10 Tips to Improve Your Film Photography by Jen Golay

Written by Jen Golay

I’ve been shooting film for over 10 years now, and I can tell you that I have definitely learned a few things along the way. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, it never hurts to take some time, take stock of your photography skills, and look for ways to improve.

I’ve got ten tips for you to consider or maybe revisit if you’ve not tried some of these in while. Some of these are ongoing things that I hope you are always working on. Some of them might be new to you.

I hope you’ll give a few of them a try and let me know how it goes!

1. Shoot in Manual Mode with a Manual Focus Lens

That may seem like I am stating the obvious, but I know a lot of photographers love to camp out in Aperture Priority mode, which usually means setting your lens wide open and letting the camera do the rest.

And as a general rule, that probably works fine, but I would encourage you to keep the entire exposure triangle in mind and know your exposures.

Use the Sunny 16 rule. Learn to read the light so that you already have a good idea of what the exposure will be before you even meter.

Knowing and understanding the exposure triangle and being able to calculate equivalent exposures will make you a better problem solver in tricky lighting situations. It will enable you to get creative with your exposures and improve your photography skills.

Use a manual focus lens and get good at nailing your focus.

Autofocus lenses are a genius invention. I’m very glad to have them and use them often, but autofocus lenses can be tricked or may struggle to lock focus on what you want it to.

There are no magic tricks I can share with you that will make manual focusing any easier other than practice. Practice lots without film. Practice lots with film. Practice focusing at different distances.

When you are practicing, dial the focus ring past the point you think it is in focus and then dial it back. You may need to do this in both directions to get a good focus.

Also, don’t tweak too long. Trust your eye the first time the image looks sharp in the viewfinder.

If you adjust for too long, your eye starts to think nothing is sharp.

If your camera has a diopter, make sure it is dialed in for your eyesight. If your camera has a focus confirmation beep or light in the viewfinder, use it to assist you.

Remember that these will only work for focus points in your viewfinder, so if you want to focus on something in your image that does not fall within the range of these fixed focal points, you’ll have to trust your eye.

Use hyperfocal distance focusing. This skill is invaluable for landscape photography.

Pre-focus using the distance scale on your lens. This is especially helpful for street photography or photographing uncooperative kids.

You must be able to gauge distance with your eyes, but with practice you will get quick at this. Dial in that distance on your lens.

This way, when you go to take the shot, you will only need to slightly tweak focus. This speeds up focusing and is great when you want to take quick stealthy images.

If you get good at using a manual focus lens, you can override that finicky autofocus and get your shot. Being able to accurately manual focus helps you get creative as well.

Remember that all the auto settings on your camera are designed to get a generally pleasing image, which is great! But if you have the skills to override them, you have so much more flexibility and creativity at your fingertips.

2. Use a Handheld Light Meter and Exposure Notebook

Again, this might seem overly obvious, but if you take the time to learn how to use a handheld light meter in both incident and reflective mode, you will gain a deeper understanding of light and exposures.

And to help you learn and remember how you got a certain look, record your exposures in an exposure notebook.

I know, I know! It’s a pain to stop and write down every exposure but guess what?! You don’t have to do it every time all the time.

It’s good to record your exposures regularly when you are just starting out, but it’s also good to do it when you are trying new things, experimenting with exposures, getting creative.

Learn how exposing for the shadows looks different than exposing for the highlights.

What exposures generally work for fireworks? For silhouettes? For a rich sunset? To get a high contrast directional light look? To photograph a downtown night scene?

If you take the time to try these and note your exposures, you’ll become a better and more creative photographer.

Knowing a general starting exposure for various situations will enable you to work more efficiently and with confidence.

3. Use One Camera, One Lens, and One Film Stock

With the smorgasbord of film cameras and film stocks out there, it’s tempting to want to try everything all at once. But limit yourself to one camera, one prime lens, and one film stock for a month.

Get to know your camera well, and use it in as many different situations as possible.

And if you can, try to find a completely manual camera without any electronics or bells and whistles. My first film camera was a Nikon FM. Everything was manual including the film advance.

The simple camera let me concentrate on exposure, composition, and light.

Learn to see the world through one prime lens.

Why not a zoom lens? Zoom lenses are a wonderful convenience, but if you must “zoom with your feet” as my photography instructor once said, you will learn to look for different perspectives, different angles, and you will learn to look for other shots than the obvious one.

You will also become familiar with the angle of view of each focal length you have, and you’ll be able to make better choices of when to use each lens.

You’ll see that wide lenses distort what’s close to the lens and telephoto lenses compress the distance.

