Film Favourites: From my First Roll to Experimenting During my First Wedding Season.

Although I have always been fascinated by film photography, 2024 was my first season as a full-time photographer. Focused on honing my skills, I decided to use my film camera mainly as an experiment to gather memories for me and my clients, rather than a product to sell.

The practical experience of handling film, the eager wait for development, and the unique characteristics of each film stock reignited a nostalgic feeling in me, reminiscent of childhood curiosity. Even though it was my first year as a true wedding photographer, I embraced many techniques for the first time, leading to an exiting new chapter of my career.

🎞️I am excited to announce that film stock is now available as optional package add-ons for my photography services.

Take a look as we revisit some of my all-time favourite film shots including a few shots from my own wedding...🌼

My First Roll of Film

In 2024, I decided to take film photography a little more seriously. Previously, the only photos I'd taken on film were either from a disposable one (a blog post about why I hate disposable cameras for another day) or an automatic point-and-shoot. To be honest, I was a little intimated by the whole concept of shooting on highly priced film, using a light-meter, loading and unloading the film properly, and finding trustworthy places to develop them, etc. Even though learning how to develop my own in a dark room is something that I'd love to learn one day, I just didn't know where to begin.

The first point-and-shoot camera I owned was the Pentax Espio 200 I bought in Victoria, BC on my very first road trip in our converted camper van, Old Blue. I don't think I even got the film developed until years later (thankfully it survived) , which goes to show just how much I cared about my film camera the first place. This was the summer of 2019 & I was taking plenty of photos on my FujiX100 and XT-1 at the time.

Galiano Island, British Columbia.

Since I was editing my digital images to emulate the nostalgic feel of film, I found myself more and more drawn to the practicing with the real thing. There’s something unmistakable about the grain, the colour, and the softness of film that digital just can’t fully capture. That curiosity led me to the purchase of my beloved, Canon AE-1.

*Fact: Canon AE-1 was the most popular camera in the 1970's.

My first Manual Film Camera

What I loved about shooting on this film camera is that it slowed me down, made me more intentional, and challenged me to trust my instincts.

Shooting my first roll was equal parts thrilling and nerve-wracking. I took every shot without fully knowing what to expect, relying solely on my instincts and the knowledge I had gained from my digital experience.  But when I finally got the film back, I was hooked. The colors were rich, the contrast bold, and the imperfections only added to the charm. There was a warmth to the images that digital couldn’t quite touch.

Since then, I’ve been deepening my love for film—experimenting with different stocks, embracing black and white, and chasing that perfect play of light. The process is slower, more tactile, and deeply rewarding. Film has taught me to see differently, to shoot with more purpose, and to fall in love with photography all over again.

Our Wedding on Film

It's hard to believe that this summer marks two years since our wedding. We tied the knot with our closest friends and family in my parent's backyard on June 23rd, 2023. Most of the decor was thrifted, with some items rented, and since it was an outdoor event, renting a tent was essential. We were fortunate to find one with a clear top. The light drizzle during dinner was incredibly romantic as it tapped against the plastic roof.

Although I'd love to delve into more details, I'll save that for another post, including how we planned everything, where I found my dress, and how we made it as low-waste and DIY as possible.

This was truly the best day of my life—I didn't use my phone or camera at all, so I'm extremely grateful for all the film photos taken by friends and family, as well as our photographers, Rob, and our videographer, Jinbon.

Me & the girls

A few from our honeymoon...

Colin & I in Edinburgh taken by our dear friend, Joe

Me w/ an oat flat white + my old fuji TX-3

First ever Irn Bru

New blog post every other Wednesday! I’ll be sharing lots about things like: planning my own wedding, shooting my first solo wedding, why I moved to Edmonton, life in Kingston, travels, tips, and more!

Thanks for reading! Your engagement truly means the world to me, and I cannot wait to share these experiences with you!

Warmly,

Riley