A Seattle Film Wedding Photographer for an Artistic Celebration
Film wedding photography is an art. For a couple like Mico and Christian, it’s the perfect mix of art and nostalgia. They first bonded over collaborative music and poetry. Their wedding had all the same artistic intentionality. I was lucky enough to be the film wedding photographer who documented their rad wedding at Studio 210.
A Film Wedding Photographer for Mico and Christian
Mico and Christian had their wedding at Studio 210 near Downtown Seattle. If you can believe it, this was actually their third wedding venue. The first two went out of business. Mico and Christian stayed positive and ended up loving Studio 210!
Studio 210 is a photography studio located in a 140-year-old building. It looks like an art gallery with clean white walls and open space. The windows on the front let in beautiful natural light. As a film wedding photographer, I loved the chance to document the interplay of light and shadow at this wedding.
This Seattle wedding venue feels like a bit of a blank slate. Mico and Christian brought their own quirky artistic vision to the space, and it turned out wonderfully. They did all the decorating themselves, and Mico created the invitations, programs, and menus.
When Mico and Christian first inquired with me, they described their hopes for their wedding this way: “We envision our wedding day to be an experimental-art-gallery-opening-esque event.” The day absolutely ended up having this feeling. Their friend group, which is full of creatives, contributed a lot to the intimate atmosphere.
Mixing Candid and Editorial Wedding Photography
In their inquiry, Mico and Christian also shared that they were looking for a film wedding photographer who could document their wedding with a mix of candid and editorial photography. I love this approach to wedding photos. Even though I consider myself the Queen of Candids, more editorial posing provides opportunities to get creative in different ways.
Mico told me this, and it’s stuck with me ever since: “Your work feels so beautiful and timeless. I feel that your photographs uniquely bring me to an emotion, a story.” That combination of art and storytelling is so important to me as a film wedding photographer. It’s what makes you want to share your photos down to your loved ones long after your wedding day.
If you’re considering videography, Super 8 is the perfect complement to film wedding photography. Super 8 has that vibey home movie quality. It’s textural and raw. I love including it as part of wedding coverage. Mico and Christian’s video is a good example of how cozy and emotional this medium can be. Check out these highlights from their wedding day.
Would you like to see more film wedding photography? Check out these blog posts:
Creating a Legacy with Film Wedding Photography
Having a film wedding photographer at their wedding also gave Mico and Christian a chance to reestablish family legacies that had been interrupted. Both lost photographs through immigration and other big life events. Mico told me that they “cherish everything we can capture of our chosen family, our chosen lives.” These wedding photos mean all the more because of that.
Mico also has a lot of experience with photography. Her father was a photographer and brought Mico along on his jobs. She photographed cultural events and marketing campaigns in college. Now she focuses on documenting her friends and family. I loved photographing someone who is so intentional and creative.
One of the perks of having a more intimate wedding is that you can prioritize what you really want. For Mico and Christian, that included great food. Musang Seattle catered the reception with a divine Filipino feast.
Would you like me to be your film wedding photographer? I’m a Seattle photographer who travels for destination weddings anywhere cool people are getting married! Inquire with me here.
Thank you to the vendors who made this wedding so amazing:
Photographer and Videographer: Sara Welch Photography
Venue: Studio 210
Florist: Francesca at Bower Floral
Hair and Makeup Artist: Carissa Blossom Artistry
Caterers: Musang Seattle and Wild Cats Catering
Dynamic NYC Videography for a Wedding at the Wythe Hotel
As far as New York weddings go, Alison and Colin’s wasn’t exactly traditional. They skipped a formal wedding party, tailored their ceremony to highlight loved ones, and added bar trivia to the reception’s entertainment. It made sense that they wanted a more moody, artsy approach to their NYC videography and photography. I documented their wedding at the Wythe Hotel on mixed media, including Super 8 video and film photography.
A Wedding at the Wythe Hotel
Alison and Colin love Brooklyn. I could tell from the time they first reached out to me about NYC videography and photography. We took their engagement photos in Park Slope. The Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg was the perfect wedding venue for them.
