Bay Area Film Photography

Documentary family photography on film, with a slower pace and a vintage vibe.

Film Session Prices

Why Love Film?

You don’t choose film, film chooses you.

There is an unmistakable charm in film photographs. Warmth and nostalgia, organic texture, rich tones, and a tangible sense of craftsmanship.

Film photography is all about the feeling that you get from a photo.

Do you feel it?

  • Mom holds daughter's hand as they walk towards the sunset on a rocky beach.
  • One year old standing outside watches water drip from cup to her feet
  • Close up of child playing with beautiful rounded beach stones.
  • Black and white of man kissing wife's head as she holds newborn baby.
  • Mom and dad hold hands on foggy beach as daughter's run from the incoming waves.
  • Two boys and grandparents in easy, loving embrace.
  • Toddler standing on sand with blue ocean behind smiling as seagulls flock around her.

Film is perfect for…

Long-form, documentary family photography.

A roll of film in my favorite camera only holds twelve frames.

Film invites a slower, more intentional approach. It is more about noticing than doing.

I want to spend all day with your family, film camera in hand, in the Bay Area or beyond.

More about David

Photographer holds vintage twin lens reflex medium format film camera

The Medium

Choosing film means embracing a medium that honors craftsmanship and authenticity.

It is perfectly imperfect.

35mm and medium format
Favorite film stocks – Kodak Portra & TMax 100, Ilford HP5

  • Mom and sleeping infant daughter lay on blanket in the son.
  • Dog sitting on dark bed looks into the light of an open window
  • Family walking together down a beach towards dramatic Marin Headlands.
  • Grandfather and daughter sit and read on rug in front of Christmas tree
  • Toddler sprays hose into garden while family stands behind.
  • Yellow leaf sitting in the water shows the fall season as toddler plays in the water.
  • Toddler eating spaghetti
  • Mom beams and engages with infant lying on a play mat in the sun.
  • Infant close up with mom and dad's hands
  • Toddler stands in the fog in front of iconic Marin Giacomini barn.
  • Mother holds infant while standing in calm blue water.

The Film Experience

Film photo sessions are a guided collaboration. Here’s what to expect.

01

Consultation

So you know exactly what to expect

02

Session

A relaxed, unhurried experience

03

Film Development

Each roll professionally developed and scanned

04

Gallery

High-res digital scans, pro prints available for purchase

Get Started

Investing in Film

Film photography pairs perfectly with a long-form documentary approach. But you can also add film to a shorter Bay Area Lifestyle Family Session for just $250.

Toddler sits in camp chair with headlamp on looking at camp fire, mom watches

All Day Documentary

starting at $2975

This is where the magic happens.

All day together means we let our guard down. We stop thinking and start doing. We forget the camera and just live.

In a full day we can photograph the bleary-eyed morning routine and a walk to your favorite coffee shop.

Then the local park or pancakes at home. Then who knows? maybe load up the car to go hiking in Point Reyes.

I’m there to capture the whole thing.

I want All Day
Mom and dad hold newborn tenderly between them indoors in grainy black and white film

Half Day Documentary

starting at $1975

In half a day we can spend quality time at home, then go to your favorite breakfast spot and visit the park on the way back.

Or we can go on a little adventure – bike with the kids to Tennessee Beach or a short hike around Land’s End.

If you like the idea of documentary film photography but aren’t quite ready to dive all the way in, this is a great place to start.

Let’s start with a Half Day

“So dramatic and unexpected!! …the grainy texture of the film…this is special.”

– text message after gallery delivery

Start Here

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FAQs

Absolutely! You can add a couple rolls of film to a 90 minute session. You can also opt for an all-film session of the same length. Film is a slower process and I take a lot less photos, so I like to chat on the phone before this type of session to make sure that everyone has realistic expectations.

Yes! Film does best with a lot of light, so I do suggest structuring our time together so we spend the earlier and later hours of the day outdoors, if possible. And when we’re inside, the closer we are to a big window, the better the light.

Modern scanners allow your film negatives to be translated to high-quality jpeg images. They still retain the look and feel of film images, even when printed from these digital files. It’s the best of both worlds, really.

Sessions including film photography are delivered within 6 weeks of the session date. Rush processing is available for an additional fee. 

You will have the ability to download high-resolution digital JPEG scanned images. Typically, I hold onto the negatives. If it is important to you to keep the negatives, please reach out and I will provide options.

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Website created by me, your photographer, because I want it to be an extension of myself. Forgive the imperfections and enjoy the heart and soul.