Guest Blog: { First Kiss Films } educates us on the beauty of vintage wedding cinematography

Photo credit: { First Kiss Films }

If you have seen any of { First Kiss Films } beautiful films, you know that they are more like works of art than just films. We especially love the film they did for our couple Jude & Nate in the summer of 2012. Today, Bridget of { First Kiss Films } educates us on the difference between her films and the more commonly used digital video. We hope you will learn something – we certainly did!

Wedding cinematography. It’s a “must” for some engaged couples and considered a “nice to have” for others. But when did couples first begin to have their big day captured on film?

Decades ago, before video became popular, wedding films were shot by family members on super 8mm film. These distinctive films became treasured keepsakes for couples and their families, enduring for generations. But in the 80s and 90s, digital video became popular and the “wedding video” was born. In the last decade, new technologies and styles have come a long way, but we at { First Kiss Films } are still convinced it’s only a classic filmmaking approach mixed with modern technologies that can perfectly capture the emotions of the day: vintage weddings films.

Photo credit: { First Kiss Films }

How is vintage cinematography different from digital video?
Most wedding “films” you see today actually don’t use film at all. They are shot using digital cameras and memory cards. Vintage wedding films are different. They are created using classic, hand-cranked movie cameras and real celluloid film – the kind you can hear whizzing through the camera and hold in your hand afterwards.

Photo credit: { First Kiss Films }

 

Sound is approached differently as well. Digital video cameras record the audio automatically so if having all of your vows and every reception speech word-for-word recorded is important to you then digital video is the way to go. Vintage films do have a sound option as well, but it is often recorded separately. The audio that is captured is then edited to select poignant sound clips from the day and creatively incorporate them throughout the final film. However, most of our clients allow the images
to speak for themselves by requesting just a soundtrack to accompany their wedding day imagery. We agree that this approach, along with a finely edited re-telling of your wedding day, creates a touching final film that you will love to watch and share with family and friends over and over again.





Photo credit: { First Kiss Films }

Why shoot on film?
Genuine film was invented 125 years ago. Aesthetically, it’s still the most gorgeous and magical medium, evoking a sense of intimacy that can be felt by the viewer. You often hear of people wanting to make HD video look like film, but you never hear of someone wanting to make film look like HD video. Because using real film achieves a dreamy, nostalgic look that digital still can not replicate, there has been a renewed interest in capturing life’s big moments on real motion picture film.

 




Photo credit: { First Kiss Films }

 

This classic analogue art form also endures the test of time. Film is the only true archival medium and will remain beautiful for a lifetime. Our clients receive their final film on DVD, but there is always a permanent, eternally legible backup copy (the film itself) that is given to our couples when their final film is delivered.



photo credit: Darren Brown Photography

 

But shooting on film alone does not make for a great final product. Good filmmaking is not just about the medium you choose to work with, but how you shoot and edit every frame you capture. And no one is more dedicated to that than { First Kiss Films }.

See for yourself...