Super 8 Wedding: The Magic of Film
Super 8 Wedding: The Magic of Film
If you’re looking for a truly unique way to have your wedding or elopement documented, you simply can’t beat Super 8: the nostalgia, the emotion, and the romance of a Super 8 wedding film are pure magic. And yes, I’m talking about the same Super 8 that was around in the 60’s! I’ve written this guide to show you why you should book Super 8 for your wedding or elopement, and to answer all the questions that might be going through your head. Get ready to fall in love with this dreamy film medium that’s finally making a well-deserved comeback ✨
Table of Contents:
- What is Super 8?
- Super 8 Film FAQ’s
- Why Book Super 8 for Your Wedding?
- PNW Super 8 Wedding & Elopement Photographer
What is Super 8?
Let’s begin with a little history lesson, shall we? For those who aren’t familiar with Super 8, it’s probably because you just weren’t around when it first became popular back in the 1960’s. Super 8 is a film format that was first released in 1964, but the inspiration came from home movies that were being created way earlier on, likely beginning in the early 1920’s.
You know the ones—where your parents recorded you and your siblings, friends, cousins, playing outside in the backyard, running through the sprinklers. Or maybe your fam’s home movies always took place during the vacations you went on to the beach, to your favorite cabin or campground, to your grandparents’ house across the country. Older home movies were captured on 16mm film that was perfect for amateurs, but filming eventually became a whole lot easier (and better quality) for anybody to do when the Super 8mm format came out—from dads who had no idea how to work a camera to experienced videographers who wanted to take advantage of the unique aesthetic Super 8 provided.
If you want to nerd out a little more on how this camera was developed, Kodak put together this super cool, detailed timeline of the history of Super 8 that you can check out here!
Super 8 Film FAQ’s
Is Super 8 different from regular film?
It depends on what you mean by “regular” film, really! Compared to 35mm, which was the first standardized film format that came out in the 1960’s, Super 8 is much cheaper and easier to use. There’s a reason it became the go-to film format for those home movies I was talking about: Super 8 cameras are pretty foolproof, with very minimal buttons/controls and not a lot you have to think about when filming. The film itself is also cheaper to develop, which was a huge benefit for anyone looking to produce simple home videos rather than any crazy, high-quality, expensive films.
How long is a Super 8 film?
One 50-foot roll of Super 8 film typically produces around 3,600 frames, which comes out to about 2.5 minutes of film when recorded at 24 frames per second, or a little over 3 minutes of film when recorded at 18fps. Most Super 8 cameras film at 24fps, so realistically you can expect a roll to give you anywhere between 2-3ish minutes of usable film. However, this can vary slightly on the specific roll of film used, and the capabilities of the camera itself.
When you add a Super 8 film to your wedding package with me, you’ll receive a film that ranges from 1-3 minutes in length, but will also have the option to purchase multiple rolls of film!
Is Super 8 film high quality?
This depends on what you’re comparing it to! If you’re looking at the quality of a modern iPhone or mirrorless camera, then no, Super 8 film will not be anywhere near as high quality. But honestly, that’s what makes it so magical: the grainy, blurry footage creates such a sense of nostalgia and immediately takes you back to another time. I like to look at Super 8 as a completely different film format (because, well, it is)—there’s simply no comparing it to the amazing cameras that are available with modern technology, and that’s the beauty of it.
Does Super 8 have sound?
The camera that I have doesn’t record sound, but in 2025 I will be introducing the option to use mics to record vows to put over your film—AND my husband is going to start creating custom songs and sounds for my films. How freaking cool is that?!
What Super 8 camera do you shoot on?
I actually own 3 different types of Super 8 cameras! My first one that I ever shot on is a Canon Auto Zoom 518 Super 8, which was originally marketed in 1964—wild, right?! It was actually the first Super 8 model that Canon developed! I also shoot on a Canon Auto Zoom 318m which is one of the lightest Super 8 models and I primarily bring this for storytelling sessions. However, my newest addition is the Canon 514XL because of it’s durability, light weight, and I can swap out the lenses to give a variety of shots in my Super 8 films!
Is Super 8 film reliable?
This is a great question and I’m sure one that many people wonder: with how old the Super 8 film format is, is it, well… reliable? Trustworthy?
Here’s my answer: for the most part, yes! With older film mediums like this, there will always be a certain level of unpredictability when it comes to how your film will turn out—and in my opinion, that’s part of the fun. When you shoot on digital (whether it be an expensive camera or just your phone), you always know what to expect: you have full control of how your images and videos turn out.
And while that technology is INSANE and so incredible, it also takes away some of the fun and creativity that comes with more. . . “spontaneous” film formats like Super 8. The excitement when you receive your film back will always be bigger than when you receive digital photos, because you’ve been waiting SO long to see how it would turn out and now get to relive all those moments again!