You’ll know how far or near you need to be to your subject because you’ll know each len’s minimum focus distance.

You’ll discover whether you love a 35mm or a 50mm view of the world. You’ll learn which lenses are better for different situations, subjects, and shooting conditions.

Choose one film stock at a time and shoot it in as many different situations and lighting as possible.

Learn about each film and what its base color is. How does it perform overexposed? Underexposed? What color shifts does it have when over or underexposed?

How does it do on cloudy days? Sunny days? Indoors? At night? Under tungsten, florescent, or halogen lights? What is its grain structure? How does it render certain colors? Skin tones?

For example, the first film stock that I really got to know and love and that has become my go-to color film is Kodak Portra 400.

It has the most latitude, meaning that it does well over or underexposed (up to a point). I love Portra 400 exposed at box speed or slightly overexposed.

Some people love it very overexposed. Shoot it in lots of situations and at various exposures to see how you like Portra 400.

It has a yellow base which makes it great for open shade because it neutralizes blues. However, when you overexpose it, its color shifts to yellow. This can be corrected when scanning, so communicate with your lab or make your own adjustments if you scan for yourself.

It has good skin tones and a generally warm color temperature. It looks great in the sun as well, but it is susceptible to color casts. So, watch out when shooting on bright green grass or next to anything reflecting a bright color like brightly colored clothing or other things in the environment.

This is a professional grade film, so it should be cold stored and used before its expiration date, but I have used mildly expired Portra 400 with no problems. I have learned these things from experience, communication with my lab, and research.

Knowing various film stocks and how they perform in different situations will help you choose the right film stock for the right shooting situation and light. You won’t be guessing and hoping that it will look the way you want it to.

Limiting yourself creatively like this or in any other way has the added bonus of limiting your choices and decisions, allowing you to focus on thinking creatively.

While it sounds like you are limiting your creativity by limiting your tools, you are actually forcing yourself to think and problem solve creatively. Limitations are liberating!

4. Read Your Camera Manual

I know that I am beginning to sound like the biggest wet blanket and most boring nerd. So far, none of these tips are super exciting, but doing the work to become a better artist isn’t always exciting, but the results are!

Every time I buy a new film camera, I go to Butkus Camera Manual Library and find the corresponding camera manual. I download it and save it to a Dropbox folder so I can access it on my phone any time, anywhere.

I have often referred to my camera manual when I am out shooting and having it on my phone and easy to access makes me more likely to look things up.

If you do use this website, please consider leaving a donation. Collecting and scanning hundreds and hundreds of camera manuals is a lot of work, but it’s a wonderful service for us film photographers.

After I have downloaded and saved the manual, I actually read it!

Camera designers and manufacturers are creative and engineering geniuses. They often pack many special and unique features into each camera. Knowing what your camera can do will make you a better photographer and enable you to use your camera to its fullest potential.

Each camera manufacturer designs and organizes each camera similarly yet differently. Learn what features your camera has and how to use them.

Does your camera have a double exposure feature? How do you activate it? Can your camera do exposure bracketing? What custom features does it have?

Custom features are like a hidden treasure chest. Some great custom features include printing exposure data on the edge of your negative, leaving the film leader out when rewinding, autofocus customization, and meter customization.

5. Take a Class, Attend a Workshop, Read Books, or Join an Online Community

I usually style myself as a self-taught photographer because most of my photography knowledge has come from my own research, reading, and experience.

But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t had instruction. I’ve taken two college-level darkroom classes, and a variety of workshops and retreats.

There are so many benefits besides learning about photography to taking a formal class or workshop. One of the biggest advantages is meeting other photographers. Another is the opportunity to travel somewhere you’ve never been.

Not every workshop will be top-notch. Before committing and paying the (usually non-refundable) registration fee, do your research. Check with other past students. Read the fine print. You may be able to sell your spot or apply it to a later workshop if you are unexpectedly unable to attend.

Another wonderful bonus to many workshops is that the instructors often create a private Facebook or Instagram account for attendees only. These are great places to make connections to other photographers and ask questions.

Or you can join a forum or other Facebook learning community like Shoot It With Film Insiders where you can learn at your own pace but also get assistance when needed.

Shoot It With Film Insiders has a new learning module each month and the moderators respond quickly to questions.

You will also get to know other film photographers from around the world who will inspire you and assist you.

In all the years that I have been shooting film, I have met so many wonderful and generous photographers in the film community. The kindness and the willingness to share and give feedback is like no other online group that I have ever been a part of.

Film shooters are the best people!

