With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I somehow forgot to share these photos that we shot with our sweet friends Kelsey and Michael on a chilly November morning. Up before the sun, Scott and I hopped in the car and headed toward the Superstition Mountains for a sunrise film photography shoot — a first for us! Having both grown up shooting film for fun, wanting to have film photos of us taking together was on our list of things to do for quite some time. And after seeing the most beautiful photos Kels and Michael took of our dear friends, Nadia, Ernest and their gorgeous family (for real — look at those babies!), we knew we had to make a shoot happen ASAP!
I’ll admit — being shot on film felt a bit nerve wracking, but Kelsey and Michael made the whole experience so easy and fun. Kelsey is a master at getting “the” shot and knowing exactly how to help settle you into the the perfect position. Michael is great at keeping the mood light and throwing in a good joke here and there. I really enjoyed seeing them work as a team throughout the entire shoot and felt an instant connection to their process — one very similar to Scott and I’s when we’re shooting photos or working on our small business together.
Seeing Kelsey and Michael shoot has also inspired me to explore film photography once again. I took photography classes in high school, but have been focused on digital for the past 10+years. Shooting film feels almost like a lost art — one I am very interesting in exploring more in 2018.
This shoot was actually the first of two on this day with Kelsey and Michael. The second shoot was with my mom and dad + Scott and I. My folks and I hadn’t had professional photos taken together since Scott and I’s wedding, so it felt extra special to capture their smiles and us as a family on film in a beautiful grove near our home. We also had a big win during our second shoot — Kelsey got my dad to smile with his teeth showing – something I’m always encouraging him to do more!
If you’re in need of family, couple, engagement, wedding or newborn photos — Kelsey and Michael should definitely be on your radar! They’re currently based in Southern California, but travel all over. They even went to Paris recently and their photos from there are breathtaking!
When was the last time you shot with film, or had your photos taken with a film camera? There are so many presets out there that can create a film like look, but I swear — nothing is quite like the real thing!
