a contest!

Guys! I never nevvvvver enter contests. Well I can't say never, I guess, because I have, and that's why I'm here. I entered this photo

if you go to this link: https://www.facebook.com/thedarkroomlab/photos/pcb.1408473192536985/1408468759204095/?type=3&theater (it's a facebook page) and likeit - you'll make my day! or if you're on Instagram, you can find the photo on @TheDarkroomLab 's page! Like it there too! most combined likes will win a film camera.

December Sun | in home film newborn session

It's one thing to be shooting film for families, in home, it's quite another to have to navigate through this GREY and bleak Ohio winter while shooting in new homes, with film. I'm managing to learn quite a lot, and still incredibly happy with the session results. I've gone from spending a session shooting a 32 g memory card almost full to slowing down, and filling just 5 rolls with a family. It's nice to put the camera down more, chat with my couples/family, and have an amazing quality over quantity.

I've recently been developing with The Darkroom Lab, and I am so so happy with them.

Here's some of my favorite from this newborn session on Fuji400H with my Canon eos 3:

but, WHY FILM?

This post. It's been being written in my head like, a lot, over the past few months. My sister. My husband. They ask it, so, no doubt, you are too. Like, WHHHHYYY FILM????

Here we go:

I've been shooting digitally, as a professional, for 7 years now. I've seen a lot of changes to the industry - and one major one is that digital is soooo accessible. It's great, in a lot of ways. It offers families the chance to get a DSLR for an affordable price, and be able to capture really wonderful moments and memories of their growing family. It also makes becoming a "professional" really easy for a lot of people. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I believe that can be a really great thing - people can learn the technical side of photography, and through social media can rapidly build their business, and spread the word of what they're trying to do. Now, I don't want to sound like I'm discounting what we do, as digital photographers, but sometimes, sometimes,  I think this excess of photographers leads to professional photographers feeling like a dime a dozen.

Now, I'm not one to care too much about what's happening outside of my own desires - when it comes to my art. I don't want accolades. I don't want to have thousands and thousands of followers - I want to continue to challenge myself to create what makes me, and my clients happy. In a lot of ways, digital still does that for me. Obviously! I am nowhere near shooting a wedding 100% film - and I love wedding days! So, instead of worrying about where the industry is going, I figured, let's try something that everyone isn't doing. And, you know what? it stuck. big time.

I started shooting film in July (ish), exclusively at home - during times I would've picked up my DSLR to shoot. I learned. I took online courses. I got reacquainted with memorizing how light changes things. I slowed down. I stopped shooting so much. I brought my camera everywhere, I shot my children's portraits and candids probably more than I did had it been digital - but in all that, I have less meaningless photos. This is huge! This means, I don't spend hours in front of my computer culling through the saveable ones. They're already here! 

I have more "keepers," and whole days that are perfectly documented because I had the restraint to take my time, make it perfect, and stooooppppp shooting!

IT'S SO AWESOME!

Even when I'm typing, I'm hoping + wishing someone reading is like "YEESSSSSS! this moves me!" I know it's not for everyone...but I am betting that the people it is for are people who are passionate about the moments they want to have captured when it comes to their photography.

is that you!? I'm at the point that I'm ready to start exclusively offering film sessions to people who want them! (for family / couple / in home .... nooooot weddings! not yet!)

is it you!? wanna chat about it? email me! jessicalovephoto@gmail.com or use the contact link. I'm so excited, and I hope you are too!

more film, more my kids!

it's my blog, so while, technically I can do whatever I want, I kiiinda feel like I should be sharing weddings. I'm about booked up for 2017, though, so I am just going to do what feels awesome and share some personal work I've been shooting.

I don't know what crazy thing made me fall head over heels into film. Oh wait. I do. I have fallen for film because, as a wedding photographer, it's incredibly easy to come away from a wedding with 2000 photos shot, only to cull those down to anywhere from 800-1200 for a final gallery for a couple (which is still an insane amount of images!). It felt inauthentic. I needed a way to get back to really being present. To understanding that each moment I get to capture should be worth pushing that shutter.

That being said, I'm blowing through film like crazy each week trying to get better and better. BUT! it's still slowed me in a way I'm deeply grateful for. Sawyer on the floor playing with Coco? How many options do I really need? One, the answer is one.

I'm so so excited to get to offering clients film sessions. To be present in each moment with my wonderful couples and families (I'll start with families and engagement sessions!). Stay tuned for some of those coming soon!

For now, check out how we'd spent some of the last weeks of summer!

film is not dead

I'm super excited I've been shooting (so much, oh my gosh so much) film lately, and only after this long realizing, I can share these on my blog, instead of bombarding instagram with images of my kids. (not that I think there's anything wrong with that, but I'm just not a big fan of doing that)

What initially drew me into wanting to try film (again) was the way the images looked, the color, the tones. What's caused me to become hooked is the authenticity behind it. The attention to detail, being completely present in the moment, and shooting for that one great snap. I'm excited to continue to grow - I signed up for the Embrace the Grain workshop that starts tomorrow!

On to some images! These are all taken with my 200 *ok I'm exaggerating* year old Rebel G camera (I have a EOS 3 to arrive in the mail today, I can't wait), with my L series, and Sigma lenses. I decided to upgrade to a new body because the photos were just not sharp - and I know it isn't my lenses, as they work perfectly with my digital body. I edit my digital images with film based presets, but I'm quickly learning there's nothing like the real thing. Portra 400 is my favorite. I'm sending in some rolls from vacation (vacation! I can't wait to share these) including Fuji Velvia 50, and Portra 160. I can't, can't, can't wait!