Wedding photography is often described in clear styles: documentary or editorial, fine-art or moody, raw or styled. But today's couples don't necessarily want to settle for just one style; they want their love stories to be told in all shapes and forms. They're seeking real moments that feel unposed, but refined enough to stand as art. Film is where this shift happens. It’s tactile, cinematic, and unbothered by heavy editing. The grain, the imperfection, the mood—nothing about it feels manufactured. Below, professional wedding photographer and film expert Radostina Boseva shares how film is entering a new era, reshaping and evolving the very styles of wedding photography as we know them.
The Love for All Things Vintage
Vintage is everywhere—archival fashion, analogue sound, heirloom furniture. Film is part of that language. Each frame feels like an artifact, made for now but carrying soul.
Loose Editorial
Stiff posing is outdated. Direction is subtle. Film slows everything down, letting people relax into themselves. The result? Frames that are frames without trying too hard. Coined by Lensel, this hybrid approach take the refinement of editorial photography and candidness of documentary captures for an effortless appeal.
Minimalism as Luxury
Minimal doesn’t mean empty—it means considered. Negative space, one gesture, one line of light. Film thrives on restraint, making quiet moments feel powerful.
Landscapes as Characters
A northern California cliff, a city street, a villa in Tuscany—settings don’t just sit behind the couple, they shape the story. Film captures them with depth and texture, giving place the same weight as people.
Color & Grain as Mood
Film doesn’t flatten color. Candlelight stays warm, blues stay deep, skin feels alive. Grain turns polish into atmosphere. It’s texture over perfection.
Emotional Architecture
Weddings are built on fleeting gestures—a glance, a laugh, a hand brushing past. Documentary frames catch them; editorial structure holds them. Film ties the two together into something lasting.
Black & White, Always
Stripped of color, what’s left is form and feeling. Black and white film makes even the smallest moments iconic. Timeless, direct, cool.
The Beauty of the Unexpected
Part of film’s magic is the element of surprise. Cameras from the 1980s or 90s, even plastic toy cameras like Holga’s, bring their own quirks—light leaks, vignettes, distortions that can’t be planned or replicated. These imperfections don’t take away from the story; they add character, mood, and authenticity. In a world where everything feels curated, film makes space for the unexpected to become iconic.