Don’t be afraid to hit up your local library and check out a few photography books. The great thing about film photography is that books that most photographers would consider dated because they cover film will be just what you’re looking for.

And be sure to stop by the thrift store or your local used bookstore for beautiful coffee table or other vintage photography books.

You can check out my favorite list of photography books on Amazon.

6. Use Social Media Wisely

Social media can be a wonderful place to find inspiration, but it can also be a confidence killer.

Use social media judiciously. Follow people who inspire you but who are also generous with their information and treat their followers kindly.

Don’t hesitate to unfollow accounts that don’t bring you joy or make you feel inadequate.

Social media can be a balancing act, so use it wisely.

7. Do a 365 or Other Photo-A-Day Project

I have done several photo-a-day projects both on film and digitally. Some were organized with prompts every day and some were just me. There are advantages to both methods.

If you don’t think you can commit to a photo every day, try a 52-week project. The point is to be sure you are shooting every day or at least weekly.

At the very least, carry a small camera with you every day. This was hard for me at first. I felt so self-conscious. But I got over it quickly when my photography started vastly improving.

Digital 365 projects are great when you are just trying to get in the habit of shooting daily or when you are learning the exposure triangle and the rules of composition. But if you’re here, I’m betting you’ve mastered that by now.

Film 365 projects can be more challenging because you don’t get that instant image, and you must shoot a whole roll before you can post anything for feedback.

Don’t let that stop you! Shoot daily or as often as you can and watch your photography skills soar!

8. Create a Personal Project

Personal projects make shooting regularly a little easier because you have a purpose and a goal.

There are so many ideas out there for personal projects if you need inspiration, but the best personal projects will be the ones you devise for yourself because they will be the most meaningful to you.

My three favorite personal projects are my Roaming Rollei Project, my One Kid One Roll Once a Month Project, and my Natural Beauty Project.

Roaming Rollei Project

Whenever I travel or whenever I just need to get out of my house and spend some time with myself, I take my Rolleiflex out and look for pictures. Most of the time, I am photographing architecture or streetscapes or just whatever interests me.

When I take my Rollei out, I always try to take at least one selfie, one through-the-viewfinder shot with my iPhone, and one stranger portrait.

When I have my Rollei around my neck after a while, inevitably, someone comments about my camera. I love it when this happens! It usually means one of two things: the person is familiar with a Rollei and wants to reminisce or ask if I can still find film and get it developed or the person has never seen a TLR camera or a film camera and is fascinated by the whole concept.

At first, I just enjoyed the encounters and moved on.  However, one day, my husband suggested photographing the people who stopped to chat about my camera to help me get better at photographing strangers. I loved this idea.

I don’t photograph everyone my Rollei introduces me to, but after a fun or interesting conversation, I often tell them about the project, and they are usually happy to be a part of it.

One Kid One Roll Once a Month Project

The One Kid One Roll Once a Month Project started with a camera problem. One of my camera’s film inserts was potentially damaged, and I needed to do some testing to determine what was wrong. 

My method for testing was to shoot one roll of film with each film insert to see which one was having problems. Since I had two willing (hear the sarcasm here) subjects in my children, I decided to shoot one roll of film with each of them. 

I don’t know if they had fun, but I did! It was like a cross between school portraits and a photo booth.

I had done the same thing two months earlier to finish off a roll of film and try using my studio lights on film, and I was shocked to see how different the boys looked in just eight weeks. 

I liked the idea of photographing their changes so much that I decided to do this once a month for a year. The project resonated with several other moms who asked if they could join the project. We ended up creating a blog circle for a year. It was exciting and interesting to see how other moms interpreted the project.

I used the same camera (my Contax 645) and the same film (Kodak Tri-X) every month for a consistent look. I really got to know both that camera and that film stock really well (See Tip 3).

Other moms used one roll of 35mm film for all their kids, and some moms used one camera per kid. My kids are grown now, but I believe that the project torch has been picked up and continued.

Natural Beauty Project

Self-esteem is such a delicate thing–difficult to define, fragile, and ever-changing. It is in an especially delicate state in early adolescence. Actually, I think it’s delicate all throughout life–at least mine is.

I decided I wanted to make an effort to build self-esteem. It’s not an original idea. Dove has had their Real Beauty Campaign going for over ten years. The Today Show has had several segments called Love Your Selfie to encourage women of all ages and shapes to accept themselves and be less critical. And there are frequent posts about the unrealistic beauty standard and Photoshop fails of fashion marketing. 

I realized I wanted to create images and an experience that encouraged girls to be and feel beautiful without the artifice of Photoshop, fashion, and excessive styling.

