Through the Flash: Rochelle & Ryan's Wedding Photography on Film

Grainy. Gritty. Gorgeous.

Ryan and Rochelle's wedding had all the elements of a beautiful day that a photographer could ask for. Heartfelt vows, a packed dance floor, live music, and so much love between friends and family. Set to the backdrop of Classic Catering at 625 in Clovis it was a dream wedding to shoot.

What made it stand out even more to me was the way we captured it: on film with direct flash.

Why Film Photography for a Wedding?

There's something profound about shooting on film. You slow down. You become more intentional. You don't fire off a hundred frames, because you don't have that luxury. So you wait for the one that matters. It's a different rhythm, and I love it.

Film also brings an unmistakable warmth and grain that digital just can't replicate. It softens the scene by adding a layer of nostalgia. Nostalgia feels fleeting and emotional in all the right ways. For Rochelle and Ryan, that felt like the right direction. Their energy was elegant and laid-back. A timeless kind of love. And I wanted the photos to reflect that.

Why Flash?

Harsh flash on film is having a moment in wedding photography again. The look is direct, raw, and again adds that dash of nostalgia. It's reminiscent of those candid party snapshots from the early 2000s, even a bit of old editorial glam. Flash on film together creates images that are real and unfiltered, but still bold and stylish.

I used on-camera flash throughout the evening to bring out those vibrant, in-the-moment scenes. The kind that makes you feel like you're right back in the middle of the party. It captured the joy, the laughter, the movement on the dance floor.

What I love About This Approach

While I also shot with my digital camera and loved what we captured, I was obsessed when I got the film shots back. Film made me more present. Flash made me bolder. Combined with the elegance of my X-T5, I feel like I delivered to Ryan and Rochelle a wedding gallery that's timeless, romantic, and delightfully nostalgic in all the best ways.

There's a reason this film and flash aesthetic resonates with so many people right now. It's honest. It embraces the beauty in imperfection. And let's the moment speak for itself.

Want your wedding or elopment to feel as real and creative as it does in your memories? CONTACT ME about capturing it in a way that's true to you or SUBSCRIBE for more wedding content from a wedding photographer.