The Wythe Hotel is a stunning visual experience. You’d never know that the building was built in 1901 to house sugar for refiners. The exterior has the brick charm that’s characteristic of Williamsburg. Before becoming a hotel and wedding venue, the building lived a few other lives. It even house textile manufacturing for the Space Program
Now the Wythe is all beautiful modern rooms and jaw dropping views. The rooms feel bespoke, each with a character of its own. It’s easy to imagine wanting to rent one of the lofts to relax in luxury after your reception.
Unlike most hotel wedding venues, the Wythe gives you options for gorgeous surroundings and killer food. The hotel houses both Bar Blondeau and Le Crocodile. Both are heavy on the French influence and gourmet experience. Your guests won’t forget a reception here any time soon.
When Alison first reached out to me, she already knew that they would incorporate Bar Blondeau into their day. Before the bar opened, their day-of coordinator got them in for a private moment. With the Manhattan skyline stretched out beyond the windows, it was the ideal spot for their first look. Colin hadn’t seen Alison’s dress yet. Even though they wanted to keep things pretty nontraditional, they both really enjoyed that experience.
Wedding packages at the Wythe Hotel start around $25,000 for a 100-guest wedding. The venue has capacity for up to 150, but it really is a gem for more intimate celebrations.
Dynamic NYC Videography for Alison and Colin
Alison and Colin are the kind of clients artists dream about. They’re no strangers to NYC videography either. Alison is a commercial video editor and filmmaker who comes from a family of documentarians and videographers. Both Alison and Colin enjoy doing their own photography in digital and analog formats.
Going into the wedding, Alison and Colin knew they didn’t want a traditional wedding video. That started with Super 8 film. “I love adding 8mm film,” Alison said. “We’re both visual people and connected early in our relationship by working together on video projects… We love textural, authentic moments and dynamic movement… We want to capture the key memories.”
Super 8 was the ideal medium for Alison and Colin’s wedding videography. It delivered on the texture, movement, and authenticity that mattered so much to them. Neither of them wanted super posed, highly produced video. Super 8 portrays that candid, raw quality at the heart of a connection-filled wedding day.
In addition to Super 8 for their NYC videography, Alison and Colin opted for film photography as part of their wedding coverage. All of the photos featured in this blog post are film photos. They complement the Super 8 really well in telling an unfiltered, authentic story.
Would you like to see more NYC videography? Check out this chic wedding at Alligator Pear!
Your Nontraditional Wedding Video and Photos
I love pairing film photography with Super 8 for NYC videography. It blends the most timeless parts of our experiences with something that also feels nontraditional compared to a lot of heavily posed and edited wedding media. At the end of the day, you get art that reflects your happiest moments like you actually remember them.
Would you like me to document your wedding with NYC videography? I’d love to turn your wedding into art that imitates life. Let’s tell your story on Super 8 videography and film photography. Inquire with me!
Thank you to the vendors who made this wedding so dope.
Photographer & Videographer: Sara Welch Photography
Venue: Wythe Hotel
Planner: Julia Alexander-Burns from Vessel Brooklyn
Florist: Migle Staniskyte from Jura
DJ: Pat Mangan
Hair and Makeup: Willow House
Dress: Jenny Yoo
Suit: Tom James
Jewelry: We Are Arrow Jewelry and Catbird
Food: Le Crocodile at the Wythe Hotel
Save the dates, invites, and programs: Designed by the couple, printed by Czar Press
Super 8 Video for Chic NYC Wedding
Sometimes you just know a wedding is going to be magical af. That was definitely the case when Kaitlin and Michael reached out to me. The day did not disappoint! I documented their sophisticated NYC wedding on mixed media, including Super 8mm video . Check it out!
A Chic New York Wedding
In the time I’ve known Kaitlin and Michael, it’s become very clear just how much they love New York City. we spent their engagement session exploring Brooklyn Heights. Their wedding day brought big Manhattan energy with their stunning restaurant venue. I love how their Super 8 video brings out the nostalgia and artistry of this incredibly modern wedding day.
We started Kaitlin and Michael’s wedding day at their apartment in Brooklyn. Once they were ready, they shared a first look in the garden behind their apartment. I love how lush and private it felt. The couple really got to breathe in the moment together before friends and family joined them. I’m in love with the way the super 8mm film footage from this part of the day looked.
