If you’ve been looking for a wedding photographer who shoots film in Asheville, you’ve probably seen a few different phrases floating around: 35mm film, medium format, 120 film, hybrid photography, film-inspired editing. It can get a little confusing.

The short version is this: I photograph weddings with a mix of digital, 35mm film, and medium format film. Each one does something a little different, and together they let me document a wedding in a way that feels candid, artistic, slightly nostalgic, and still complete.

I love film. I also love the freedom and precision of digital. I don’t think couples should have to choose between the two.

What does hybrid film and digital wedding photography mean?

A hybrid film and digital wedding photographer uses both formats throughout the wedding day. For me, that doesn’t mean photographing the whole day twice or trying to force film into every situation. It means choosing the camera that makes the most sense for the light, the pace of the day, and the feeling of the moment.

Digital gives me speed and flexibility. It is ideal for fast-moving moments, dark reception spaces, the dance floor, and all the wonderfully unpredictable things that happen at weddings.

Film asks me to slow down just a little. It has texture, softness, beautiful color, and an instantly nostalgic glow. Because every frame is intentional, it changes the way I look at a scene. Honestly, it influences the way I photograph digitally, too.

The final gallery is edited to feel cohesive, so you aren’t receiving two completely different visual styles. The digital and film photographs belong together.

Why shoot weddings on 35mm film?

35mm film is loose, lively, and a little imperfect in the best way. It works beautifully for candid photographs, movement, quick portraits, details, cocktail hour, and moments that feel like they could have come from a family album you’ve always owned.

There can be grain. There can be softness. Colors can shift in a way that feels less polished and more alive. That is part of the reason I love it.

When couples search for 35mm film wedding photography in Asheville, I think they are usually looking for more than a particular camera. They want photographs that feel personal. They want something tactile and a little less perfect. They want their wedding to look like a real memory instead of a production.

That fits naturally with the way I work. I’m mostly hands-off while the day is unfolding, and I’ll step in with thoughtful direction when it helps. The best photograph is often the moment in between—or the one right after the photograph you thought we were taking.

What is medium format wedding photography?

Medium format wedding photography uses a larger film negative than 35mm. You may also hear it called 120 film wedding photography. The larger negative can hold an incredible amount of detail, and it creates a sense of depth and softness that is hard to duplicate.

If 35mm feels spontaneous and a little scrappy, medium format feels slower and more intentional. It is especially beautiful for portraits, fashion-forward photographs, quiet moments, wedding details, and scenes with lovely natural light.

I don’t want that slower process to turn your wedding into a photoshoot, though. You still get to be present. I’ll give you clear, subtle direction when you need it, make the photograph, and give the moment back to you.

For couples drawn to an elevated editorial look without stiff posing, medium format film can be a really beautiful part of the day.

Is film wedding photography right for your Asheville wedding?

You don’t need to plan a vintage wedding to love film. You don’t need a specific venue, dress, color palette, or kind of celebration either.

Film can feel equally at home at an intimate wedding in downtown Asheville, a full weekend at a historic estate, an outdoor celebration in Western North Carolina, or a destination wedding that brings everyone you love to one place.

It may be especially right for you if you’re drawn to:

• photographs with texture, softness, and natural color
• candid images that feel like real memories
• an editorial aesthetic that still feels relaxed
• a mix of polished portraits and wonderfully imperfect moments
• a wedding gallery that won’t feel overly trendy a few years from now

You also don’t need to understand cameras or film stocks before reaching out. That part is my job. You can simply know that you like the feeling.

Why I use both film and digital on wedding days

I’ve photographed enough weddings to know that every part of the day asks for something different.

A quiet portrait by a window and a crowded dance floor are not the same problem. Neither are handwritten vows, a windy outdoor ceremony, champagne spilling onto a table, or your grandmother pulling you into a hug before dinner.

Using film and digital together really is the best of both worlds. Digital gives me the freedom to document every part of the day fully, while film gives the entire gallery its visual compass. I photograph film throughout the wedding day—not only during portraits—so the film images from each scene help inform the way I edit the digital photographs from that same part of the day.

The classic look, timeless colors, natural skin tones, and overall aesthetic of the film become a reference for the digital images around them. That helps everything feel intentional and connected, from getting ready and the ceremony to dinner, dancing, and all the moments in between. You still get the texture and beautiful unpredictability of real film, along with the coverage and flexibility of digital, brought together in one elevated, editorial, and cohesive wedding gallery.

It also gives you the fun of not always knowing which images were made on film until the scans come back. I still get excited about that part.

Frequently asked questions about film wedding photography

Can an entire wedding be photographed on film?

It can, but that isn’t how I normally work. A hybrid approach gives you the character of film without sacrificing coverage in difficult light or fast-moving parts of the day.

Will the film photographs look different from the digital photographs?

They will have their own texture and character, but the full gallery is created to feel cohesive. My film work also influences how I photograph and edit digitally.

Do you photograph Asheville weddings on both 35mm and medium format film?

Yes. I photograph weddings throughout Asheville and Western North Carolina using digital, 35mm film, and medium format film. I choose between them throughout the day based on the moment, light, and pace.

What is the difference between 35mm and medium format wedding photography?

35mm tends to feel more candid, grainy, and spontaneous. Medium format uses a larger negative and often feels more detailed, soft, and editorial. I love having both available because they tell different parts of the same story.

Is film included in your wedding photography collections?

Film is included in select collections and can also be added to customized coverage. If it matters to you, tell me when you inquire and we can build the right amount into your plans.

Looking for an Asheville wedding photographer who shoots film?

I’m Nathan Rivers Chesky, an Asheville wedding photographer working throughout Western North Carolina and beyond. I’ve been voted Asheville’s Best Wedding Photographer three years, and my work has been featured by Garden & Gun Weddings, Junebug Weddings, Zola, and Forbes. I photograph weddings with a candid, documentary approach, a little editorial direction, and a mix of digital, 35mm, and medium format film.

My goal is pretty simple: give you photographs that feel elevated and artful while giving you the space to actually enjoy your wedding. You don’t need to perform for the camera all day. I’ll help when you need me, disappear when you don’t, and pay attention to everything happening in between.

If you’re looking for hybrid film and digital wedding photography in Asheville, I’d love to hear what you’re planning. Reach out here, and tell me what you’re drawn to about film.