Why I Keep Shooting 35 mm Film as a Photographer

I started photography with a digital camera, like most people do now. But something felt missing. I was rushing. I took too many pictures without thinking. So I tried film.

I picked up an old 35 mm camera at a flea market and loaded my first roll. That changed how I worked. It slowed me down in a good way. Every frame mattered. I had to be sure before I pressed the shutter.

As I kept going, I realized how important the next part was. 35 mm film development is not just a step. It is where the image comes to life. If the lab does not handle it right, the results suffer.

I do not develop at home. I trust labs that know what they are doing. When I send my rolls in, I check:

• How the lab stores and processes film

• If they use fresh chemistry

• If they scan in-house

• If they are consistent

This matters to me. I want the negatives clean and the scans sharp. I do not want dust or weird colors from bad handling.

Film is not cheap, and I respect the work I put into every frame. A good lab respects it too. I have tried a few, and now I stick with the one that gets my style.

Here is why I still shoot 35 mm film:

• It keeps me focused

• I shoot fewer, better images

• The tones and grain feel real

• I trust the process, start to finish

I am not against digital. I still use it when needed. But film gives me something different. It gives me time to think and shoot with purpose.

To anyone thinking about trying film, I say go slow. Pick one camera, one film, and one lab. Learn the full process. Pay attention to your results. You will learn more from one roll of film than from hundreds of digital shots.

35 mm film development is part of that learning. It is not magic. It is chemistry, timing, and care. But when it is done right, it feels like magic to me.

That is why I keep doing this. Not because it is trendy. Not because it is vintage. But because it keeps me honest as a photographer.