Telling the Story on Super 8 Video and Mixed Media
I documented Kaitlin and Michael’s wedding on mixed media with a special focus on Super 8 film video and film photography. In addition to being my signature media, they perfectly captured the raw, artistic energy around Kaitlin and Michael’s wedding day and super 8 videography.
As I started planning their Super 8 video and photography coverage, I asked Kaitlin and Michael what they hoped for from their video and images. Here’s what they shared: “We absolutely loved the engagement photos, so just more of that vibe! Romantic, warm editing, ‘at the moment,’ and candid photos you look at and feel like you're back in that moment. We also want to capture the energy and fun that people are having.” (Definitely check out those engagement photos here!
I would say we realized Kaitlin and Michael’s vision. These dreamy images and nostalgic super 8 film video give you a sense of exactly what it was like to get caught up in the moment of this wedding. The in-between moments feel as intentional and artistic as all of the carefully-planned details of the day. In their engagement photos, Kaitlin and Michael wanted to highlight the playful side of their relationship. I think that really shows in their wedding photos and video as well.
A Day Infused with Personal Style
Kaitlin and Michael’s Super 8 video and photos show how much of their personal style infused their wedding day. I already knew Kaitlin had incredible taste because I took their engagement photos in Brooklyn over the summer. Michael and Kaitlin both showed up for that session impeccably styled for a sunny summer photoshoot in the city.
Even though I had this prep, Kaitlin still floored me with THREE incredible looks on her wedding day. It’s no surprise that she’s a professional stylist. Every single look was epic. I love how they translated on film - a brilliant balance of high fashion and unfiltered moments.
Their outfits weren’t the only part of the wedding that showed off Kaitlin and Michael’s style. A vintage New York taxi transported them from their apartment to their venue in Manhattan. The incredible yellow car was a moment. We snapped plenty of photos with Kaitlin in her sophisticated custom suit and pearl veil. I love how these colors look on film.
Their New York wedding venue, Alligator Pear, set the tone for an intimate, connection-centered celebration. From the towering ceilings to the cozy nooks, it gave guests opportunities to be in the midst of things and steal away for conversations. The ridiculously delicious food and drinks didn’t hurt either.
Your Super 8 Video
Are you interested in having me document your wedding on Super 8 video? I’m a Seattle-based photographer and videographer, and I’m stoked to travel to wherever your story unfolds. Let’s capture some nostalgic slices of life on vibey video. Reach out to me here!
Thank you to all the vendors who made this New York wedding so dope:
Photography and Super 8 Videography: Sara Welch Photography
Florist: A Petal to Peddle
Cake and other Desserts: From Lucie
Hair and Makeup: Elena Ganz
Bride's Suit: Handmade in NYC
Bride's Long Dress: Grace Loves Lace
Bride's Short Dress: Sarah Seven
Groom's Suit & Groomsmen suits: designed by the bride & groom and made through the bride's company
Jewelry and Rings: Love Locked
Catering: Alligator Pear with Chef Dominick Lee
Invitations: Minted
Newspaper program: designed by the bride and printed through Print Newspaper
Vintage Taxi: The Checker Cab
The Why Behind Film Wedding Photography is Dope
Film wedding photography is such a dope addition to your wedding coverage. The photos are artistic and emotional on a level that digital just can’t achieve. In this post, I share what you should know about adding film to your wedding photography package and what to look for in a film wedding photographer.
Film Wedding Photography: Nostalgic Artistry
Film is for marriers who want to blur the lines between modern life and vintage nostalgia at their wedding. It’s for people who value the artistry wedding photography can reveal in our lives. There’s something cozy and breathtaking about wedding photos on film, especially when you print them out and hold them in your hands. If you want to learn more about documentary weddings, photographer films, film photographers, and film wedding photographers, you’ll want to keep reading.
As a film wedding photographer, I love the multidisciplinary act of working with a modern $5,000 camera and a vintage camera for $500 from the early 1990’s. I’m able to capture so much of the feeling of a wedding day with these different tools. It gives that mix of emotions and images that show life like you remember it.
I also have to be really intentional about using each photo on the roll. Limiting frames to 36 per roll rather than infinite clicks of a digital camera encourages me to prioritize what matters to my clients.
