and the willingness to embrace bumps along the road!

JP: I always try to think two steps ahead of what could go wrong. Preparedness is key, along with attentiveness and staying calm under pressure. If something unexpected happens, I focus on finding a solution rather than panicking. Staying composed helps me think clearly and make the best decisions in the moment.

Hannah: I think most of my creative process just depends on being keenly present and observant on a wedding day. In order to set myself up to do that, I like to be really well-prepared and well-rested.

Photo Credit: Cino, Hannah Gunnell, & JP Nitural

When being prepared doesn’t suffice, it’s important to be attentive and stay two steps ahead of whatever could go wrong. However, as Cino described it, things don’t always go as planned even with experience. On top of everything that a wedding photographer can do to avoid encountering issues, one should also be open to moving past mistakes with a new lesson to take from it.

Cino: It's more of a trial-and-error process for me. Each wedding is an opportunity to learn and refine my approach, and I enjoy the journey of exploring film in this context.

Authenticity at the forefront

Imperfections are part of the magic — grain, light leaks, motion blur — and there's no better match for the intimate wedding atmosphere than film's added layer of authenticity. Cino and Hannah attribute the resurgence of film photography in weddings to this kind of authenticity that couples seem to have a growing interest in.

Cino: There's a warmth and authenticity to film that digital photography sometimes lacks. It captures moments in a way that's more timeless and organic. It’s different from the perfectly polished digital look, and many people are now seeking something more personal and unique for their wedding day.

Hannah: A lot of us grew up looking at old family photos on film, so I think there is an element of nostalgia to it. But mostly I think it’s a product of an overall industry shift towards embracing the beautiful imperfections of a wedding day. We are moving away from the staged perfection of it all and we want real moments.

Photo Credit: JP Nitural, Cino, & Hannah Gunnell

Just like Cino and Hannah, JP's top priority when working with couples is capturing rawness — the gazes they exchange, the subtle interactions, the unfiltered laughter, and the emotions in their eyes. Instead of strictly directing clients, he strives to produce images that are honest and bring out the look of love between the couple.

JP: My goal is to create images that feel authentically them — not staged, not trend-driven, but timeless. I don’t want them to look back in five years and cringe at something that felt forced. Instead, I want their photos to feel like they were taken 10 years ago, yet still look fresh and meaningful 10 years from now... I looked back at some photos I submitted from my favorite films and realized the simple ones speak to me the most. When a photo captures a real emotion in just one shot, it just sticks with you.

Witnessing love up close

There are many things that make JP, Cino, and Hannah’s job rewarding. Apart from the joy of gifting clients with a heartfelt memory in each shot, there is also a sense of fulfillment in simply being there. Every wedding that they shoot is an invitation to become a witness to love — the love that binds the couple together and the love that is shared by everyone who came to celebrate their union.

Hannah: The couple’s really lovely and heartfelt ceremony had just ended, and all the close family members who were there to witness it spontaneously moved to hug them. It ended up becoming a massive group hug between everyone there. It was a moment that reminded me what a privilege it is to witness the way people love one another as my job.