So while I will always do my very best to make sure you receive the best quality film, there will always be that aspect of unpredictability. And if for some reason your film doesn’t turn out, you will be reimbursed $100 per film cartridge that did not turn out during processing.
How much does a Super 8 wedding film cost?
The cost of your Super 8 wedding film will depend on how many rolls you purchase. My Super 8 packages start at $2,500 for weddings, and include 1-3 rolls of film. Reach out to me now to learn more about my Super 8 wedding & elopement film packages, and we can figure out what would be best for your special day!
Will you edit our Super 8 film?
Yes! Just like with your photos, I’ll edit your film to make sure it’s the best it can be—cleaned up, looking beautiful, and ready to watch on repeat. I color grade each and every film clip then assemble them in a way that reflects your story. I do also offer the RAW footage (still color graded of course, but so you can edit for social media however you like) with no music or clipping as an add-on to my Super 8 packages for $500.
When will we receive our Super 8 film?
You’ll receive your Super 8 film back from me around the same time you receive your wedding photos, approximately 8-12 weeks after your wedding or elopement.
Why Book Super 8 for Your Wedding?
Okay, so by this point I’m guessing you’ve fallen in love with Super 8. . . right? 😉 Now the question becomes this: why should you book Super 8 for your wedding? Especially if you’re already hiring a photographer to document your day via images—what’s the point in also having them record your day on their Super 8 camera?
The storytelling magic
I get SO excited every time somebody adds Super 8 to their wedding package, because it means I get to create such a unique, meaningful film that tells their story in a completely different way than my photos ever could.
Modern day photography is absolutely AMAZING, offering couples the most incredible way to eternally preserve the moments from their wedding day that they never want to forget—but let me tell you, there’s just something different about capturing it on video. Photos show you a visual of what was happening in that moment: the way you looked, the emotions on your faces, whatever was going on is now beautifully frozen in time through images for you to look back on forever.
But video takes it to a whole other level—and Super 8 elevates it to ANOTHER one. Super 8 can tell the story of your wedding in a completely different way, not only documenting how it looked, but how it felt.
Instead of just seeing a photo of your partner walking down the aisle to meet you at the altar, or your dad hugging you the moment he sees you in your wedding attire, you get to watch it happen in real time. You get to relive those emotions in their entirety because you’re not only seeing one brief second; you’re seeing the entire interaction: the tear falling down your partner’s face; the entire hug with your dad.
The ability to re-watch those moments forever in a film is absolutely priceless, and when combined with still images that you can frame on your wall + keep in an album on your coffee table, you’ll be able to feel it all over again 5, 10, 50 years from now.
The nostalgia
I’ve touched on this a bit already, but the nostalgia of Super 8 is just something that can’t be beat, and that you can’t recreate with digital video. Sure, you can add a filmy filter to your photos/video, or use film-inspired color grading—but nothing will ever be as good as the real thing. There’s a reason so many people nowadays love to make their photos and videos look like film on Instagram and TikTok; the nostalgic, blurry, grainy vibe is so dreamy, romantic, and sentimental! Again, it reminds you of those home movies you grew up watching on your VCR—the ones your parents love to embarrass you with at family gatherings. There’s just nothing like it, you know? It truly takes you back to the moment and makes you feel as though you’re reliving it over and over again.
The intentionality + creativity
Like I mentioned earlier on, one of the most desirable aspects of Super 8 is just how intentional you have to be when shooting. Because you only have a limited amount of time to shoot for every roll of film, you can’t just be taking videos nonstop like you could with a digital camera—you have to be very intentional with every single clip. This means that, as your photographer and Super 8 videographer, I’ll be super purposeful about every moment I capture at your wedding, making sure to only shoot what’s most important to you and what will make for a meaningful clip to have in your final film. These limitations also encourage a lot of creativity and a much more thoughtful approach to shooting than digital cameras, which allow you to continuously take photos/videos and just use whichever ones turn out best. I personally LOVE getting to shoot on Super 8 because it forces me to slow down and think through every single clip I want to get!
The versatility
Finally, I just love how versatile Super 8 footage is. There are SO many things you can do with your wedding or elopement film once you get it back: post it on social media, put it in a slideshow that you watch every year on your wedding anniversary, display it on a digital picture frame, send it to your loved ones who couldn’t be there on the big day. . . the options are endless. It’s really amazing to have both photo and video of your wedding because you have both still moments to look back on (and to use in frames, prints, & albums) and videos to watch when you want to feel all those feelings just a little bit deeper.
Super 8 Wedding & Elopement Film Inspiration
PNW Super 8 Wedding & Elopement Photographer
I’m going to be shockeddd if you haven’t totally fallen in love with Super 8 by now. If you’re ready to have your PNW wedding or elopement captured on Super 8 film, you can inquire with me here—I can’t wait to connect with you and create some magic together!
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