An Introduction
“People like to think digital mediums can do anything film can do nowadays, but that simply isn’t true… There are plenty of looks, feelings and qualities that only film can achieve, and you simply cannot capture digitally.”
Patty Jenkins, Director, Screenwriter
You may or may not have heard of Super 8 Film. Majority of people haven’t heard of it, which is so surprising to me! The only familiar ones are my grandparents, which they dug out after I mentioned it to them. It’s still as good as new, which is no surprise to me as these things were built to last.
Okay, so what is all the hype?
It is very similar to film photography but in video format. I don’t know about you but I am obsessed with all things film. It’s a trend that needed a comeback and I’m very happy it has. Super 8 films have that grainy, light leak effect that film images have. The Super 8 Camera was first released in 1965. It was created to be a home movie camera, which meant it was easier to use and cheaper than a professional video camera in that era.
I have begun to offer Super 8 films to my clients as they are a nostalgic and unique way of capturing your day over regular videography. Each roll of film used for the camera runs for 3 minutes and 30 seconds exactly. Essentially, if you were to invest in it for your wedding day, it would be considered a short film. The more film rolls used, the longer recording time.
The film is sent away to a professional lab for processing, and then delivered back to me. I edit the film, enhance the colours and place some suitable music over the final movie.
The final movie is like watching an old video from the 1950’s, but you’re the star of the show. It truly is as though you’ve gone back in time. I capture all of the tiny moments that you forget about and bring them together into a little movie that you will treasure for the rest of your life.
Even though I haven’t heard a whole lot about Super 8 in the world of photography or videography, I feel like it is slowly making a comeback. The cameras themselves vary in price, so you can actually pick up one relatively cheap from local vintage stores or online marketplaces. They come in all different shapes and sizes, much like a film camera does. The only downside is the cost of the film and processing. All totally worth it though!
Trust me.
