Shooting wedding with 6x6 TLRs

[tingm]

My wedding is coming up Yep, that's right -- Mine.
And I want my photographers to drop the digital gear and shoot it in 6x6 TLRs. (well, the digital will still be used just for safety.)

Was wondering on the availibility of films.... anyone checked the shops for MF films lately?

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by tingm My wedding is coming up Yep, that's right -- Mine. And I want my photographers to drop the digital gear and shoot it in 6x6 TLRs. (well, the digital will still be used just for safety.) Was wondering on the availibility of films.... anyone checked the shops for MF films lately?

why must be a TLR? can't be a SLR or Rangefinder camera?

for 120 film, just go to Cathy, Ruby or FotoHub.

[jonathan_wong]

TLR will give the nostalgia. Picture quality surpass most digital cameras. Because the photographer is looking downwards, it pose less pressure to the subject and facial expression is more natural.

I shot for a friend many years ago using the Rolleiflex 2.8. Picture was very good. I used Fuji NPH becuase of the wedding gown. Use fill in flash. You will never regret it.

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by jonathan_wong TLR will give the nostalgia. Picture quality surpass most digital cameras. Because the photographer is looking downwards, it pose less pressure to the subject and facial expression is more natural. I shot for a friend many years ago using the Rolleiflex 2.8. Picture was very good. I used Fuji NPH becuase of the wedding gown. Use fill in flash. You will never regret it.

120 SLR also have waist level finder.

[enivre]

I'm not sure but I'm assuming you want to shoot your actual day wedding?

i suggest you have both DSLRs and TLRs. Why? So that you can ask the DSLR person to
shoot all the "must have shots" or the "my parents face must be there shots". Then the TLR guy can go about not worrying about having to get these kinds of photos.

If it's pre-wedding photos then it doesn't have to be a TLR, it can be any MF it should give you a different look.

[ckuang]

Yes, there's plenty of medium format film around.

But the photography part is the least of the problems. The film scanning, or finding someone who can scan all the images with good balanced color is a real nightmare. Currently we're shipping our film to US or Australia and contemplating taking scanning in house.

As far as getting the old nostalgic look, I don't really think it's so much the camera as much as the film. To get the old school look, must match up right film with right camera. If using the black and white, best bet would be to develop at home. If you use commercial labs, the chemicals,etc will give the film a very modern look.

Also keep in mind that a 6x6 TLR or just about any MF is pretty slow to reload etc, so you must be patient with the photographer. That's why we normally mix it in with digital to be able to keep up with the action. Also, if lighting is too yellow, be careful because MF film will have this really saturated yellow in hotels like Ritz Carlton etc, that is really really hard to correct out compared to digital.

[tingm]

Originally Posted by ckuang Yes, there's plenty of medium format film around. But the photography part is the least of the problems. The film scanning, or finding someone who can scan all the images with good balanced color is a real nightmare. Currently we're shipping our film to US or Australia and contemplating taking scanning in house. As far as getting the old nostalgic look, I don't really think it's so much the camera as much as the film. To get the old school look, must match up right film with right camera. If using the black and white, best bet would be to develop at home. If you use commercial labs, the chemicals,etc will give the film a very modern look. Also keep in mind that a 6x6 TLR or just about any MF is pretty slow to reload etc, so you must be patient with the photographer. That's why we normally mix it in with digital to be able to keep up with the action. Also, if lighting is too yellow, be careful because MF film will have this really saturated yellow in hotels like Ritz Carlton etc, that is really really hard to correct out compared to digital.

Thanks for all the very2 helpful input.

I think scanning would be the worst part... and getting colour right in scanning is nightmare, so might as well stick with B/W..

[enivre]

Not if you scan as a RAW file, then you can easily correct the WB (to a certain extent).

I use vuescan to scan negs into raws, then lightroom to process these raw files. It takes a while but it's do-able.

I find that that "nostalgic" look appears more with negs than trans. I guess it's coz of the way the colours turn out in negs, esp if you are talking about shooting weddings.

I suggest you get someone to shoot with a hassey (or if they are trained bodybuilders a mamiya) so that they can swap backs between B&W, negs and so on. Saves time on re-loading too!

You haven't mentioned if it's pre-wedding or actual day though, again pre-wedding the photographer can take his time to reload, not so for actual day.

You can also consider 35mm film, get the photographer to push the film (maybe B&W?) so that the grain shows up more. It's hard to get grain to show up on MF.

[ckuang]

Actually for a really aged look like the two images on the splash page to my site, I find it much easier to achieve on digital than film.

I would second just using a hassy than a tlr due to the interchangeable back. Get a choice of more lenses and perspectives as well.

Oh yeah and I forgot to add, if your wedding is indoors you'll probably need to shoot delta 3200 (which I think is available in Singapore), as far as high speed color film ie, iso 800 and above in 120 format, you're out of luck in Singapore. There isn't a shop that stocks it consistently. Fastest we can find is portra 400 or fuji nph 400. If wedding is outdoors in the day time, then you'll be fine.

[shinken]

Originally Posted by ckuang Oh yeah and I forgot to add, if your wedding is indoors you'll probably need to shoot delta 3200 (which I think is available in Singapore), as far as high speed color film ie, iso 800 and above in 120 format, you're out of luck in Singapore. There isn't a shop that stocks it consistently. Fastest we can find is portra 400 or fuji nph 400. If wedding is outdoors in the day time, then you'll be fine.

