Portraits On Film with the Mamiya RZ67
In recent years I’ve enjoyed shooting more and more of my portrait and headshot work on film. This is alongside shooting my Tunbridge Wells photography sessions on digital as per usual.
This combination of formats works really well and gives my clients a great choice of images to walk away with. With film there is that classic timeless feel, that as much as photographers try with digital using filters and presets, just doesn’t quite match up with shooting with the real thing.
Why photograph on film when it costs so much more, what with the film and developing fees, over digital? Well, it’s a good questions that has been asked a million times.
I do think a big part of the reason why film photography has made a comeback in a big way, is that photographers are craving the slower and more thoughtful process over each and every shot that comes with analogue photography.
It’s the same reason why people play music on vinyl. Yes you can fire up Spotify and play whatever, but with vinyl there is that tactile experience and the artwork that most albums come with.
Go print a photograph in A4 size. There is something about holding your own work like that which is just very special.
So a while ago I decided to add a film camera to the collection. Enter the Mamiya RZ67 Pro ii medium format camera.
The Mamiya RZ67 Pro II Medium Format Film Camera
For my Headshot Photography Sessions at my Tunbridge Wells Studio, I’ll always include some images on medium format film. As I’m a big fan of black and white film my go-to films are Ilford FP4 and Kodak Tri-X 400. For colour work it would be Kodak Gold or Portra 400.
Mamiya RZ67 Pro II
A couple of examples from recent portrait sessions using the Mamiya and Ilford FP4. My lens of choice is the incredible Mamiya Sekor 110mm 2.8 which renders beautifully and is tack sharp.
Portait Shoot using Mamiya RZ67 Pro II and Ilford FP4
Headshot session using Mamiya Medium Format
Portrait of Tom. Mamiya RZ67 Pro II / Kodak Portra 400
If you’d like to book in a headshot or portrait photography session at my Tunbridge Wells studio please do drop me a message on my contact page to check availability. It would be great to hear from you.