What You Should Know for Your Wedding
There are some less obvious differences between digital and film wedding photography that affect your experience. Here’s what you should know about having film coverage for your wedding:
1. It’s an art.
Yes, digital photography can be artistic, but film photography really gets back to the roots of this art form. It’s less about precision and more about raw emotion.
2. You don’t get instant gratification (unless it’s Polaroid).
Digital wedding photographers can just upload their files to their computers and jump into editing. With film wedding photography, your photographer has to mail in the film and wait for the digital scans to come in. (I love The Find Lab and Photovision for developing film.)
3. There’s less editing to slow down the delivery timeline.
Even though you have to wait for film scans to come in, the lack of editing means your overall timeline for delivery could be shorter.
4. Film wedding photography is unique and can’t be duplicated.
Film lends itself to documenting candid moments. Sometimes “imperfections” like light leaks and solar flares create the coolest images that no one could have planned. It’s a whole vibe.
Finding Your Film Wedding Photographer
When you choose a wedding photographer to document your day on film, make sure they have experience. You deserve someone who understands film wedding photography as well as they do digital. That requires a more technical understanding of their equipment (because you can’t edit out mistakes in post).
I’m a multidisciplinary photographer who understands how to use any camera I touch. That expertise means my clients get slices of life on film, not just posed portraits. Would you like me to photograph your wedding? Inquire with me here!
Groovy Seattle Wedding Videography with Mixed Media
When you first start looking for Seattle wedding videography, you might think you must pick between digital and film. The truth is, you don’t! You can mix and match Super 8 film, camcorders, and digital to create a video that feels like you in this moment of life. If those slow-motion, posed videos feel cheesy and fake to you, work with a videographer who will switch it up. I’ll show you how you can have a wedding video that’s authentic to you by mixing media.
Options for Seattle Wedding Videography, videographers in Seattle, WA, and wedding videographers in Seattle
You’re probably most familiar with highly produced digital wedding videos. However, if you want a more authentic way to tell your wedding story, it’s totally possible. Sometimes, it starts with picking the right medium. There are many tools to choose from to make your wedding video vibey and true to you. Here are some of the tools I use for Seattle wedding videography.
4k Digital
4k is the format most people are familiar with these days. It’s good for faster-paced moments and capturing very crisp, colorful footage. People who want traditional audio (think vows over a montage of lovey-dovey moments) often prefer 4K digital video.
A Vintage Camcorder
Do you want your wedding video to feel more like a home movie? Adding a camcorder will give you those soft-around-the-edges nostalgic moments. It’s not as modern-looking as 4K but not as old-school as Super 8, either. It’s got that colorful, raw 90’s energy.
Super 8
This 8mm film system was invented in the 1960s. Kodak designed it for amateur videographers. Read home videos. It really made home videos accessible to way more people than any technology had previously. Picture the opening credits of The Wonder Years. The warm, dreamy footage is my absolute favorite addition to a wedding video. You can feel it on a whole different level.
Wedding Videography You’ll Be Obsessed With
I’ll be real with you. Super 8 is my absolute favorite way to document a wedding (in addition to film photography). I love it so much that I made a course for videographers who want to add it to their repertoire. Here are a few reasons why adding Super 8 to your Seattle wedding videography is a rad idea.
Super8 will switch up your videography experience. You can spend more time in the moment with your people and less time standing in the best light. Super 8 isn’t meant for super-posed, over-dramatic moments. Instead of repeating candid gestures for your videographer, you get a combination of spontaneous moments documented with intention.
Super 8 is also tangible and real. Emotion radiates from Super 8 footage. Without complicated production, it feels genuine. You can imagine sitting down decades from now and sharing those big feels with the important people in your life.
Having an actual roll of film instead of a digital file on a computer is also cool as fuck. You have a legit home movie of your wedding. Nothing will get you more nostalgic than this soft footage with its neutral tones. You can really feel Super 8 films.
Things You Should Know about Choosing Super 8 for Your Wedding Videography
With any wedding coverage, it’s good to know what to expect going in. My goal is to make it easy for you to stay focused on the irreplaceable moments unfolding. Here’s what you should know about including Super 8 in your Seattle wedding videography
Super 8 looks how memories feel. It looks more like a dream than the clean, sterile footage you get with digital video. You won’t get every detail in hyper focus. Instead you’ll get art. The film’s imperfections are what give it that beautiful softness and inviting feeling. Super8 instantly adds artsy, romantic vibes to your wedding video.
