I’ve been shooting digital for years. I know my camera inside out, I know how to get a toddler out of a grump, and I’ve built a business around creating emotive, natural light images for families across Johannesburg.

Recently, I picked up a film camera and deliberately made everything harder for myself. Here’s why it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

The tactile magic of slowing down

There’s something deeply satisfying about loading a roll of film, hearing the mechanical click of the shutter, and winding on to the next frame. With digital, I can fire off hundreds of shots in a session. With film, I have 36 frames and that’s it. No safety net. No “just one more” for insurance – this crafts a far more intentional use of each shot and each frame.

The endorphin rush

The anticipation of waiting for film to be developed is intense! When I drop off a roll and wait for the scans, I’m genuinely excited. When I finally open that email, my heart races. Some shots are perfect. Some are slightly off. Some are happy accidents. And yes, some are completely unusable. All of that is part of the joy.

The technical challenge

With film, there’s no screen to check. My well-photographed toddler keeps saying to me, “I HATE dat camerwa” since for her, as for me, there’s no immediate feedback. My photography knowledge really comes into play and you have to learn to trust yourself. There’s no “fix it in post”. You either nail it or you don’t.

Learning to let go

Perhaps the most unexpected gift is learning that it’s okay to not get every single possible shot! Film doesn’t allow for capturing everything, and that’s liberating. Instead of chasing every frame, I’m being more present. More intentional. I’m watching for the moment that truly matters rather than rapid-firing through a dozen that are just… fine.

Not every moment needs to be photographed. Some moments are just for living.

Film is my creative playground, my reminder of why I fell in love with photography in the first place. It’s teaching me patience, intention, and trust, and somehow, that’s making me better at everything else I shoot.