For years, I’ve absolutely loved shooting film , and incorporate film into my process for shooting every wedding day. While the tool doesn’t make the photographer, I’ve always dreamed of owning the coveted Contax 645—a medium format film camera that was discontinued in 2005. The Contax paired with a 80mm Zeiss lens, is known to be one of the best tools out there for creating the soft and dreamy, yet still full-of-depth image style that I’ve always wanted for myself and my work.
Finally, I took the plunge and invested (heavily) into this new Contax 645 + 80mm Zeiss lens setup. While it was a huge investment to make for me, I want to deliver the absolute best images for my clients, and I can’t wait to start using my shiny new film camera that I’ve wanted for so long at weddings and portrait sessions.
The day after I got my Contax in the mail, Austin and I went on a date to Red Top Mountain in Acworth, GA, and even brought Stella along with us. We got Jimmy Johns and had a picnic out of the back of my car, all while overlooking the lake. Following our little lunch date, I made Austin model for me as I tested out the Contax and shot a roll of film, already getting so impatient at the fact that I would need to wait another week to see the results. After what felt like a very long week, scans from my film lab hit my inbox, and I seriously held my breath as I opened them.
I was in love. The tones, the softness, the depth, the light. I knew immediately that this investment, one that I had wanted to make since I began my journey with shooting film, was more than worth it.
