What Is Film Photography? A Complete Guide in the Digital Age
Film photography is the process of capturing images on light-sensitive photographic film rather than a digital sensor. While digital photography now dominates everyday image-making, film photography continues to thrive among photographers who value its aesthetic qualities, tactile workflow, and slower, more intentional approach.
I’ve been shooting film alongside digital for many years — from 35mm black and white to medium format — and for many photographers today, film isn’t about nostalgia or rejection of modern technology. It’s about process, discipline, and a different relationship with the photograph itself.
This guide explains what film photography really is, how it works, why people still choose it, and how it fits into a modern photographic workflow.
What Is Film Photography?
At its core, film photography records light onto a strip or sheet of photographic film coated with a light-sensitive emulsion. When exposed to light through a camera lens, this emulsion undergoes a chemical change that forms a latent image. After development, this becomes a visible negative or transparency.
Unlike digital photography — where light is converted into data — film photography produces a physical object: a negative or slide that can be printed, archived, or scanned.
Film photography typically involves:
- Loading film into a camera
- Manually controlling exposure (aperture, shutter speed, ISO)
- Developing the film using chemicals
- Printing in a darkroom or scanning for digital use
Each step affects the final image, making film photography a craft as much as a capture method.
A Brief History of Film Photography
Film photography has its roots in the early 19th century, evolving from simple photographic plates to roll film formats that made photography accessible to a wider audience. For over a century, film was the dominant photographic medium, used by amateurs, professionals, artists, and journalists alike.
The rise of digital photography in the late 1990s and early 2000s dramatically reduced film’s commercial dominance. Many manufacturers discontinued films and cameras, and labs closed. Yet film never disappeared.
Instead, it settled into a deliberate, specialist medium — one valued for its look, its discipline, and its connection to photography’s history.
Why People Still Shoot Film Today
Film photography persists not because it is easier or cheaper, but because it offers something different.
A slower, more intentional process
With a limited number of frames on each roll, film encourages careful composition and thoughtful exposure. Each photograph feels considered rather than disposable.
A tangible photographic object
Negatives and slides exist physically. They can be held, archived, revisited decades later, and printed without relying on proprietary file formats.
A different creative mindset
Film photography shifts focus away from instant feedback. There’s no screen to check, no histogram to chase — just judgement, experience, and patience.
For many photographers, this change in mindset alone is transformative.
The Unique Characteristics of Film Photography
Film behaves differently from a digital sensor, and those differences matter.
Grain, not noise
Film grain is a physical structure formed by silver halide crystals or dye clouds. It has randomness and texture that many photographers find aesthetically pleasing, especially in black and white work.
Highlight handling and tonal roll-off
Film is particularly forgiving in highlights. Overexposed areas often retain detail in a way that feels natural and organic.
Colour rendering
Different films render colour differently — some muted, some vibrant, some warm, some cool. Film choice becomes a creative decision rather than a profile applied later.
Black and white strength
Black and white film excels at tonal separation, texture, and contrast. It encourages photographers to see in light rather than colour.
Medium format advantages
Larger film formats offer increased resolution, smoother tonality, and a distinctive depth that many photographers still prefer over smaller digital sensors.
Film Photography vs Digital Photography
Film and digital photography are not enemies — they are tools with different strengths.
Film photography
- Slower workflow
- Ongoing costs (film and processing)
- Encourages discipline and intention
- Produces a physical negative
- Distinct aesthetic characteristics
Digital photography
- Instant feedback
- Near-zero cost per frame
- Greater flexibility in post-processing
- Ideal for speed, volume, and commercial workflows
Many photographers use both, choosing the medium that best suits the project rather than committing to ideology.
Black and White vs Colour Film Photography
Black and white film removes colour entirely, focusing attention on light, shadow, texture, and form. It is often chosen for:
- Street photography
- Landscape
- Documentary work
- Emotional or minimalist subjects
Colour film introduces another creative variable. Each film stock interprets colour differently, influencing mood and atmosphere before any editing occurs.
Neither is better — they simply tell stories in different ways.
Does Film Photography Use Software?
Despite common assumptions, film photography does not end when the shutter clicks.
Once film is developed, it must be:
- Printed in a darkroom, or
- Scanned for digital output
Scanning introduces software into the workflow, and with it, the possibility of editing.
Traditionally, film purists argued that film photographs should remain untouched after exposure. In reality, darkroom printing has always involved interpretation — contrast control, dodging, burning, paper choice.
Today, many film photographers use software carefully:
- Dust and scratch removal
- Minor exposure or contrast adjustments
- Colour correction after scanning
Used responsibly, software does not replace film’s character — it completes the process.
Getting Started with Film Photography
For beginners, film photography doesn’t need to be complicated.
A simple starting point:
- A reliable 35mm film camera
- One black and white film stock
- Basic understanding of exposure
- Meter carefully and shoot slowly
Film teaches fundamentals quickly. Mistakes are visible, memorable, and instructive.
For a practical look at shooting 35mm film on a classic Canon AE-1 Program, see our detailed guide to 35mm Film Photography
Frequently Asked Questions About Film Photography
Is film photography still relevant?
Yes. Film is widely available, labs still operate, and interest continues to grow.
Is film photography expensive?
It can be, but shooting less and more deliberately often balances costs.
Can film photos be digital?
Yes. Most modern film photographers scan their negatives for digital sharing and printing.
Is film better than digital?
Neither is objectively better. They offer different creative experiences.
Conclusion
Film photography remains relevant not because it resists modern technology, but because it offers something modern photography often lacks: intentionality.
It asks photographers to slow down, to trust their judgement, and to accept imperfection as part of the process. In return, it offers images with character, depth, and a tangible connection to the craft of photography.
Whether used exclusively or alongside digital tools, film photography continues to thrive because it encourages photographers to engage more deeply — with their subject, their process, and the photograph itself.
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