Photography intersects both art and technology — but sometimes, reaching for old technology creates the most stunning artwork. Film is a timeless medium full of beautiful colors and character that are difficult to replicate with digital. But film also comes with limitations and challenges. This week, we feature five photographers tackling those challenges to create stunning artwork on film, including Daniel Bergin, Radostina Boseva, Ashley Plante, Koko King and Shauna and Jordon Cooney. 

Daniel Bergin, Daniel Bergin Photography 

Daniel Bergin (@DanielCBergin) says that photographing people is more about the art of connection than it is the art of photography. For that reason, he talks with his subjects at length before the shoot and keeps his directions open-ended to leave room for personality to show through. For this shot, Bergin simply asked the couple to stand together close in the tight space of the window — the pose and connection was all how the couple naturally gravitated to each other. He captured the shot on a Contax G1 with Cinestille 800T film. 

“I shoot with film for two main reasons,” Bergin said. “The first is that I feel the process of shooting it helps me be more present, which is extremely important for documentary work. There’s little room for error, so you have to be really intentional about what and how you’re shooting. The second is that I just love the colors.” 

Radostina Boseva 

Photographer Radostina Boseva (@Radostina.photography) is always inspired by the couples in front of her lens — which is what led to this shot. The couple planned a sightseeing experience for their wedding guests in San Francisco and this spot looking over Ocean Beach was one of the couple’s favorites. Boseva says that the couple’s style and love for vintage inspired this shot on Fuji 400 film with the Contax 645 and an 80mm Carl Zeiss lens. 

“I chose to shoot film here because of the feeling of nostalgia that this media brings to the table,” she said. “I also love film, and if I have the right situations that film requires, I will choose film over digital anytime. [The bride] Veronica is also an aspiring photographer, and she loves everything vintage – so the real film aesthetic (not the emulated one) was one of the things that drew the couple to my work.” 

Ashley Plante, Analog Wedding 

This photograph is artwork of an artist. Ashley Plante of Analog Wedding captured this multiple exposure image during a branding shoot for a pottery studio, Dust + Form. Plante says she was inspired by watching artist Brielle Macbeth Rovito in her studio and seeing how each piece came to life. The entire branding shoot was captured on Ilford Delta 3200 using a mix of an 80mm on a Contax 645 and a wide-angle lens on a Nikon 35mm camera. 

“Film is my chosen medium, and I love how film interacts with every element involved in the taking of this photo, working together to bring the final result,” Plante said. “Of course, the film stock is the main guide of the image, but the look of the film will vary based on the available light, colors in the surroundings and the gear used. The main challenge with film can be working in low light settings, but knowing how to lean into that often leads to the direction of the image.” 

Koko King, Hastings & King 

Inspired by an old tree at the wedding venue, photographer Koko King of Hastings & King meshed a classic, romantic seated pose with the timeless look of film, complete with light leaks. She used the groom’s jacket to keep the bride’s dress from getting soiled as they snuggled together at sunset. King captured the image using the Holga 120 camera with Porta 400 film. 

“I opt for film over digital for its timeless aesthetic, it slows me down, with a very deliberate process and utterly tangible results,” she said. “Film has unique characteristics and constraints that are so very intriguing. Films’ allure lies in its romantic, timeless and artisanal charm — each roll offering up little quirks of happy accidents and artistic discoveries. I, personally, adore a good light leak, which is why I am drawn to using the Holga 120 so frequently. Often you can find me opening up the back from time to time to expose the film to even more light, or wrapping up my 120 film poorly, in hopes of fun light leaks occurring.” 

Shauna and Jordon Cooney, Shauna and Jordan Photography 

The overcast sky and Fuji 400h 120mm film work together flawlessly to create timeless colors in this beach image from Shauna and Jordon Cooney of Shauna and Jordon Photography. The blue background created by the water meshes with the hat and the motion of the hair to highlight the subject. The photographers, who used a Contax 645 with a Zeiss 80mm f2 lens, were inspired by the hat and lighting at the beach.  

“There’s an undeniable magic in the way film captures light and translates it into images,” Shauna said. “It’s a tangible, chemical process that has its own unique character and aesthetic. Film brings with it an element of unpredictability and imperfection that can result in unexpected, beautiful surprises. It’s this unpredictability that keeps us on our toes, constantly honing our craft to make the most of each frame.” She added, “However, working with film also presents its own set of challenges. Unlike digital photography, where we can instantly review and adjust our images, film demands careful planning and precision. Each roll of film has a limited number of exposures, and so we must be deliberate and intentional with each frame we capture.”  

Dig into our Photo of the Day archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching wedding photos and portraits. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery to: [email protected]