Emily and Kris on Film at Paliku Gardens, Kualoa Ranch

weddingfilm

Nov 3

Released the butterflies and they just stayed. We cannot blame them, since it was that kind of day.

Emily and Kris's wedding at Paliku Gardens was so laidback. There was lots of laughter, smiles, and it just felt like a good group of people to be around. This whole wedding afternoon was shot entirely on 35mm film, and fitting it into 100 frames, or 3 rolls, was a fun challenge.

That limit is a big part of why I love film wedding photography. It really slows me down and keeps me focused on the moments while they are happening. I am not shooting hundreds of frames hoping one lands. I am watching, waiting, and choosing the frame when it actually feels right.

Butterflies released during Emily and Kris's wedding at Paliku Gardens, Kualoa Ranch, staying close to the couple on a laidback wedding afternoon shot on 35mm film.

Close-up of the back of Kris's head and glasses against a blurred garden background at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

What film changes on a wedding day

With digital, it is easy to keep shooting. With 35mm film, every frame counts. That changes how I move through the day, and it changes what I notice.

I spend more time on the in-between stuff. A laugh during the vows, a parent wiping away tears, friends talking between photos, the small details that make the day feel like yours. Film has a texture and color that feels timeless without trying too hard, and it suits a documentary approach really well.

At Paliku Gardens, that approach fit the place too. You have the Koolau mountains behind you, Kaneohe Bay and Mokoli'i Island in the distance, and open lawns and gardens that do a lot of the work on their own. The photos did not need to be forced. The day was already there.

Guests seated in gold chairs watch Emily and Kris exchange vows under palm trees at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily and Kris at the altar during their ceremony, seen past seated guests under palm trees at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Tall white and pink floral arrangements on pedestals at the ceremony site, with palm trees and gold chairs at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily smiling at Kris during their ceremony, with Kris seen from behind holding a microphone at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

A guest in a blue striped shirt holds a child during the ceremony, with other guests watching at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Wide view of Emily and Kris's ceremony on a green lawn at Paliku Gardens, framed by palm trees with the ocean beyond, photographed on 35mm film.

Another wide view of the ceremony on the lawn at Paliku Gardens, with palm trees, seated guests, and a small island offshore, photographed on 35mm film.

Guests wearing leis watch the ceremony with emotion at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

The sound check I did not expect

One of my favorite moments from this day was not even on the shot list. It was a sound check.

Kris played Emily an acoustic song at the reception and it sounded amazing. I am a big fan of Ben Howard, and Kris had that same kind of vibe on guitar. Quiet, honest playing, in the middle of a celebration, with everyone just listening for a minute. Those are the moments film is made for, because you cannot recreate that feeling later.

Kris playing an acoustic song for Emily during their reception at Paliku Gardens, Kualoa Ranch, photographed on 35mm film.

Close-up of Kris's suit, white orchid boutonniere, pocket square, and wedding ring at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Black and white view of tall palm trees and the Koolau mountains at Kualoa Ranch, with Kris seated at the edge of the lawn, photographed on 35mm film.

1st look on 35mm film

The first look is always such a beautiful moment, and I wanted to approach this one a little differently.

I had one camera loaded with black and white film and the other with color, so I had to be pretty intentional about which moments I captured on each. I wanted all the moments leading up to Kris seeing his bride to be in black and white, including the two shots above. The anticipation, the nerves, and everything happening before the reveal.

Then, when Kris finally “sees” her for the first time, I captured that moment in color.

Almost like a little transition from anticipation to reality. Just a small creative decision, but one I thought would make the moment that much more meaningful.

Black and white photo of Kris waiting in a light suit among trees at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily in her veil walking toward Kris on a lawn for their first look at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily and Kris standing together in the gardens at Paliku Gardens, with green mountains behind them, photographed on 35mm film.

Kris smiling at Emily as he sees her for the first time during their first look at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Black and white close-up of Kris and Emily kissing during their first look at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Film as an add-on, alongside your main photographer

Emily and Kris had their whole afternoon on film, but that is not the only way to do it. A lot of clients hire us for 35mm film photography as an add-on service, alongside their main photographer.

