so how does the
Film Photography Add-On
work exactly?
I did not just buy a vintage camera at a thrift store last week. I have been shooting film heavily for over five years, and before starting Halftone Co, I actually managed a local film lab. I have a massive collection of analog cameras and I still partner directly with the lab I used to run to process everything. I know exactly how this medium works, how it behaves, and why it has a specific magic that digital just cannot fake.
The $100 Add-On (And Why It Costs What It Does)
Film has an incredible, natural grit to it. But it is also entirely unpredictable. That is why I strictly offer film as a $100 add-on to any standard digital session, rather than a standalone package. Why $100? Because shooting real film is expensive. That flat rate strictly covers the physical cost of the roll, the professional developing process at my trusted lab, and the high-resolution scanning required to get you the final images. By the time all that is done, and labor is factored in for editing, I'm running a very slim margin on this add on. So, why do it? Because film photography is badass and has such a unique look to it.
More importantly, making it an add-on protects you. If a roll of film accidentally comes out completely blank because of a mechanical quirk, which is just the reality of analog photography sometimes, you are not left empty-handed. You still get your full digital gallery no matter what. On top of that, if a failure happens, that $100 will be refunded back to you and I will simply eat the cost of the lab up to that point.
The One Exception: Surprise Engagements
There is exactly one type of session where I refuse to shoot film. I do not offer the film add-on for surprise engagements.
- When you are hiding waiting for someone to drop on one knee, you have a fraction of a second to get the shot. There are absolutely no do-overs. Because film can be temperamental or a mechanical shutter might stick, I am not willing to risk missing a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the sake of an aesthetic. We shoot the actual surprise entirely on digital to guarantee we capture the story safely. If you want film photos together, we can always book a standard couples session later.