Charlottesville Film Photographer | Chris & Sarah’s Farm Session

Early November is probably my all time favorite time of year to take photos at our farm. The Autumn colors are still there, but muted. The fields are a beautiful deep green, accented by the earth tones of the trees & crops as everything prepares to rest for winter.

Chris & Sarah chose to do their anniversary session here and I truly love the story these photos tell. There is a depth and quietness to this couple that is a joy to photograph.

All of my clients have the option to do their session at our farm in Prospect Virginia. The light is beautiful here in the evenings, and there are multiple ideal locations for portraits depending on the season. I love the simplicity of the backdrops…if you love relaxed, authentic photos in a natural setting you’ll love a farm session!

Read more info on Farm Sessions, and view the gallery

Why do I shoot Film?

Film is notorious for its high dynamic range, capturing subtle details and color contrasts, along with beautiful skin tones. It has texture and grain, an almost tangible feel. It feels soft; there is no sharp pixilation that is hard to avoid with modern digital cameras. If you like timeless, you’ll probably love film. Film boasts colors and tones that are impossible to replicate precisely with digital cameras.

Of course there are many benefits to digital cameras. There were many reasons the film photographers of 90’s readily embraced digital equipment. Digital cameras certainly have a considerable number of features film cameras never had, and they are only getting better. They focus in an instant, are unbelievably efficient in low light, and allow for backups on multiple memory cards. Modern digital cameras have so many features that most photographers neither need nor use them all.

However, for a variety of reasons, the industry is now coming full circle. Clients and photographers are craving more tangible, real life photos and editing styles. There is a renewed regard for the photos of the past. Shooting film has been on the rise in the last decade. This has lead to an interest in hybrid wedding photography-shooting a mix of film and digital. In my opinion, a great hybrid photographer offers the client the best of both worlds.

The Power of Hybrid Photography

Hybrid photographers shoot with both film and digital cameras. These days instead of each photographer having a darkroom, many send their negatives to a film lab. Experts then process the negatives and send photographers the digital scans. Photographers can then touch up the scans if needed (crop, fix small blemishes) and send the client the digital files. There is beauty in this process. Photographers can match their digital photos to look almost identical to the film. The result is a beautifully cohesive gallery of film and digital images. 

Because they shoot film, hybrid photographers take more time to shoot, and move more slowly during the process. Each frame is composed and lit to perfection before pressing the shutter. Behind the camera the hybrid photographer works purposefully. The process cannot be rushed. Each photo is a work of art, created with intention. The client receives fewer photos, but each one is exquisite.

However, shooting digital as well as film allows the photographer to utilize all of the benefits of the digital world. Because digital cameras surpass film in dimly lit environments, many hybrid photographers shoot more digital photos during the reception and nighttime portions of a wedding day. The photos are secure, since cameras feature dual card slots. The information is written onto both cards at once, for backup. Advanced editing software gives photographers the option to create a color match in post. The result is a digital file that is nearly identical to the film scan. 

I love my job as a Charlottesville Film Photographer! Using the power of film and digital to craft beautiful images that tell a story for my clients is just such a rewarding job.

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Inquire here about wedding photography. I would love to capture your dream day!

Jessica Lapp is a wedding and portrait photographer serving clients all over the state of Virginia, including DC, Richmond, and Charlottesville. Elegant wedding photography on film and digital, for couples who want to remember the most beautiful day of their lives in an exquisite way. Learn more about the wedding experience here!

Charlottesville Wedding Photographer | Wedding Photography Charlottesville | Charlottesville Film Photographer