The Delta 3200 runs out from time to time at Ruby's as well.

Just to add, the output is really really grainy. I'm glad my clients love it (during the time I used it), but that's also because they came from that generation and part of the world where people appreciate the qualities of it. But my sense is that it's not everyone's cup of tea today.

I really love it though.

[boochap]

Originally Posted by tingm Thanks for all the very2 helpful input. I think scanning would be the worst part... and getting colour right in scanning is nightmare, so might as well stick with B/W..

No, very easy.
becuz wedding gown is white. color correction is simple.

[tingm]

Hi. Thanks for all the encouragements and the ideas.

I've personally tried scanning a few 35mm color negs on my V700, and it is a nightmare.. I can't imagine having to go through the scanning process again.. so something more interesting has came up.. I think I'll go with 4x5" b/w polaroids... *big grin* .. hopefully it comes out as well as I want it.

I do have backup cameras, with canon DSLRs.. although I assume the photos would be a little bit boring. :P

[tingm]

I'm also ordering the 4x5" Polaroids from B&H.. A friend will bring it back in time for the wedding.. No hassle with processing, no hassle with scanning. Wonderful!

The video shooting will be done on either 8mm or 16mm film.. Hopefully all turns out well, cause I'm paying a lot of money for all these films.

[tingm]

Originally Posted by boochap No, very easy. becuz wedding gown is white. color correction is simple.

Originally Posted by enivre Not if you scan as a RAW file, then you can easily correct the WB (to a certain extent). I use vuescan to scan negs into raws, then lightroom to process these raw files. It takes a while but it's do-able. I find that that "nostalgic" look appears more with negs than trans. I guess it's coz of the way the colours turn out in negs, esp if you are talking about shooting weddings. I suggest you get someone to shoot with a hassey (or if they are trained bodybuilders a mamiya) so that they can swap backs between B&W, negs and so on. Saves time on re-loading too! You haven't mentioned if it's pre-wedding or actual day though, again pre-wedding the photographer can take his time to reload, not so for actual day. You can also consider 35mm film, get the photographer to push the film (maybe B&W?) so that the grain shows up more. It's hard to get grain to show up on MF.

hassy is better, yes.. with flm backs.
but I can't justify the cost of the gear... (camera+lens+at least 2 backs).
TLRs are much lighter on the arm and the wallet.

[enivre]

Originally Posted by tingm hassy is better, yes.. with flm backs. but I can't justify the cost of the gear... (camera+lens+at least 2 backs). TLRs are much lighter on the arm and the wallet.

Just look for a photographer that has one? I believe there are plenty of hassey owners...

[ckuang]

Originally Posted by tingm hassy is better, yes.. with flm backs. but I can't justify the cost of the gear... (camera+lens+at least 2 backs). TLRs are much lighter on the arm and the wallet.

If it helps, hasselblads can be rented from Shiro. Btw, is your wedding outdoors? Medium format film and 8 and 16mm generally need quite a bit more light because of the lenses and the film speed. My concern would really be more of the costs for lighting for 16mm film, if cost is a factor.

[tingm]

Originally Posted by enivre Just look for a photographer that has one? I believe there are plenty of hassey owners...

problem is, sometimes you find a photog with a hassey, but you don't match his art style

[tingm]

Originally Posted by ckuang If it helps, hasselblads can be rented from Shiro. Btw, is your wedding outdoors? Medium format film and 8 and 16mm generally need quite a bit more light because of the lenses and the film speed. My concern would really be more of the costs for lighting for 16mm film, if cost is a factor.

Thanks, ckuang,

Originally we want to shoot 8mm. But I went with 16mm, cause 8mm is a really big hassle. The films have to be bought from US, shipped back, processed, telecine overseas.. not to mention, the 8mm cameras are quite old, unreliable, and who knows what speed those lenses are.

When we checked out that the cost of 16 mm isn't big difference from 8mm. perhaps only about 25% more expensive for the film stock, and that we can buy & process locally, we decided to go 16mm instead.

we're getting 500 speed Vision2 Kodaks... with T1.7-1.3 lenses, shouldn't be difficult to shoot indoors. perhaps 575W HMIs would do as lighting. what's your opinion?

never done this before... so.. quite nervous too.

but as always, we'll have digital backups

[jonathan_wong]

Hello tingm

I believe you can find a few good photographers here in this forum to shoot for you. It is not the equipment that matters, its the skills and also familiarity of shooting 6x6 square format. Just post and ask , I believe someone will come to you. Someone carrying a really expensive camera is not a guarantee for good pictures. There are still many processes in the chain.

A Seagull TLR, using a yellow or orange filter + a small fill in flash has been the work horse of many professional photographer in the 60s-70s. I have seen many jaw dropping prints make from this combination.

Some photographers use a Rolleiflex 3.5F or 2.8F. If you shoot Black and White, you will get an image different from normal SLR or DSLR.

Film wise, the Kodak 400 Tmax is superb. If you find Mr. Kwek of Konota, he can adjust to the tone you want. Also, his scanning is good. If you shoot color, use Fuji NPH.

Personally, if you shoot 6x6 the film itself will yield a superb print. Scanning is just for WEB image or storage. If you really want to scan 6X6, note that scanning will pick up the grains (noise) inherent in any film.

As said, I have shot 6X6 for my friends' wedding, and those pictures stand out alot more than using normal SLR/ DSLR. Square formal has its charm, and the larg film area is the ultimate (other than large format) in making a good print.