Thanks for checking out my channel! I am a Destination Wedding Photographer based in California. My work is deeply rooted in artful storytelling, using a blend of photo-journalism and fine art. I strive to create images with depth and feeling by using shadows, thoughtful composition and light as it is given. I've captured some 170 weddings and some of my work has been featured in California Wedding Day Magazine, Green Wedding Shoes, Brides, Flutter, Fearless Photographers, French Style Weddings, Artfully Wed Ruffled, Off-Beat Bride, Zola and Wandering Weddings. My go-to camera is my Leica M and I am happy to share some of my experience and reviews on gear when it comes to photographing weddings and traveling. Thanks so much for watching and I hope to connect with you soon!
Thank you for this. Wondering whether or not you've experienced any 'freezing' or 'lock-up' issues with your M11. And, if so, whether or not / how you were able to resolve them. Keep up the great work !
Leica is as useless as iPhone. Expensive = foolish people are spending their money on something which is available less than 50% of the price of Leica equipments.
What I learned from this video is, if someone comes with a range finder be ready to as for a refund since sounds likes a lot of missing shots, out of focus, experimentation, etc... Your photos look beautiful. But I will be scared if it was my wedding.
Great conversation Teri :) I also fell down the film rabbit whole including Leica analogue cameras and currently can't get enough of my M3, since now after owning it I understand why people say it's the best camera body Leica have ever made. Still I have now my eyes on an MP black paint :) If you are still interested in developing film, a great starting point is the Monobath solution from Cinestill to develope black and white film at home. Watch the Cinestill video about it, it really is that simple and due to self developement I was able to push my film up to ISO 1600 without extra cost :) Give it a try to dip your toe into the water ;)
I love that photograph of the bride descending the stairs with the groom at the bottom, off-centre. That's a really, really beautiful shot and tells a story in the most perfect way. (sorry, a bit random but that's me)
What advice do you have for photographers dreaming of getting their first digital “m” camera. What do you think the entry point would be in terms of what you would consider usable for professional wedding imagery in 2024. Used m240 bodies seem to be around $3000 these days…. Even m8 is up there still…. Really appreciate your content. Your aesthetic and overall approach really resonates with me. I have found myself moving backwards technologically to find a photographic tool that helps me create images with more emotional impact and one that i connect with. Up to now I’ve only bonded with my Canon 5d classic but I find it to be too slow and the shutter (while badass) is embarrassingly loud for wedding work 😂
I went back and forth on getting the zoom or the non zoom. And I am glad I got the zoom. It's nice to just be able to inch in a little bit without disturbing my subjects which can be kids a lot of the time. Anyways, just wanted to say I love my Minilux zoom :)
Great Video - been back to film for the past 2 years and not looking back. Also, $500 bucks for 14 rolls, we gotta get you a scanner! :) I know it’s time consuming, but for me it feels more akin to a ‘digital darkroom’ than all of my 17+ years shooting digital.
I am 100% with you on the loading of film in my MP!!! I put through the end ‘gap’.. make sure it’s in…. But never sure!! I watch the rewind crank move, I tighten… I still think I didn’t do it right- love love love the photog experience with it. You can borrow my M3 if you come to SF… such a classic- that’s easy to load !!
+1 on what type of camera equipment are a must have as a second shooter. I have gotten rid of all my DSLR equipment and only have a leica m11 & leica MP.. With little experience as a wedding photographer and only leica cameras.... I wonder if I am less marketable...
love the photos you took! they look amazing 😻 I also have the same one but the photos always turned out overexposed or underexposed (i did play around with the EV however it didn't work 😭). How did you deal with the lights though ? And have you used manual focus or just AF ? Thank you! This camera is so new to me and def harder than any PNS i've ever used!!
Nice review. If you cut the film box to size and tape it up, you can stick a tiny reminder in the hotshoe for what film you have. That's what I do to help me remember!
I second shoot 25-30 weddings/yr, going on 8 years now, loved primes so much in the beginning but few years on ended up with a couple of Canon L zooms on two bodies instead. I admire your dedication to use mostly primes (manual ones too!) on wedding shoots…..that ain’t easy!!
couple of tips to prolong its shutter life: dont advance and leave cocked more than an hour or so. When advancing dont let the lever spring back and hit to body but gently guide it back with you thumb. The first tip prevents the springs from losing tension and your shutter malfunctioning, the second one prevents dents on the body but also prevents your frame spacing to move, the rebound from letting the lever hit often causes frame spacing issues over time in my experience as the cams for spaying are simply tensioned down and not necessarily fixed to a certain position. I love your photos btw!
