How to Get Started Shooting In-Home Family Photography on Film

How to get started shooting in-home family photography on film can be a daunting process, but a rewarding and exciting experience. (You know in-home family and newborn sessions are my number 1 favorite thing to shoot!!), but using film for in-home photography adds an entirely new level of stress. I thought I’d share a recent indoor/outdoor family session at their home (with their sweet fur baby of course), along with the seven steps you can take to get started shooting in-home family photography on film today.

1. Develop your skills and knowledge.

While it’s not strictly necessary to have formal training in photography (not many do!), it’s important to have a solid understanding of manual photography techniques and equipment. Once you have that basic understanding down, add the layer of using film to your repertoire. Film is actually pretty darn similar to digital, except you meter for shadows and overexpose instead of metering for mid-tones or shadows and underexposing. You can learn about film specifically by taking courses (I may just be working on one and will update this when it’s done!), workshops, or online tutorials. You can also practice by taking photos of your own family and friends (and take notes!!).

2. Invest in equipment.

You’ll need a good camera, (and used film cameras aren’t nearly as expensive as new digital cameras), lenses, and lighting equipment to get started (if you’re interested in learning about lighting check out Lighting for Lifestyle).

3. Research which film lab you’d like to partner with.

There are several amazing film labs out there and all have slightly different processing and editing styles, so send your portfolio-building film to all of the labs and see which edits resonate with you most! Pro-tip: all labs want you to be successful so don’t be afraid to call them with questions or issues. They want this partnership to work as much as you do! My two go-to labs are Richard Photo Lab and The Find Lab. I work with both often and love both of them for separate reasons.

4. Build your portfolio.

Start building your portfolio by taking photos of your own family and friends. Model Sessions are invaluable. You can offer to take photos for free or at a discounted rate for other families to build your portfolio while being completely in charge of the location, wardrobe, and so much more without any pressure at all. Practice, practice, practice!!

5. Rebrand your website and social media.

Update your website and social media accounts to showcase your new portfolio showing the type of in-home family photos on film you want to shoot for your sessions, and make it easy for potential clients to find you. Also use social media to promote and engage with potential clients and build your brand.

6. Set your pricing and policies.

Determine your pricing and policies for your services. We all know that film and processing is more expensive per session than digital photography, so make sure you revisit your pricing to make sure you will be profitable. Also, research what other photographers in your area are charging and set competitive prices. Decide on your policies for things like cancellations, rescheduling, and delivery of photos.

7. Market yourself.

Finally, market yourself to potential clients. You can advertise on social media, use film-related hashtags, send out a newsletter with your new session offerings (with images!) and network with other families in your area. Last, don’t be afraid to offer time-sensitive special promotions to attract new clients. Whether or not you want to shout from the rooftops that you’re a film photographer is up to you! I have some clients who absolutely love that I shoot film. Others had no idea! Know who your client avatar is and find out if that person cares if you shoot film or not. A lot of times, they are drawn to the look and feel of it but can’t put their finger on why they love it. Something to think about!

Let me know if you have any questions or need help getting started shooting in-home family photography on film!