There are other types of film video available, but Super 8 is less expensive than 16mm film. It’s a more accessible way to have a film wedding video. If you’re getting film wedding photography, Super 8 is the perfect match. It gives you a cohesive way of telling your story in stills and video.
Since most home movies up to the 1980s were shot on some form of 8mm, any 8mm film will be reminiscent of those old home movies. You’ll look at your wedding video and get nostalgic for the home movies you grew up around. Or you’ll start a new tradition.
Most importantly, Super 8 will make you feel some type of way about your Seattle wedding videography. It’s raw and magical. I can’t get enough of these videos. The ways candid smiles and interactions translate on 8mm film are incredible.
Mixing Media for Chris and Tara’s Wedding
Tara and Chris value their adaptability in their relationship. They said, "We communicate, and love in a mixture of ways, depending on our moods and phases of life." They wanted their wedding photos and video to feel the same - a mixture of styles and moods that they can come back to throughout life. I mixed the media to make that happen.
When it came to choosing a format for their Seattle wedding videography, Tara and Chris had different preferences at first. Tara loves muted tones, while Chris prefers bright colors. I included Super 8 and camcorder footage as a nod to Tara’s love of earthy tones and making home videos as a kid. I included 4k footage to portray the faster-paced moments and get that vivid color that Chris likes. It was the perfect mix to tell Chris and Tara’s whole story.
I love that the media of a wedding video can reflect people’s personalities. Each type of video - 4k, camcorder, and Super 8 - reflects different vibes from different parts of the wedding day, too. This wedding video portrays the whole breadth of emotions and energy from Tara and Chris’s wedding. The vintage videography styles compliment the digital video in documenting their celebration. It was modern and unpretentious, elegant and focused on what matters most.
Your Seattle Wedding Videography
Whatever medium you choose for your wedding videography, it should feel like you. Your wedding video is art that imitates life. If your wedding is going to be intimate and focused on connections, adding Super 8 is a great way to document that. Make sure you pick a Seattle videographer who is going to give you art intentionally tailored to you. You deserve a video as honest and unique as your relationship.
Would you like me to document your Seattle wedding videography? I would love to work with you. We’ll choose the perfect formats to capture those unfiltered, in-between moments. Your video will help you relive your wedding like you remember it.
Book your Seattle wedding videography!
Thank you to the vendors who made Chris and Tara’s wedding so dope:
Videography: Sara Welch Photography
Dress: Sarah Seven
Jewelry: Perry and Carlson
Hair and Makeup: Done by Tara with products from Ilia and Chantecaille
Hair color: Lindsey at The Chill Blonde
Florist: Anne Long at The Dahlia House and Pretty Bitchin Blooms
Catering: Arbia Pizza
Cake and other desserts: DERU Market
Macaroons: Renee Chiang
Get Started with Super 8 Wedding Film
Maybe you’ve seen it on Instagram - the dreamy, vintage videos of people in love. They look like they could be from the ‘70s in the best way. Warm grain amps up the emotions of intimate moments. Everything about Super 8 wedding film is rad. I’m Sara, a film photographer and Super 8 educator. In this blog post, I’m sharing what you need to know to get started with Super 8 in your wedding business. Come get obsessed with me.
Why Add Super 8 Wedding Film to Your Offerings
There are so many reasons to add Super 8 to your wedding offerings. If you love that vintage vibe but don’t want to learn a whole new skillset, Super 8 and Super 8mm wedding videography is a great solution. You’ll build on what you already know about creating great visuals. Think lighting, composition, all that good stuff you’re already doing in your photography.
Super 8 is actually an accessible way to get into videography compared to a lot of digital options. You don’t have to invest a ton of money in new professional gear. Typically, you can find Super 8 cameras for just a few hundred dollars. The end-to-end process is more affordable and less intimidating than the full-on cinematic setup you’ve probably seen at weddings. You don’t need mics or sound equipment, just your clients’ joy shining through in the footage.
