35mm is a format of photographic film with a width of 35 millimeters. This film is coated with a light-sensitive emulsion that, when exposed to light, can capture an image.

A roll of 35mm film typically holds 36 exposures, which means I can take 36 photos before needing to reload my camera with another roll of film.

There is no such thing as a single “35mm look,” as that depends on several factors: the type of camera (SLR vs. point-and-shoot), the film stock, whether the image is underexposed or overexposed, etc. But that’s part of the magic of 35mm! It presents in many different ways.

My film journey started about 6 years ago during my first semester of college. I took a class called “The Poetry of Photography,” where I learned how to shoot on a Pentax K1000 and develop and print my photos in the darkroom! Analog photography taught me to notice more and shoot less, allowing me to catch the moments that matter most rather than shoot like crazy in hopes of getting a decent image.

I currently shoot on a Canon EOS 3. This is one of the last film cameras released by Canon in 1998, and it’s compatible with pretty much all of Canon’s EF lenses! Its 45-point autofocus system is top-of-the-line (especially for film standards), and the image quality is quite crisp.

Throughout the years though, I’ve used a few different film cameras! A lot of the photos at the top of this page were shot on a Canon Sure Shot Telemax (point-and-shoot), Fujica Flash AF Date (autofocus SLR), and a Pentax K1000 (manual-focus SLR).

Most often Kodak Portra 400! It’s known as “the world's finest grain high-speed color negative film.” Portra 400 delivers gorgeous colors and smooth skin tones, which is why I love using it for portraits.

Occasionally, I’ll use Kodak Ultramax 400 or Fujicolor 400 for my personal day-to-day captures.

And for lower lighting conditions (concerts, events, or night photography), I like to shoot on CineStill 800T or Kodak Portra 800.

After I finish my film roll(s), I drop them off at my go-to lab to be developed and scanned. About a week or two later, the lab will send me the developed negatives and a downloadable link to the digital scans.

I will do some minor corrections to these scans (cropping, color-correcting, etc.) before uploading them to your online photo gallery. There, you’ll be able to view and download your 35mm film scans!