Stephanie Rosenthal, Lavender Fig Photography
It’s no secret that these past couple of years have been difficult for the photography community, from cancelled and postponed sessions, to rising cost of film stocks and film development, to the discontinuation of Fuji400H (my go-to film stock), as well increased postal times. Photographers across the globe have had to made adjustments to their workflows and be flexible in their reschedules.
All of these challenges greatly effected my business as well. It was a hard decision to make but I knew if I wanted to honor my current prices and ensure my clients had their galleries back in time for their holiday cards, I needed to transition back to more digital photography.
Some of the things I love most about film are those true to life skin colors, the dreamy hues, and the creamy bokeh when shot in the most beautiful light. I knew if I wanted to transition back to one hundred percent digital for the fall season, I needed to find a way to replicate my film work.
I spent the spring and summer honing in on my digital edits and comparing them to past film work, to ensure skin tones and greens were similar. I also made sure to match my contrast so I could keep up with the softness that film is known for and make sure my work is still consistent. While my digital work isn’t an exact replica of film, my clients still love their galleries (and they love the one to two weeks turnaround time too which is a huge bonus!).
During my sessions, I still like to act as if I’m shooting film. I’m intentional with each click of my shutter, taking my time to compose each shot, and making sure I don’t overshoot. It helps me slow down and connect with my clients so I can capture their most authentic selves and the connection between them and their loved ones. It also ensures a quick cull time and a speedy turnaround time.
While I do plan to transition back to more film this spring, digital has served me well in this season of life. It has helped keep my overhead costs down, as well as saving me time, which is most important to me and my family.
Stephanie Rosenthal, Lavender Fig Photography
Comments