For this project, I photographed teen girls on film in vintage or thrifted dresses (no brand names or designers) with light styling using natural and organic products (no heavy makeup or false eyelashes) to show that beauty comes from within.

I wanted them to feel the vulnerability that comes from taking a risk and being in front of the camera as well as the reward of seeing the beauty in themselves–maybe for the first time.

I want them to feel important and in the spotlight, yet work hard (modeling is hard work, believe it or not!) to create something beautiful and uniquely them. And I wanted them to make the discovery, if they haven’t already, that there is no magic in my camera or Photoshop, no hiding behind makeup and clothes, just their true, unique selves.

9. Try a New Genre

As a photographer, you probably have a genre of photography that you gravitate towards naturally. That’s great! But stretch your photography and creative muscles by trying something new.

Consider portraiture, still life, landscape, lifestyle, or street photography if you’ve never done them before. Creating a good portrait takes completely different skills than making a beautiful landscape image.

Knowing the skills it takes for other genres of photography will not only help you learn your own strengths and weaknesses, but it will also help you appreciate them and build skills that will transfer to the genre that you are passionate about.

For example, trying street photography will help your portraiture skills by training your eye to look at the human form and what looks natural versus posed.

10. Add A Piece of Gear to Your Camera Bag

I saved this for last because gear is not what makes you a better photographer. But knowing how to use your gear well will.

I am always excited and inspired when I add a new camera to my collection. And taking the time to get to know my new camera intimately has helped me discover that certain cameras seem to work best for me for certain shooting situations.

For example, I love my Contax 645, Pentax 645, and Pentax 67 for portraits. I love my Rollei and Fuji GA645 for travel. My 35mm cameras are what I use for daily shooting.

Adding a new lens or a tripod or flash or cable release or a set of filters will increase what you can do with your camera. You will learn new skills as you learn to use your new piece of equipment.

(If you’re looking for some great accessories for your camera bag, check out 15 Must-Have Film Photography Accessories.)

Beware of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)! It is very tempting to just keep adding to your camera bag or camera collection without taking the time to fully get to know the ins and outs of your new gear. Don’t succumb!

When you purchase a new piece of equipment, do it for a reason not because someone else you follow on social media has it. Research your options. Shoot It With Film has tons of camera and other gear reviews.

Buy a set of close-up filters because you want to try macro photography on a budget. Or pick up a tripod and cable release and give star trails a go. Or try flash photography on film to enhance your portraits. Use new gear to learn new skills.

Bonus! Make Mistakes, Be Fearless, Lower Your Expectations

Perhaps this film photography tip should have been tip number one because I think that you must be willing to make mistakes, try new things without fear, and lower your expectations in order to grow as a photographer.

If you are afraid of failing, you won’t try something new. And sometimes the failures teach you invaluable lessons.

Sometimes they create a one-of-a-kind image that is exquisite and can never be recreated. Failure is the essential ingredient of success.

Be fearless. Don’t let yourself be intimidated by something that you don’t know how to do or haven’t tried. Try it! Ask questions. Do some research. Google can be one of the best teachers out there if you are willing to take the time and wade through the information available to you. The only way you will improve is if you try new things.

Lowering your expectations sounds counterintuitive. What I mean by that is focus on the image you are creating in the moment, and then let it go. Don’t judge yourself so harshly.

So many times, the image I have created doesn’t live up to the one I envisioned and attempted to create. When I get my scans back from the lab, I invariably hate almost every single image because they aren’t as good as I was expecting. But if I put them aside and let my expectations fade, when I look at them later, I think, “These aren’t so bad. There are a few good images here.”

I delete the complete junk images, and a couple of days later when I look at my curated set of images, I think, “These are amazing! I am a genius! I can’t wait to go out at shoot some more!”

So go out there fearlessly with your one camera in manual mode, your one prime lens, your one film stock, your handheld light meter and exposure notebook, your camera manual, and your personal project to make some mistakes and become a genius photographer!

You can do it!

Thank you so much, Jen! Jen is a regular contributor here at Shoot It With Film, and you can check out her other articles here, including 15 Must-Have Film Photography Accessories and a review of the Rolleiflex 2.8F.

You can also check out more of Jen’s work on Instagram.

If you have any questions about any of these film photography tips, leave them below in the comments! And share your favorite tips, too!

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Jen Golay

Jen Golay is a senior portrait and travel film photographer and a regular contributor for Shoot It With Film. Find her other articles here, such as How To Shoot Kodak Gold 200 and Olympus Pen F Half-Frame Film Camera Review.

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