In that setup, I am not the main photographer. That is actually the point. I am not trying to cover every formal photo or every must-have moment, because your main photographer already has that covered.

Instead, I can stay documentary for the whole time I am there. I can focus on details, reactions, and guests throughout the day, and on the parts of the day that often get missed when everyone is busy posing. Some couples add film just for the ceremony. Some add it for part of the day, like getting ready, cocktail hour, or the reception. Some add a full afternoon, like Emily and Kris did.

If you already love your digital photographer and just want a second, film perspective of the same day, this is a good fit. You get a different set of images, with a different feel, without changing your main coverage at all.

Tall palm trees in front of the green Koolau mountains at Kualoa Ranch, with Emily and Kris small at the bottom of the frame, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily and Kris walking together on the lawn, showing Emily's beaded dress and Kris's light suit at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily standing alone in the gardens holding her bouquet, with mountains and sunlit trees behind her at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Kris touching Emily's chin as she laughs beside a large floral arrangement at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

A family group portrait under palm trees at Paliku Gardens, with guests wearing leis and holding a baby, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily laughing with her bridesmaids, all holding bouquets, in the gardens at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Bridesmaids and a flower girl posing with white bouquets in sunlit gardens at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Bridesmaids laughing with a flower girl, including a bridesmaid in a green dress, at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Film wedding photography at Kualoa Ranch

If you are planning a Kualoa Ranch wedding, Paliku Gardens is a great place for film. It is open, natural, and relaxed, and it photographs well without a lot of staging. That matches how I like to shoot on film: simple, candid, and focused on people.

As an Oahu film photographer and Hawaii wedding photographer, I offer 35mm film as an add-on to weddings and elopements, by the roll, so you can add a little or a lot depending on what part of the day matters most to you.

Empty ceremony setup with gold chairs, floral arrangements, and palm trees overlooking the ocean at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Three bridesmaids walking on the lawn holding parasols at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

A flower girl walking down the aisle scattering petals at Emily and Kris's ceremony at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

A couple posing at a floral ceremony arch while guests take photos at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Guests walking across the lawn after the ceremony at Paliku Gardens, with palm trees and the ocean behind them, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily walking down the aisle at her ceremony, with guests and bridesmaids standing along the lawn at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily laughing as Kris places a ring on her finger during their ceremony at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

A flower girl wearing a flower crown and holding a basket, with guests clapping beside her at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Guests seated on the lawn watching the ceremony, with green mountains behind them at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Kris reading his vows from a booklet into a microphone, with Emily facing him at the floral arch at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Seated guests wearing leis watching the ceremony at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily reading her vows into a microphone, with Kris facing her at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Close-up of a guest wearing a lei holding a tissue during the ceremony at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Emily and Kris kissing at the altar as guests applaud under palm trees at Paliku Gardens, photographed on 35mm film.

Questions couples ask about adding film

Can you shoot film alongside our main photographer?

Yes. That is one of the most common ways couples use this service. I work with and mostly around your main photographer and stay documentary, so you get extra moments, not duplicate coverage.

Do you shoot a whole wedding on film, or just part of it?

Both. Emily and Kris did their whole afternoon on film. Other couples book film for just the ceremony, or for a slice of the day.

How many photos do we get from film?

It depends on how many rolls you add. A roll of 35mm film is about 36 frames, so 3 rolls is about 100 frames, like Emily and Kris's day. You get a curated set, not thousands of near-duplicates.

Is film a good fit for a Paliku Gardens wedding?

Yes, especially if you want a laidback, documentary feel. Paliku Gardens gives you strong natural backgrounds, so the focus stays on you and your guests.

If you are planning a wedding at Kualoa Ranch or Paliku Gardens, or you already have a photographer and want to add film, reach out and tell me which part of the day you would want on film. We can build it around your day, not the other way around.