Lipstick on Medium Format Film | Film Friday – September 25, 2015

One of my business goals this year is to try to shoot one roll of medium format film at every wedding. I’m enjoying this process so far, focusing on using the camera for portraits alongside of my amazing digital camera.

Your can follow along with my results on Film Fridays.

Portra 800
Pentax 645
75mm f/2.8
Indie Film Lab

One of the things I’ve noticed shooting medium format film this year is what the film stocks seems to do to the color of lipstick.  It seems to render them much more coral then it was in real life.  For example, gorgeous Sarah, from Sarah and Chris’ Foxchase Manor Wedding was wearing some really vibrant, 1920’s red lipstick.  It was the perfect accent to their wedding theme and looked so good on her, but it definitely didn’t show up vibrant red in the film scans!

I’ll have to do some more research on why this is and maybe there are ways to combat that in development, but its definitely something I’ve picked up on.  I’ve seen it in other film scans, too, not just Sarah’s, so I definitely think its something more widespread than just their wedding.  It would be an interesting photo project for sure…hmmm, maybe that needs to be on my list for the next down season.

Foxchase Manor Medium Format wedding photoSarah and Chris Film-6

 

19 Comments

  1. Agh I so want to try film out! You’ve inspired me! Love seeing this every week. Weird about the color of the lipstick changing!

  2. Beautiful. I love that you are trying out medium format. I never really was able to work much with it in college. Your results are quite beautiful :)

  3. That’s so neat that you are experimenting with film! I loved shooting film in college, but haven’t done it in a looooooong time. :-( Beautiful portraits.

  4. Love the film posts! These are gorgeous. I wonder if film just doesn’t have the capabilities for that gorgeous foxy red tone, kind of like how on digital that true red tends to bleed and fall off the gamut? It’s an interesting color for sure!

  5. I love, Love, LOVE that idea of trying to use a roll of film for each wedding!! It’s been so long since I shot with film but that’s interesting to know about the color with lipsticks–still looks like a fabulous color!

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