Falling in Love with Film Photography

The first time I picked up a film camera was technically in high school, but it didn’t truly capture my heart until about three years ago. A good friend of mine was posting film photos online, and they had this undeniable magic—timeless, rich in color, and full of depth. Instantly, I was intrigued. I wanted to learn more, to push past the mental block that told me I couldn’t do it.

Film photography can feel intimidating at first, especially in a digital world where we’re used to taking a hundred shots, deleting the bad ones, and moving on. With film, there’s no instant feedback, no quick fix if you mess up. But I was determined to try, and I’m so glad I did.

My First Film Camera

My first film camera was a thrifted Canon EF with a 50mm lens, made in the 1980s and previously owned by a professional photographer. It was in pristine condition, and even though I was nervous about it not working, it turned out to be an absolute breeze to use. Since then, I’ve tested quite a few older film cameras, but that Canon remains my favorite. I just fell in love.

Of course, getting started was a process. My first few rolls? Absolute garbage. I had to learn how to expose correctly, how film interacts with light, and how vastly different it is from shooting floral arrangements on a phone or digital camera. Unlike an iPhone, which adjusts settings automatically and gives instant feedback, film requires a slower, more intentional approach. But by my second roll, I captured a shot that turned out beautifully. The colors were beyond anything I’d ever seen in digital photography, elevating the way I capture floral photography and fine art floral arrangements into something almost surreal. From that moment on, I was hooked.

The Cost and the Process

Film photography isn’t exactly an inexpensive hobby. A roll of film costs me minimum $10, shipping it to a lab is another $8, and developing and scanning fees range from $15 to $30. That’s a total of $38per roll MINIMUM! After that, I usually edit the scans on my computer. The whole process takes time—sometimes, I don’t see a photo for 4 to 8 weeks if I forget to send a roll in right away. Unlike digital, there’s no instant gratification.

And yet, I keep coming back to it.

Why Film?

It comes down to two things: permanence and artistry.

As much as I love the convenience of digital photography, I don’t feel like it always does justice to the floral artwork I create. My goal is to capture my floral designs in a way that makes people want to hold onto the images—to print them, frame them, and keep them forever. Film floral photography has a richness, a depth, and a color quality that digital just can’t replicate. The grain, the tones, the way each film stock renders petals in slightly different hues—it all feels painterly, as if the images belong in an art museum.

With the right light, a film photograph of flowers can transport you to another era. That timeless quality is what I love most.

Lessons Learned and New Adventures

I can’t even count how many rolls of film I’ve shot by now, but I still learn something new with each one. Out of a roll of 32 shots (for 35mm), I might only get a few truly great ones, but that’s part of the process. There’s only so much YouTube or friends can teach you—it’s really about getting your hands dirty and experimenting.

A few months ago, I lost my beloved Canon while traveling, and it felt like losing a limb. I had gotten so comfortable with that camera that using anything else felt foreign. But losing it forced me to adapt. Since then, I’ve worked with different cameras, stretching my skills and pushing myself to learn more. Nothing has quite replaced that first love, but I’ve grown because of it.

My newest film baby is a Yashica Mat-124, a twin-lens reflex camera that shoots medium format film—an entirely different beast from 35mm. It’s a whole new challenge, but I can’t wait to see how it transforms my film floral photography.

Want to Try Film Photography?

If you’ve been curious about analog photography but don’t know where to start, I highly recommend checking out KEH Camera, a great online retailer for used cameras. A 35mm film camera with a 50mm lens is a perfect entry point, and my favorite affordable film stock for beginners is Kodak Gold 200—it’s versatile, forgiving, and has beautiful colors.

From there, just dive in! Watch some tutorials on how to load your film, get a feel for your camera, and start shooting. You’ll learn the most by simply doing.

And if you ever want to nerd out about floral photography or discuss capturing floral designs on film, reach out—I’d love to chat & nerd out together.