Why chose a Super 8 Film rather than a traditional wedding video?

Super 8 films are a delightful contrast to the overly sentimental, cliche wedding films that can be common in the wedding industry. The beauty (and the challenge) of Super 8 film is that you only have a small window of time/film to capture the essence of a day, you can't play it back, take a look and then try again to achieve 'perfection', you just have to trust the process and embrace the imperfections. This makes the films unapologetically candid, infused with a touch of nostalgia from the film colours and grain, then thrown together with some soulful tunes.

Do the films include audio such as vows and speeches?

Super 8 cameras do not record sound such as speeches or vows, so it's essentially raw, motion pictures curated to some soulful tunes. It is also worth noting that with traditional ‘digital’ wedding videos, these generally only includes small snippets of vows and speeches stitched between scenes, unless the whole sequence, including the ceremony and speeches, is part of the package price. 

Do you offer a hybrid option with audio and digital footage from the ceremony and speeches? 

Yes, this is available as an add on. With adding audio and digital footage to the film, this takes additional time requiring a second shooter/assistant, hence the additional fee. Also, if you are wanting video footage of the speeches, since they often take place after dark, these will need to be recorded digitally. 

How much is the deposit, is it refundable and how do we make payment?

I require a 30% deposit to lock in your wedding date and this is nonrefundable. The remaining amount is due 60 days before your wedding day. I accept payment via bank deposit or PayPal. If you choose PayPal, there is a 4.5% fee.

Is there any added risk with Super 8 film?

Unlike modern DSLR cameras, which have backup systems that greatly reduce the risk of data loss, vintage Super 8 cameras do not have this built-in safeguard. This means that in the unlikely event of camera or film cartridge failure there could be a loss of negatives from one part of the day, while the risk is still low, it is important that you understand the nuances of Super 8 film. When it comes time to book, the contract covers more about the unlikely event of data loss and prorated refunds if at all necessary.

Is there an additional fee for processing the film? 

While Super 8 cameras are relatively cheap, it's becoming increasingly expensive to buy and develop the film, costing around $200 per 3-minutes of captured film - one cartridge records just over 3 minutes of video. On a wedding day, we generally shoot around 4-7 cartridges shared out across the day in order to capture the whole story (costing appox. $800-$1400 just for the raw footage) is is all calculated into production costs and you can rest assured that there will be no ‘nasty surprises

Are there any light limitations we should be aware of?

Due to the limited light sensitivity of the film stock, Super 8 is best shot during daylight hours. If shooting inside or after the sun goes down this must be a very well-lit room (very few venues have adequate lighting to be able to record on Super 8 film in great quality once the sun has gone down). This means that any receptions/dinners/speeches/formalities/dance floors that are held indoors or after dark, the film stock will struggle with the limited amount of light - Sometimes an LED spot light can be used, which from experience can be quite distracting. If you'd like any of these 'events after dark' recorded you may want to consider a hybrid package, adding digital footage to capture any evening formalities.

What do we do if it’s raining on our wedding day?

These old vintage cameras are not weather tight like digital cameras, which means, if we encounter a rainy day we will be limited as to how much we can shoot. We'll do our best to cover the camera in a shell (and carry back up cameras and film) but rain will definitely limit where and how we can use the camera.

How and when do we receive our final film?

After your wedding the film will be sent to our lab from processing and digital scan. During the busy season this can take up to 6 weeks. Once we receive the digital files we will start the editing process. You will receive your final film within 10-14 weeks of your wedding. This will be shared digitally, making it easy to share with family and friends. And you’ll also be able to freely download the video for safe keeping.

Will you share clips from our wedding video online?

Not always, however, occasionally we may post a section of film on social media channels, this is a wonderful way for us to showcase some of our recent work. Some weddings may also feature as a blog on our website.