What It’s Like Shooting a Wedding on Super 8 Film
Shooting a wedding on Super 8 feels very different from shooting digitally—and that’s exactly why I love it.
As a wedding photographer who also films on Super 8, I experience the day in a slower, more intentional way. I’m not glued to a screen. I’m not hitting record nonstop. I’m watching, listening, and waiting for moments to unfold naturally.
Super 8 changes how you see a wedding day—in the best possible way.
It Starts With Slowing Down
Super 8 film is physical. Finite. Limited.
Each roll only holds a few minutes of footage, which means I can’t—and don’t—film everything. Instead, I’m constantly asking myself: Is this a moment worth preserving on film?
That question slows me down. It makes me more present. I’m observing body language, emotion, light, and movement long before I ever lift the camera.
You Become Hyper-Aware of Emotion
When you’re shooting digitally, it’s easy to rely on quantity. With Super 8, intention matters more than coverage.
I’m looking for:
Nervous anticipation before the ceremony
The way hands reach for each other
Glances exchanged when no one else is watching
Unfiltered joy on the dance floor
Super 8 isn’t about documenting logistics—it’s about preserving emotion.
There’s No Instant Playback (and That’s a Gift)
One of the most unique parts of shooting Super 8 is that you don’t get to see the footage right away. There’s no screen to check, no clips to review.
At first, that feels terrifying. Then it becomes freeing.
Without instant playback:
I trust my instincts
I stay immersed in the moment
I’m not distracted by perfection
The focus shifts from did I get it? to did it feel right?
You Shoot With Restraint, Not Urgency
Super 8 teaches restraint.
I don’t chase moments. I don’t overshoot. I wait. I let moments breathe before deciding whether they belong on film.
This restraint is why Super 8 wedding films feel the way they do—dreamy, emotional, and timeless. They’re not trying to show everything. They’re trying to show what mattered most.
The Camera Disappears
One of my favorite things about shooting Super 8 at weddings is how little attention it draws.
The camera is small. Quiet. Unassuming.
Guests don’t freeze up. Couples don’t feel like they’re “on.” People relax, and real moments happen without interruption.
It feels more like observing than directing—which is exactly how I want weddings to be documented.
You Leave With Less Footage—but More Meaning
At the end of a Super 8 wedding day, I walk away with significantly less footage than I would digitally.
But every second has intention behind it.
Each clip exists because:
The moment was genuine
The emotion was real
The movement felt alive
There’s no filler—only memory.
Why Couples Feel the Difference
When couples watch their Super 8 film for the first time, the reaction is almost always emotional. Not because it’s flashy—but because it feels familiar.
Like a memory they didn’t know they were making.
Super 8 doesn’t show you what your wedding looked like.
It shows you what it felt like to be there.
Shooting on Super 8 Is a Trust Exchange
Choosing Super 8 means trusting the process—trusting the medium, the moment, and the person behind the camera.
As someone who approaches weddings with a photographer’s eye and a storyteller’s heart, I treat that trust with intention and care.
Shooting a wedding on Super 8 isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.
And that’s what makes it so special.
Looking for someone to record those special moments for you on Super 8 film? Hiiii! My name is Alaina, and I’m currently booking 2026-2027 weddings! Inquire with me here :)