Free Lightroom Kodak Film Preset
In a world dominated by digital perfection, there's a growing trend towards embracing the raw, unfiltered beauty of analog photography. Our latest Bride & Groom expressed an interest in this ‘real film’ inspired look, so we jumped right in! We created a preset inspired by the timeless allure of Kodak film with a touch of modern influence.
Gone are the days of overly edited, heavily retouched photos; instead, there's a newfound appreciation for the imperfections and nuances that make each moment unique. Our goal with this new edit style was to capture the essence of the wedding day in a way that felt both timeless and contemporary - a mix of past and present. Drawing inspiration from the rich colors, soft tones, and subtle grain of traditional film photography, we set out to create images that evoke a sense of nostalgia and romance.
One of the key elements of this editing style is the intentional use of blur and grain to add depth and texture to the images. By embracing these imperfections, we were able to imbue each photo with a sense of warmth and intimacy, allowing the viewer to feel as though they were truly immersed in the moment.
Some of the important camera settings to set up PRIOR to the planned shoot:
Aperture Priority Mode: Set your camera to aperture priority mode (A or Av on most DSLRs) to have control over the depth of field. Choose a wide aperture (low f-stop number) to achieve a shallow depth of field, which creates a dreamy, ethereal look.
Medium-Low ISO for Noise and Grain: Normally you’d like to keep your ISO settings low (around 100-400) to minimize noise and maintain image quality, but for this style - we set our ISO a little higher (500ish) This will help preserve the soft, grain-like texture reminiscent of film while ensuring we captured great photos in a low-light, indoor, candle-lit environment.
Shutter Speed for Motion Blur: Experiment with slower shutter speeds (around 1/60 to 1/125) to introduce subtle motion blur in your images. This can add a sense of movement and dynamism to your photos, capturing the energy and excitement of the moment. The trick is to subtly move your camera in a direction while shooting or having subjects move while you stay still.
Natural Lighting: Embrace natural light whenever possible, as it lends a soft, flattering quality to your images. Seek out window light or open shade for beautifully diffused illumination, avoiding harsh direct sunlight that can result in harsh shadows.
Composition and Framing: Pay attention to composition and framing, focusing on capturing candid moments and authentic emotions. Experiment with different angles and perspectives to add visual interest and depth to your images. Avoid posing your subjects and come about it like a journalist. Another neat trick I used was that I cropped most photos in a 16x9 ratio similar to modern day film to get that nice juxtaposition of old meets new film.
Whether you're a fellow photographer seeking inspiration or a couple looking to capture the magic of your wedding day, we hope that our Nikon film-inspired edit serves as a source of inspiration and creativity! There is so much creative potential in every album, and we are looking forward to approaching more stylized edits in the future!
