Shooting Film for the First Time: A Beginner's Guide

There's never been a better time to shoot film. Cameras are affordable, film stocks are widely available, and the community of film photographers is bigger and more welcoming than it's been in decades. If you've been curious about film photography but haven't known where to start, this guide is for you.

Why shoot film?

Film photography slows you down in the best possible way. With 36 exposures on a roll, you think more carefully about each frame. You compose more deliberately. You pay attention to light. And when you get your scans back from the lab, there's a genuine excitement to seeing what you captured that's hard to replicate with digital.

The look of film is also genuinely different. The grain, the colour rendering, the way highlights roll off. These are qualities that digital cameras and editing software can approximate but never quite match.

What do you need to get started?

The basics are simple:

• A film camera. A 35mm point-and-shoot is the easiest starting point. They're affordable, compact, and handle most of the technical decisions for you. SLRs give you more control but have a steeper learning curve.
• Film. Start with a colour negative film at ISO 400. It's the most forgiving and versatile option for a beginner.
• A lab to develop your film. Most cities have at least one film lab. Many also offer mail-in services with digital scans.

Which film should you start with?

For your first roll, we recommend either Kodak Gold 200 or Kodak Portra 400.

Kodak Gold 200 is a great starting point if you'll be shooting mostly outdoors in good light. It's warm, punchy, and has a classic film look that's immediately appealing. It's also more affordable, which is useful when you're still learning.

Kodak Portra 400 is the better choice if you want maximum versatility. It handles a wider range of light conditions, is more forgiving of exposure errors, and produces beautiful results in almost any situation. It's the film that professional photographers trust for a reason.

Our Discovery Bundle is a great way to try a few different stocks and find your favourite without committing to a large quantity of any one film.

How to load your film

Loading film varies slightly between cameras, but the basic process is the same for most 35mm cameras:

1. Open the camera back (usually a latch on the left side).
2. Place the film canister in the left chamber.
3. Pull the film leader across to the take-up spool on the right.
4. Thread the film into the spool and advance it until it catches.
5. Close the camera back and advance the film until the frame counter reads 1.

If you're unsure, search for a loading guide specific to your camera model. There are excellent video tutorials for most popular cameras.

Tips for your first roll

• Shoot in good light. Film is more forgiving than you might expect, but good light makes everything easier. Start outdoors in daylight.
• Don't overthink it. The best way to learn film is to shoot. Use all 36 frames. Experiment. Make mistakes.
• Keep notes. A small notebook to record your settings and conditions can be invaluable when you're reviewing your scans and trying to understand what worked.
• Be patient. You won't see your results until the film is developed. That's part of the experience.
• Find a good lab. The quality of your scans matters. A good lab will make a significant difference to how your images look.

Ready to start?

Pick up a roll of Kodak Portra 400 or Kodak Gold 200, load your camera, and go shoot. The rest will follow.

And when you're ready to learn more, our Film ISO Guide for Beginners is a great next read.