Keeping the spring cocked has less of an effect on the long term functionality of the camera. It does no harm to have a handling protocol that is consistent, but really don't worry about it if you forget. Even uncocked the spring is still well tensioned
@@yonmusak it will cause shutter capping over time. especially with older cameras you really shouldnt leave cocked. I repair cameras, mostly leicas for people and youd be amazed how many come with capping shutters due to wrong use.
If you enjoy the process of shooting film, from slowing down and being intentional with your shots, to the anticipation of receiving the files in your inbox, then you MUST take it one step further and learn to develop your own film. I remember setting up a "darkroom" in our tiny guest bathroom and practice in there. So it doesn't need to be a dedicated space. Yes it'd be nice to have a full-time studio, but that adds a butt-load of complexity that might be a bit intimating. Start with b+w as they are much more forgiving, in both developing and printing. Trust me, once you've experience the euphoria of seeing your images literally developing right in front of your very eyes in that pool of toxic liquid, you would hit yourself on the head and question why you haven't done it sooner!! Oh... and the aforementioned euphoria... that might be from inhaling the fume of the development chemicals... 🤣 But you get my point...
As a full time film shooter, I’ve switched to using Kodak movie film. I buy 400 feet of color and black and white and bulk load myself as well as develop. It’s the only way to do it IMHO.
We shot over 1,000 weddings and portraits and fashion shoots on a Mamiya RZ (2 bodies for the inevitable lock ups which happened twice) along with two Nikon F90x's (with grips for the Pro look!) handled the candids - we now use Hasselblad- 2 X2D's with Profoto (also OCF), 1 907xCFV100c for the intimate bridal and large groups and all the new F2.5 lenses for conformity and balance - would I shoot a wedding on film? Absolutley not - no way - no thanks. Think about delivery; the album designers of most print books went years ago, that means, film + processing + prints and finding some way to present/exhibit, OR film + processing + scanning - you will be £500+ in before you even get going with LR/Capture/PS - then you have to manage reprints, neg storage, etc. Also film, processing and printing is not as cheap as it used to be - yes our cameras are more expensive but I have seen Wedding photographers using fairly older style APSC and they seem to be doing quite well - as an aside I was a Fuji ambassador hundreds of years ago in the 90's - they don't even make a decent wedding and portrait film now. 120 NPS160 alongside some NHG 35mm 400/800 was about where it was at - you couldn't do that now if you tried - even the digital versions are way off - however with all that said even when we used Fuji GFX100 our work was never as 'hit you in the face with detail and sheer presence' as a good neg from whatever Medium Format we used - also just remembered I used a Rollieflex SLX to shoot a weeding and it was awesome first MF was a Bronica ETRS then SQA then RZ and thats where we stayed until quite recently - all good though - love film but it has its place - I'm sure there are some artist types who could have a good stab at it but I do not seeing it beong mainstream bread and butter wedding business - mix a bit of film in with a bit of digi? Maybe?
As someone who photographs weddings exclusively on 35mm film, I'm happy to see more and more people jump on board as this almost guarantees stock to be available for a long time when I walk into my local Walmart. HOWEVER! I despise how MANY wedding photographers either one, use 35mm film as cheap marketing ploy to then turn around and deliver digital pictures with "film look" filters or worse, force the client into purchasing ONE roll as an add-on, often at a stupid expensive price.
28mm is too wide for Q series as around the world camera and some say it's actually 26mm. 35-42mm would've done the trick for me. Also, no way to keep it in crop 1:1 or 3:2 aspect ratio. Q menu User 1-4 will drop settings. Software just isn't there. I have the Q and may sell for some Summicrons on the M.
You dredged up many, many memories of my film and darkroom days. Thank you for that. Someone here mentioned the combination of a Hasselblad and Tri-X film. Beware. That combo is more addictive than heroin. But I think you’re capable of creating some astonishing work with it. Maybe?
Haha oh no! Yes, some on mentioned this combo before. Now I might just have to try ……. So glad you enjoyed the video! Appreciate you checking it out :) film has been just wonderful so far!
Omg what am I doing here? I’ve dropped all the weight from FF NIKON AND fast 1.4 all around. Sold all for a q2 and added a Fujifilm x100vi. Now looking at a m11…just can’t take the plunge yet to manual focus.
hii!! I'm so glad you found this! and .. sorry!?! The Fujifilm x100vi is gorgeous. I liked the Q2 enough, it just didn't serve me very well for weddings. The M11 has been so good to me, it's a deep dive when/if you get there!! thank you for checking this out
