Film photography has made a comeback in the wedding industry, with some photographers touting its nostalgic charm and artistic feel. But here’s the reality: when it comes to high-end destination weddings, film is an unnecessary risk. After 18 years of capturing luxury weddings across Italy, we’ve chosen not to shoot film—and it’s one of the best decisions we’ve made for our couples.

Here’s why digital photography is the superior choice for flawless, high-pressure wedding days.

1. No Room for Error in Luxury Weddings

Luxury weddings demand perfection. Film is unpredictable—exposure mistakes, lab processing errors, or even damaged rolls can result in lost images. When working with high-profile clients and once-in-a-lifetime moments, there’s simply no room for unnecessary risk.

2. The Need for Speed: Digital Keeps Up with Fast-Paced Weddings

High-end weddings move fast. Timings and lighting change in seconds, and planners expect efficiency. With digital, we can adjust in real time, deliver immediate previews, and capture more frames per second. Film slows everything down—not ideal when a planner expects family portraits done in 15 minutes, not 45.

3. We’ve Perfected Color - Film is Now Anachronistic

Years ago, film had an edge in color rendition. That’s no longer the case. With today’s digital technology and our mastery of color grading, we achieve results that are not only flawless and not recognizable from film. In an era where perfection is expected, relying on an old medium with inherent limitations simply doesn’t make sense.

4. Low Light? Film Falls Apart.

Many of Italy’s most exclusive wedding venues—historic villas, candlelit receptions, and sunset ceremonies—are dimly lit. Film struggles in low light, forcing photographers to use intrusive flash or risk underexposed images. Digital cameras, with their advanced sensors, handle these conditions effortlessly, preserving ambiance without compromise.

5. Hybrid Approach? Impossible to Match Digital and Film

Some photographers promote a “hybrid” approach, mixing film and digital photography to offer the best of both worlds. But here’s the truth: film and digital simply don’t match. The colors, contrast, and grain structure are fundamentally different. No matter how much post-production is done, the difference is always visible, creating an inconsistent wedding gallery.

For a wedding album to be cohesive, every photo should flow seamlessly. That’s only possible when using a single, high-quality medium—digital.

6. Film Isn’t for the Client - It’s for the Photographer’s Ego

The resurgence of film isn’t about delivering a better product to clients—it’s about photographers wanting to feel “different” or “artistic.” But luxury wedding photography isn’t about indulging the photographer’s creative nostalgia. It’s about giving couples the absolute best imagery possible, without compromises.

7. Even in an Era of Authenticity, Film is a Contradiction

Today’s luxury clients value authenticity and real experiences. They want photography that captures the essence of their day without excessive staging or artificiality. Film, ironically, goes against this trend.

• It’s slow, requiring constant pauses to change rolls.
• It still has to be scanned and processed digitally, meaning it’s altered just like a digital file.
• It creates an unnecessary barrier between the moment and the final image.

In an age where couples seek a more organic approach, film feels like an outdated, unnecessary extra step—an aesthetic choice rather than a practical one.

8. The Waiting Game: Delays in Delivering Film Photos

Luxury clients expect efficiency. With digital, we can deliver preview images within days and a full gallery within weeks. Film, on the other hand, requires lab processing, which means waiting longer—sometimes months—for final images. For high-end weddings, where planners and publications expect quick turnarounds, this is a major disadvantage.

9. Film Photography is a Trend—But Luxury is Timeless

Trends come and go, but a wedding album should feel timeless. Film may be fashionable now, but in 10 or 20 years, its flaws—overexposed highlights, inconsistent colors, and soft focus—will be even more noticeable. Digital allows for precision and perfection, ensuring every image stands the test of time.

Conclusion

Film photography may have an aesthetic appeal, but when it comes to high-stakes, high-expectation weddings, it simply doesn’t hold up. Luxury weddings require reliability, speed, and absolute precision—all of which digital photography delivers.

Our goal is to ensure that every couple receives a flawless visual narrative of their wedding day, without compromises or risks. And that’s why, for us, film isn’t an option.