Konstantyn Zakhariy and Mariya Gritsak — a pair of Ukrainian wedding photographers who are in demand worldwide. We spoke with Konstantyn about the difference between shooting on film and digital, who to follow in the wedding photography field, and why film motivates you to shoot better.
What are the features of wedding shooting on film for you?
At weddings, we most often shoot a mix: digital + film (this approach is also called hybrid shooting — note from Fotovramci). So the film camera is always on the shoulder, waiting for the best moment — duplicating all the favorite moments, I build the highlights of the day. With the best light, the most flattering poses, the best framing.
Film — is an additional incentive to prepare for the shoot more carefully. After all, with the advent of digital photography, the phrase "digital can handle everything" appeared. That doesn’t work with film. If you didn’t consider all the details, didn’t check the light — the chance of a bad shot increases. And when you know that every shutter click costs about $3... Whether the shot is good or not — click! — minus $3! You measure seven times before taking the shot.
How does film make shooting even cooler?
Film — is exclusivity. The world around is becoming more digital, and we can give our couples at the wedding the chance to look into the camera and see how beautiful the bride is through a 1972 lens.
A bonus of film — is the opportunity to get additional magical photos. They are bright, soft, and very much liked by the bride. Out of 10,000 digital photos we shoot during the day, I can shoot 60 film frames, keep 57 — and they will all be perfect.
Probably, it’s something like the choice of tools for painting for artists: oil, pencil. You choose what you like more, what you feel comfortable with, and how this tool affects the final picture. The artist’s style can remain personal, while the tool — can change.
Film — is experiment + inspiration, because you also need to please yourself and enjoy the process. Just drop by Fotovramci, talk to Dima, hear about the 6x6 format camera and shoot with it for the next two months, come up with a few creative projects, fall in love with personal shoots.
How do you see the role of the lab in the whole process of shooting and getting great photos? What do you expect from working with the lab?
For me, the lab — is the sum of parameters. The most important among these parameters, it seems to me, are the people who are passionate about the idea and open to dialogue. I know that practically at any moment I can talk to you. I feel that you are interested in all this, that you really want to help me solve my creative tasks. And that only energizes and inspires me to work and shoot even more!
The experience of communication and experiments in different labs helped me understand that magic exists, but it needs to be created. If you want to commercialize your activity, you need to control this magic. Here you shot like this — okay, it works. Here you shot not as you wanted — be sure to try to understand why. Ask the lab questions: "Why did it not come out as I planned?", "How can I achieve the necessary color/effect with film?", "What other film/camera can I try for shooting to get the desired result?".
At the same time, it is very important to know what you want. I know what picture I want - I show references, and together we calculate: light, background, here is concrete, okay, then it will be beautiful. Here everything is green - so a different film is needed. And you can’t go against this physics. It’s a great joint experience and a valuable knowledge base.
The photo lab — is your partner, one hundred percent. Like a retoucher in the digital world, or maybe even more so.
Style Me Pretty, Magnolia Rouge, Oncewed, Wedvibes, The Knot.
Thought leaders and the most in-demand and commercially successful wedding photographers who shoot on film: Jose Villa, Elizabeth Messina, Erich McVey, Tec Petaja, Greg Finck.
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