I listened to the interview, and it was like myself talking. Your vision, your love of film, ..just reminded myself of my own dreams.
Im a struggling semi pro. I would love to shoot film 100%…. nothing beats it..nothing. But as Chris said..its very very expensive… especially here in the uk.
We also dont have a Richard’s Photo Lab..who by the sounds of things are the best in the world. Scanning here is extremally expensive, and the job done isnt great. Also i love how Richard photo lab work in harmony with album providers, like Cypress…that make work flow, and business extremally effective. Nothing exists like that in the uk. Ive mentioned it to various labs…and they arent interested… everyone is digital. Boring…all the same photoshop actioned stuff over here! lol
Would you be so kind as to give someone who is really struggling some offline advice as to how to get some business, in order to get his name out there, thus in order to earn some money, thus in order to have the warrant to use film!
Ive tried advertising but to no avail. Im brainstorming as to ways of getting out there, offering services, that not only would be cost effective, but bring me some exposure. Its all very very hard in this world, where photography has become so mainstream.

Also, could you offer some advice on film photography? I use a contax like yourself, but am never happy with the results. I tend to use a light meter and take ambient readings, using col neg and b&w film. Should i scrap this idea..and go back to taking spot readings, exposing for shadows instead? You get used to exposing for highlights and giving exposure compensations with digital, but for col neg..to get those nice skin tones I know you overexpose. Tried it…not sure if the labs are scanning my images right..but i just dont get the look? For editorial images.. and something here in the uk no one does, I would really like to brand myself and be different.
Also how much post production do you do? My scans never look like this…and i always have to do colour correction, some curves adjustments to get it looking saturated? (scanning is done in a lab on a kodak machine…they did have a frontier, but got rid of it..they promise this is miles better?)

Keep up the fantastic work, and blessings for 2010 to you and your business
Steve

I HAD to switch to digital from film. I agree with what you said about loving the art, and loving film, but to buy film in the UK and get that scanned and printed will set you back about $100 per roll. My business just cannot take that kind of hit.

There are lots of overshooters in the digital world of weddings, however, myself, Ive always believed in quality, not quantity, so the most my clients ever get is 200, with around only 150 going into albums, top. I may of had to embrace the horrible world of lousy skin tones and colour balance, but hey, at least I can still shoot with integrity, thinking about what Im doing! Thats down to choice and professionalism…and others can be that way to! DO IT!

God Bless

janet – if you want to shoot some medium format film then i suggest you borrow or buy a contax 645 camera, the best medium format camera ever made in my humble opinion of course. Its super easy to use and had all auto functions, if you like to shoot in auto. for a 35mm i love the 35mm Canon 1v cameras, they are the fastest 35mm film cameras made and they are tanks.. meaning they really can take a nice drop from the shoulder and still be ok. ( happened to me )

Christine – Like I said to Janet above, i highly recommend the contax 645 and the canon 1v cameras, they are both really easy cameras to shoot with. I use Aperture Priority about 90% of the day while im, shooting so really they can be used on all auto and nail it.. depending on the lighting of course. I buy all my stuff used and as we all know films cameras are cheap these days. I great condition contax can go for $1200 with lens and a 35mm 1v body can go for $500 in great condition.

Hope this helps.. I welcome and questions.. ;)