With advancing technology, there’s been a big shift from film photography to digital photography. This shift even saw Kodak, one of the biggest players in the analogue film industry, file for bankruptcy in 2012.

However, film photography has been making a comeback recently, especially among Gen Z couples looking to break away from the digital hype.

The use of film in wedding photography has become increasingly popular in recent years. Adelaide-based wedding photographers SvenStudios, who offer super8 wedding videography, have become inundated with requests to use the format all around Australia. This surge indicates that this trend will stay for quite some time.

Several factors have contributed to this rise. For instance, many Gen Z couples love the appeal of their parents’ weddings, where, back in the 1990s, film was the most accessible technology to capture life’s most precious moments. In today’s dynamic era, retro wedding themes, such as classic black-and-white and vintage weddings, are finding a sweet spot in the hearts of many Gen Z couples.

This wedding video is proof that a film format can effectively achieve the nostalgic effect for a vintage wedding theme.

Why Gen Z couples are choosing film

Here’s a look at why analogue love is prevailing in a digital world:

1 The fakeness of digital editing

Digital technology has made it easy to modify photos in ways that can take away the authentic appeal of the original images. With just a sleight of hand, pictures can easily be edited, be it to enhance lighting, clarify skins, remove backgrounds, and adjust colours. Often, these methods can backfire because they can do away with appealing natural details. Outcomes could look so fake that they lose their genuine feel altogether.

In contrast, film captures more natural colour and sharper images than digital photography. These details are preserved in film because it can’t be edited digitally. The feel and details-background, colour, texture, theme, and imperfections-are closer to the real image, reproduced and preserved in the photo. When love and commitment are celebrated, all things untouched, natural, or original are most especially desired.

2 A desire for something unique and timeless

Couples from the Gen Z generation are showing more interest in using film photography because of its unique and timeless look that digital photography cannot replicate. Film photography has a softer, more natural look often described as more ‘analogue’ or ‘vintage.’ It also has a wider dynamic range, allowing it to capture more detail in the shadows and highlights, making it ideal for capturing the nuances of light and atmosphere on a wedding day.

Additionally, film photography is considered more timeless than digital photography, which is constantly evolving and can be difficult to keep up with. Film photography has a classic look that is less likely to go out of style.

Finally, film photography is often seen as more authentic and personal. It requires couples to slow down and savour the moment, resulting in more meaningful photos.

3 The notion of permanence

Today’s ‘instant’ and ‘disposable’ world makes way for a desire for permanence. In pivotal moments such as weddings, the importance of permanence is placed in the spotlight, when couples finally set a seal on their promise of undying affection for each other.

Couples would want their photos to be safe from deletion, editing, or alteration. Film wedding photography boasts an aspect of permanence. The negative in a film can be carefully handled, preserved, and redeveloped without losing its original quality. When preserved properly, film photos will retain their physical integrity for many years. Digital files, on the other hand, are easily lost and altered with a click.

4 The tangible quality of film

Finally, the tangibility of film increases its sentimental value. First, the negatives and the films are physical objects that can be touched, held, and felt, fostering a profound connection to them. Secondly, it’s not easy to reproduce them en masse, like digital files that can be downloaded and copied with just a click. Film photos have a level of immutability that makes them precious possessions.

Captured moments of a day filled with intense emotions make this tangible connection profound. Shooting on film requires mindfulness and intentionality, so each shot matters. Likewise, the process of developing and printing requires patience and care. When the final images are viewed, the entire creative production makes these photos even more valuable.

A wedding creates special moments that last a lifetime. As such, there’s no better way to preserve these memories than photography with a timeless, unique, and authentic feel.

With the ubiquity of digital technology to modify photos, achieving and retaining authenticity in pictures can become a lost art. As such, many Gen Z couples find recourse and comfort in film photography-another proof that analogue love is a timeless passion.