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I had an interview with a wedding / portrait studio up in the 'shire' for a possible position shooting weddings with them.

They told me they only shoot weddings on film (they develop themselves and print onsite in their pro lab at the back of the studio)

the expectation if I got the job would be to move back to film and buy a film body down the track.

in their opinion film is superior for wedding work

they dont have couples coming back to them with issues from digital-captured photos

I Love shooting digital... could I go back??

Jonathan

This is the second time I heard about this. My friend who bought a D70 for his pro wedding photography (long time film SLR user) said he is ditching it purely because he hated doing a lot of PP. I asked him to shoot in jpg instead but he is now sold on the idea that digital is not ready for prime-time in his line of work. Back to film he says cause he captures the shot he means to capture

devilla101 wrote:Back to film he says cause he captures the shot he means to capture

For the life of me, I don't understand this logic.

Either way, the tool being used is a camera. You can "capture the shot you mean to capture" just as well with a digital body as with a film body.

Many photogs use digital, and I suspect most of them aren't doing a lot of PP. Some are so confident of their skills and the formula they have developed that they shoot JPEG only.

cricketfan wrote:

devilla101 wrote:Back to film he says cause he captures the shot he means to capture

No idea also mate, he's been in the business for 10+ years and I am in no position arguing the pluses of digital use compared to film use to him.

If he does too much PP, either he isn't experienced enough with his camera or his workflow sucks.

Edited for clarity.

Maybe he needs to try out a Fuji S3/5. Then maybe he'll change his mind.

Still, it's his choice to stay that way. But one day he will be forced to change as film becomes more expensive due to it's rarity. It will become a niche market. Might be some money in it too, in later years, for those who want and old-world look of their weddings.

If he hates doing PP then he needs to take the picture right in the first place, and if that's on film or digital, it's still going to to screw him over if he can't actually do that.

Remember that a darkroom is still a place for PP too.

Maybe they are locked in to film because of the pro lab out the back. If the go digital, they would have capital expenditure to make, whereas sticking with film, they continue to utilise existing plant and equipment.

As for the film vs. digital debate, who cares? Use whatever, I don't really see that it will make any difference to the end user (ie, the happy couple).

Maybe their DSLR can't create JPEGs that look like their favourite slide film out of the box. Perhaps they have grown to like a particular look and don't want post process each image to achieve it? They might not have been processing their images particularly efficiently either.

If they wanted to go in the other direction (Eg, Astia slide -> D200 Portrait look) I'm sure they would experience a lot more pain .

Maybe he doesnt know how to use a computer at all?

jdear wrote:

they dont have couples coming back to them with issues from digital-captured photos

I wouldn't expect to have anyone coming back with issues specifically regarding digital-captured images either.
If they're implying that they've tried digital and their customers didn't like it, I would infer that they were doing something wrong.

But you can't really tell them what to do: it's their business and they're free to set their own rules. You could work their way, to build up your cred with them and then show them the efficiency and quality advantages of going digital, but that would mean that you'd have to:

1. Have your digital equipment and workflow down pat.
2. Be really confident of your skills.

You'd want to be an expert, and know you're an expert... You'd want to have perfect demonstrations.
Even then they might decide to stay with what they know!
At some point you might decide that it's their problem and not yours...

I Love shooting digital... could I go back??

I know I wouldn't want to, but I suppose I could.
I have been finding lately that most of my RAW shots require no tweaking (other than WB) but I do use the histogram intermittently while shooting to set my exposures accurately, so I would need to use a different metering method...

DaveB wrote:At some point you might decide that it's their problem and not yours...

Dave,

I really think it's as simple as that.

Digital photography, today, while not a wholly mature technology, is certainly a long way down that path, and a far cry from where it was even five years ago.

The only reason why a professional photographer would be unable to pull excellent results using a current(-ish) toolset would be due to their own skills.

Or perhaps a lack of them.

gstark wrote:The only reason why a professional photographer would be unable to pull excellent results using a current(-ish) toolset would be due to their own skills.

Many of these people have huge skills when it comes to getting down and dirty with chemicals and those are hard to build up all over again. It just depends how long they intend to stay in business - if they're plowing through the last few years before they retire then all well and good. But for the long term... I'd be tempted to regard their approach as indicating a business opportunity.

Moz,

That might make some sense, except that

jdear wrote:in their opinion film is superior for wedding work

Yeah, film might be superior in the sense that with their skills, and their equipment, they get a better result from film.

To me and you that just says their skills are out of date, but if they're making money... don't forget that there are still people making buggy whips!

Maybe also not to forget the ability to create a little smoke and mirrors marketing...... "We only shoot in film as digital quality is nowhere near comparable quality.."

Some members of the public will believe anything and perhaps be prepared to pay more for the privilege......

By shooting film they have different marketing perspective to most other wedding photogs.

Being new technology (relatively) they can push the barrow of tried and proven quality. The fact is that the great majority of the public don't really understand the technology. Presenting a set of negs is something tangible that you can see and touch.

Film work is an art! Digital is an educated guess for many. Combine both skills and get something that has opened the door for many who have the skills to enhance the digital market IE PShop to a more than saleable product hence make a semi viable living from your skills
jethro