Film Photography

Inspiration & Exploration

Film photography starts with a simple idea: light hits a chemical coating on plastic, and a moment is frozen forever. Before you buy anything, explore what draws you to film. Watch short documentaries about analog photographers on YouTube. Visit a local thrift store or estate sale — film cameras often hide there for under $20. Browse r/analog on Reddit to see the huge variety of styles and cameras people use. Notice what kinds of images excite you: street scenes, portraits, landscapes? Salt Lake City has a great vintage scene — check out thrift shops along State Street. You're ready for the next step when you can name two photographers whose film work inspires you and describe what you like about their style.

Tools & Techniques

Now let's talk gear. A 35mm point-and-shoot or a basic SLR like a Canon AE-1 is a great starting camera. Film comes in different speeds — ISO 200 or 400 is a good all-around choice for beginners. Pick up a roll of Kodak ColorPlus or Kodak UltraMax 400 at a local drug store or order online. Learn what aperture, shutter speed, and ISO mean — the free Develop Film website explains these clearly with photos. Practice loading and advancing film without wasting a shot. If you're in Salt Lake, The Camera Company on 800 South sometimes stocks affordable used film cameras. You're ready for the next step when you can load a roll of film and explain what ISO means in your own words.

First Creations

You've got a camera loaded — now go make some photos! Pick one subject to focus on for your first roll: your neighborhood, a friend, or objects around your home. Shoot the entire roll without peeking at the results. This is the magic of film: you have to commit to each shot. Pay attention to light — morning and evening light (the "golden hour") is soft and beautiful. Keep a small notebook to jot down each shot: what you photographed, your settings, the light conditions. When the roll is done, take it to a local lab for development. In SLC, Photo Encounter on 400 South develops film and offers scans. You're ready for the next step when you've finished and developed your first roll of film.

Style Development

Look carefully at your developed photos. Which ones work? Which ones don't, and why? Start to notice patterns: are your indoor shots too dark? Are your subjects blurry? These are clues. Now experiment deliberately. Shoot a roll with only one constraint — only portraits, or only in shade, or only from low to the ground. Try a different film stock: Fuji Superia gives cooler tones, Kodak Portra 400 gives warm skin tones. Compare your results. Follow a film photographer on Instagram and study how they compose their images. Start thinking about what makes a photo feel like yours. You're ready for the next step when you can describe your preferred subject matter and the film stock you like best so far.

Refine Your Craft

It's time to go deeper. Learn the exposure triangle — how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO work together — so you can control your results. The Develop Film website has a free "Shooting Film" guide that breaks this down clearly. Try shooting the same scene with different settings and compare the results. Experiment with shooting in manual mode if your camera has it. Look into black-and-white film — try a roll of Kodak T-Max 400 or Ilford HP5. These films build your eye for light and shadow. If you're interested in developing your own film at home, Develop Film's darkroom guide walks you through the chemistry. You're ready for the next step when you can adjust your exposure settings intentionally and predict roughly how a shot will turn out.

Portfolio Piece

Choose your best five to ten images from all the rolls you've shot. These become your first film photography portfolio. Write a short sentence about each one — what you were going for, what you like about it. Share them online in r/analog or on Instagram with the hashtag #filmisnotdead. Consider printing your favorites — many labs offer 4x6 prints inexpensively. If you shot in black and white, look into darkroom printing workshops; the Utah Museum of Fine Arts sometimes hosts photography events. Frame or display your top image somewhere you can see it every day. You're ready for the next step when you have a small collection of images you're proud to show someone else.