Anyone have a 2nd shooter that shoots only film?

[mom2aidan]

I have been at training hard the past 5-6 months with my boss who has been a photographer over 12 years now and so I am shooting a wedding coming up in June this summer. The person who offered to help shoot it (2nd shooter/assistant more like it) only shoots with the Canon A2 which is a film camera. I have never really shot with anyone that shoots only film and is that a no go, do they have to shoot with digital? Any suggestions?

[Ahh!]

Not a bad thing, just makes it more trouble in post processing. You will have two different looks based on the media to have to deal with.

[mom2aidan]

okay so how do you go about doing the PP on the film only? can't you only print? Maybe I am not up-to-date with the film anymore as that went out for me when i was a senior in high school.....not going to say how long ago (not too long ago but long enough ago! LOL)

[Ahh!]

You scan it in. That's what the printer will probably have to do anyway since most of the labs are digital, or at least in many of their processes.

[ndsimm]

you can also take it to any of the one hour places (CVS, Walmart, etc.) and they can do a process only and then place it on CD as well. I used to do this before I went digital, but the only down side is that you get jpeg only (some scan to TIFF but you can check) so you are limited in your editing of the images...

[venchka]

Film won't make real photographs. Everyone knows that.

Post processing? For film? Why?

Medium format film makes really nice wedding pictures.

[csa]

Shooting film today suggests someone who finds change difficult which might lead to some old fashioned wedding styles. If this suits your bride, fine. Also remember-ok, so I've shot film probably as long as you've been alive so don't go old on me-film had inherent issues-no immediate feedback so don't know about problems until processing, fewer images due to film cost. Just some ideas to consider.

[venchka]

Other film problems.....wider latitude, greater dynaminc range, natural looking skin, reduced tendency to blow out highlights.....terrible stuff.

If you use this person, ask him/her if they are comfortable using Kodak's new Ektar 100 film? Good stuff. Fuji Reala 100 for a little extra saturation is very nice and has virtually no grain. However, the pwerson using film probably has a favorite that thaey know and trust.

[CaptainTom]

My reservations for a second film shooter would be:
How many weddings have they photographed?
Do they have backup (although less likely with non digital, the need is still there).
How many images do they expect to capture?
Will the likely reduced number of images be OK for the bride?
Have you included the extra cost of film/processing in your price?

If these and other questions are answered to your satisfaction, go for it.

[venchka]

I can hear the bride now, "But. My friend got 3,000 pictures to chose from."

[toverman]

Originally Posted by Ahh!

Not a bad thing, just makes it more trouble in post processing. You will have two different looks based on the media to have to deal with.

Shucks, if the exposures are right the only hassle in post-processing will be having the negs scanned, and that's not impossible.

This conversation would be reversed less than 10 years ago, with the primary using film (probably medium format) and wondering if the whippersnapper with the digicam can hack it as a second shooter.

The camera is just a tool, and film just a medium.

[ngoduyviet]

Originally Posted by venchka

Other film problems.....wider latitude, greater dynaminc range, natural looking skin, reduced tendency to blow out highlights.....terrible stuff.

If you use this person, ask him/her if they are comfortable using Kodak's new Ektar 100 film? Good stuff. Fuji Reala 100 for a little extra saturation is very nice and has virtually no grain. However, the pwerson using film probably has a favorite that thaey know and trust.

LoL the first sentence was what I was thinking about when I saw the question.

I actually feel more comfortable knowing my shooter can to shoot films. It means they at least know enough not to screw things up majorly. Don't know if I want them to do so with my weddings though, it'd seriously hinder my workflow.

[mom2aidan]

thanks everyone for your input. makes me consider some things. this person took photo journalism in high school and learned how to do all that fancy dark room stuff (im not that talented to work in the dark LOL) and they were a big "named" shooter in high school. i have seen their work while in service and out of service (just got finished with a tour of duty) and it is excellent. i am just concerned about the film issue is all. but i really appreciate all the feedback!

[nastytrucker]

This reminds me of a guy who used to second for me when I shot film. He would paint everything he saw with oils on canvas. It was such a pain, he could only get 2 or 3 shots in a whole session.

[venchka]

You do realize the real, grain in your face, black & white prints would be totally awseome!