But the REAL reason Super 8 is the shit? The clients. You get to meet the coolest people doing Super 8 wedding films. They’re people who want unfiltered emotion and see the artistry in life’s in-between moments. Those vibey visuals will make your brand a magnet for these clients. When they see Super 8 wedding film on your website and socials, they’ll know you’re the artist for them.
Get ready to fall hard. Just check out this Super 8 wedding film and my work as a Super 8 videographer:
What You Need to Know about YOUR Super 8 and super 8mm Wedding Film
Super 8 wedding film is definitely outside of a lot of people’s experience. Even if you grew up with home videos, they were probably taken on a camcorder or similar equipment. Here are some things you should know before you get started.
1. Once you get the hang of it, it’s super straightforward.
Super 8 looks complicated from the outside, but the truth is that it’s less fuss than a lot of modern systems. You don’t need a whole set up and a crap ton of equipment - just your camera, charged battery, and some film.
2. It’s not as expensive as you think.
The costs can seem steep at the outset. Once you understand the process and where to buy and get your film developed, though, it makes sense. (More on costs in our free mini training. Watch it to get all the details!)
3. Things can go haywire if you’re just winging it.
Remember that this is film. Whatever is true for film photography is usually true for 8mm as well. You can’t delete a bad take on a Super 8 wedding film, and you have to understand your camera. This is not the kind of thing you want to learn just by messing around on your own. That’s why we created our Gr8 Super 8 Masterclass. More on that below!
4. There’s no audio.
A lot of contemporary videographers include audio recordings in their final edits. This can require multiple microphones. Super 8 wedding film, on the other hand, doesn’t have any sound. You can record sound on separate equipment, but people who want Super 8 tend to like it the way it is. The focus stays on the visuals and the emotions they create. It also frees marriers from having to wear mics on their wedding attire or figure out how to get them into their ceremony setup discreetly. Like I said, less fuss.
5. You’ll need some things to get set up.
Start with your physical equipment. You likely can get 8mm film from your local camera store. We love a local camera store. I buy Super 8 film at Glazer’s Camera in Seattle and Pro8mm online.
As for digital requirements, you’ll need a platform to host videos for your clients. I use Vimeo. It’s pretty straightforward to use, and clients usually are familiar with the platform. Vimeo videos are easy to embed in blog posts as well. You can get a discount on your Vimeo subscription with this affiliate link. (I might make a small commission.)
How to Create Dope Super 8 Wedding Films
By now, you’re probably thinking, “Cool cool cool. How do I learn to do all this?”
Good news is, you don’t have to do it through trial and error. Brilliant human and videographer Natalie Bergfalk and I teamed up to create a comprehensive course for photographers. Gr8 Super8 takes you through the whole process step by step. We combined everything we learned to help you skip a lot of the growing pains that come with adopting Super 8. You can skip the hassle with our no-fluff, confusion-free masterclass. We’re sharing everything you need to start offering Super 8 wedding film.
Here’s a peek at what we cover in each module of the masterclass.
Camera Settings
We’ll help you find your first Super 8 camera. I even include a video of me shopping online to really break it down for you. Then we walk you through the ins and outs of a Super 8 camera - how it works, which settings you should know about, and how to prep for a session.
8mm Film
You know how there are different stocks of 35mm film? There are different types of 8mm film too. We cover each kind and when to use them.
Actually Filming
Time to put theory into practice. Expert videographer Natalie walks you through all the good stuff. We’re talking lighting, panning, and timing for your Super 8 camera.
Developing the Film
You can send your Super 8 film to be developed by a third party. Or you could learn the craftsmanship and technical skill behind the magic. (Can you tell which we prefer?) In this lesson, we take a start-to-finish journey through the developing process.
Basic Editing
Let’s turn all that footage into a story. We teach you basic editing for that vibey Super 8 you and your clients love.
Since this is a self-paced course, you can go from newbie to launching your new service as fast as you want. We’re really excited to help more photographers create vintage and vibey films.
Want to learn more about adding Super 8 wedding films to your offerings? Grab our free training! We’ll tell you what you can expect to invest, how we structure Super 8 packages, and which deliverables clients love. We’re even throwing in a discount code for $40 off of our course because we’re kind of obsessed with spreading the Super 8 love. Are you looking for a super 8 wedding videographer? Drop me a line here.