2 Expose your film correctly

Another challenge of film photography is to expose your film correctly. Unlike digital photography, where you can check your histogram and adjust your settings on the spot, film photography requires you to rely on your light meter, your experience, and your intuition. You also need to be aware of the exposure latitude of your film, which is the range of tones that your film can capture without losing details in the shadows or the highlights. Some films have more exposure latitude than others, which means they can tolerate more overexposure or underexposure. However, you should always aim to expose your film as accurately as possible, to avoid wasting film and compromising the quality of your images.

3 Develop your film carefully

The next challenge of film photography is to develop your film carefully. Developing your film is a crucial step that can make or break your images. You need to follow the instructions and the specifications of your film and your chemicals, and use the right equipment and techniques. You also need to be consistent and precise with your timing, your temperature, and your agitation. Developing your film yourself can be rewarding and cost-effective, but it also requires more time, space, and skills. Alternatively, you can send your film to a professional lab, but you will have less control and more expenses.

4 Scan your film properly

The final challenge of film photography is to scan your film properly. Scanning your film is the process of converting your analog images into digital files that you can edit, print, or share. You need to use a high-quality scanner that can capture the resolution, the color, and the dynamic range of your film. You also need to adjust the settings and the preferences of your scanner software, such as the resolution, the bit depth, the color mode, and the sharpening. Scanning your film yourself can give you more flexibility and convenience, but it also requires more investment and maintenance. Alternatively, you can ask your lab to scan your film for you, but you will have less options and more dependency.

5 Edit your film minimally

One of the benefits of film photography is that it can produce beautiful and natural images that do not need much editing. However, you may still want to edit your film images to enhance them, correct them, or stylize them. You need to edit your film images minimally, to preserve the integrity and the authenticity of your film. You also need to use the right software and tools, such as Photoshop, Lightroom, or specialized plugins. You can adjust the basic parameters, such as the exposure, the contrast, the color balance, and the cropping. You can also apply some subtle effects, such as the grain, the vignette, or the curves. However, you should avoid over-editing your film images, to avoid losing the details, the texture, and the character of your film.

6 Manage your film workflow

The last tip to balance film photography challenges with a fast-paced industry is to manage your film workflow. Your film workflow is the sequence of steps and tasks that you perform from shooting to sharing your film images. You need to manage your film workflow efficiently, to optimize your time, your resources, and your results. You can manage your film workflow by planning ahead, organizing your film, labeling your rolls, keeping track of your settings, documenting your process, backing up your files, and archiving your negatives. You can also use some tools and apps, such as film logs, notebooks, spreadsheets, or online platforms. By managing your film workflow, you can improve your productivity, your quality, and your satisfaction as a film photographer.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?