Welcome to LENSEL this week.
The email made to keep smart, savvy wedding photographers like you ahead of the rest. In today’s email:

• What film cameras do pros actually use? We asked.

• Copycat Photographers

• All the news and inspo you need to know

Let’s go 👇

NEWS

Happening this Week

• New iPhone alert. Apple just announced a date for their next event and the release of the new iPhone 16. The promise is some actual game changing new features this time 😉 Watch it in 12 days time, here.

• The newer/cheaper lens maker in the game. 7 Artisans have just released their awesome new 35mm 1.4 lens for a whole bunch of different camera systems. It’s small, super cheap and maybe an amazing alternative. And that 1.4?? Yes. See it here.

• AI Crossover. What happens when you combine an actually amazing studio/brand photography and the power of some AI art?? Well, this. Josh Tep with this incredible campaign for Nike.

• Do you need to tell a story? Or is a vibe enough? Check out this interesting reel about how Gen Z doesn’t need a ‘story’ to connect with a brand, instead, just a vibe. A much shorter, few second reaction and feeling toward something.

• Voice message overlay. This reel posted by photographer houseoflucielove where a voice message from the couple was used as the audio to overlay the images clicking through. Powerful!

• Copycat Photographers or just remixing? A vent, some advice, and a few wild opinions here on this discussion thread as one photographer is feed up with another for ‘copying’ their poses and ideas…

GEAR

🌶️ What film cameras do they use?

Reallllly shooting film.
Yes, you know it already… More and more wedding photographers are incorporating film into their work. But let’s chat the cameras. There are so many options and levels… From $10 pick ups that may, or may not still work. To expensive medium format systems. They all shoot film, but ‘shooting film’ has become a generic, throw away statement that anyone with a thrift shop camera seems to claim... So what cameras do the pros actually use at weddings week in, week out? 

We asked a few photographers from our community what they are rolling with:

⬆️ One of the last film cameras made
Michelle Pullman is an actual film pro. We recommend checking out her work here. Gallery after gallery of insane film work. Her most used camera is the Canon 1V. A late model SLR 35mm camera that was in production until 2014. These later model 35mm cameras may not look as ‘cool’ as other more retro or vintage choices, but they are work horses. Their autofocus works great and they are reliable. A huge consideration if you actually want to shoot film like a pro on a wedding and charge for it. There are plenty of variants of these late model Canon film cameras, as well as other great options from Nikon like the F100.

⬆️ The image on the left was shot on a Nikon F90x by erikagabalyte. A super affordable and under the radar option. Image on the right was shot on the Contax G2 by alta__studio. The Contax is a hugely popular 35mm choice rn - looking cool and keeping things sharp with great lens options.

⬆️ Medium Format
Compared to 35mm, medium format negatives are HUGE. Giving more information, more dynamic range, and more POP. While there are a lot of options in the medium format space, many wedding pros go with the 645 format which gives a great balance of big negatives and still 15-16 shots on a 120 roll. (6×7 formats only give you 10!🤑) Cinzia Bruschini uses the Pentax 645n. An alternative to the expensive Contax 645. Jump through here to see a great video comparing the Contax 645 with another amazing alternative the Mamiya 645.

*Little bonus from the Pentax is that it prints the camera settings on the side of the negative which can be fun to leave in, ala Cinzia above.

⬆️ Point and Shoot.
These are often the cheapest film cameras to get started with. But we are here to say ‘don’t do it’ at a wedding if you are relying on the film being great. Unless… You nab one of the premium point and shoot options. Photographer Alina Smit shared the above photos with us, all shot on the amazing Olympus Mju ii. A great choice if point and shoot is your vibe.

INSPO THIS WEEK

⬇️ Lots of photographers will bawk at setting up big scenes like this - BUT how good does this look?! Super planned and set up, but super great.

⬇️ These images AND the way they were curated to create a vibe. Notice how the frames flow differently each time you swipe, drawing you into a story and keeping your attention. 100/100.

⬇️ XOXO. How perfectly did Corbin capture this day/s. A masterclass in the luxury sector.

⬇️ The natural and vibrant colors here are just 👌🏼

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