Here’s Why I Limit Super 8 Coverage (and Why That Matters)
Super 8 isn’t about capturing everything.
It’s about capturing the right things.
As a wedding photographer who also shoots Super 8 video, one of the most intentional choices I’ve made is limiting how much Super 8 I shoot during a wedding day. And while that might seem counterintuitive at first, it’s actually the reason Super 8 feels as special and emotional as it does.
Super 8 Is Intentional by Design
Super 8 is filmed on real, physical film—not a memory card with unlimited space. Every roll has a finite amount of footage, which means every frame matters.
This limitation forces intention:
I’m watching more than I’m recording
I’m anticipating moments instead of overshooting them
I’m choosing emotion over excess
Because I can’t film endlessly, I’m fully present—waiting for the moments that truly matter.
More Footage Doesn’t Mean Better Storytelling
In a digital world, it’s easy to assume that more coverage equals better memories. But in my experience, the opposite is often true.
Super 8 works best when it’s:
Focused, not constant
Emotional, not exhaustive
Story-driven, not chronological
By limiting coverage, the final film feels curated instead of cluttered. It allows space for the moments to breathe—and for the emotion to land.
Super 8 Is Meant to Feel Like a Memory
The reason couples are drawn to Super 8 isn’t sharpness or perfection—it’s feeling.
Super 8 films are meant to feel like:
A fleeting glance
A half-remembered laugh
A warm, nostalgic memory
If Super 8 were filmed nonstop, it would lose the very thing that makes it special. Limiting coverage preserves that magic.
I Choose Moments That Matter Most
When I shoot Super 8, I’m not trying to document the entire wedding day from start to finish. I’m looking for moments that carry emotional weight.
Things like:
Quiet anticipation before the ceremony
Natural movement and connection
Hands reaching for each other
Laughter that can’t be planned
The energy of the dance floor
These moments translate beautifully on film—and they’re the ones couples tend to feel most deeply when they watch their Super 8 movie back.
Limiting Coverage Protects the Wedding Experience
One of my biggest priorities on a wedding day is protecting the couple’s experience.
Because Super 8 coverage is limited:
I’m never hovering or intrusive
I’m not asking for moments to be recreated
I’m not interrupting the flow of the day
I can quietly step in, capture what’s unfolding naturally, and step back out again. Couples stay present. The day stays uninterrupted.
Why This Matters for Couples
When you choose Super 8, you’re not choosing documentation—you’re choosing storytelling.
Limiting coverage means:
A more intentional, emotional final film
A focus on feeling rather than footage
A timeless keepsake instead of a recap
You’re trusting me to curate your memories with care, restraint, and purpose.
Super 8 Isn’t About Doing the Most
In a wedding industry that often pushes more—more hours, more footage, more deliverables—Super 8 stands quietly apart.
It asks for less so it can mean more.
By limiting Super 8 coverage, I’m honoring the medium, the moment, and the story you’re trusting me to tell. And that’s why the films feel the way they do—nostalgic, emotional, and timeless.
Looking for a Super 8 videographer to help achieve that dream aesthetic via the chemical miracle we call film videography? Hi, I’m Alaina and I’d be so honored to document your special day! Inquire with me here.