Asheville Family Film Photography
Film is a the ultimate medium for family photography. dreamy hues, accurate and flattering skin tones, playful and rich with a soft natural grain overlay.
❋ Intentional Retreat from Digital OverloadDo family film sessions result in fewer images than digital? YES! And that is the whole point! Choosing to provide images on film is an intentional retreat from the overwhelm and decision fatigue of receiving hundreds of digital images after a session. On film, less is truly more.
❋ Timeless tonesTrends come and go in the photography world when it comes to editing, which can lead to images that appear dated and out of touch. Film renders colors in a soft, luxurious and accurate manner which is always timeless and instantly nostalgic.
❋ Slow and deliberate sessionsShooting with film allows photographers to truly slow down and be both decisive and discerning when choosing to click the shutter. I have seen too many digital photo shoots with the ‘shoot and burn’ mentality become fast-paced and hurried. Film session invite you to plan less, worry less, slow down and sink into the moment at hand.
❋ Photographer experience Film cameras require your photographer to understand the craft backwards and forwards. There are no short cuts or ways to breeze through- to create accurately exposed and brilliantly composed film images, your photographer must be a master at their work.
About your PhotographerMelina Coogan
Hello and welcome! If you have found yourself here, that means you already appreciate and are curious about film photography, which means I would love to work with you!
My name is Melina and I am a photographer- you probably guessed as much- a mother to two girls, and a gaeilgeoir. Gaeilgeoir means I am a speaker of the Irish language! I live in Asheville, North Carolina (I’m only Irish by descent) but I grew up in Vermont. I visit Ireland to photograph the Traveling Community (Irish Gypsies) every chance I get.
I have been a photographer my whole life, but I started shooting families professionally about ten years ago. I found my way back to film during the pandemic, and I continue to be amazed by what a luxurious, challenging and profound medium it is to capture family images. Nothing invites nostalgia into your life- even nostalgia for the present moment- like film.
Film is particularly artful and forces you to give up a little control over your images- two elements which are extremely important to me as a family photographer. Just as we don’t have full control over life, we should not have exact control over our images of life. There needs to be room for imagination and intrigue- and film offers that in spades.
Film & Camera Details
I bring three separate cameras with me to film sessions, each one with its own unique vibe.
My medium format (120 film) Pentax 645 creates inspired, wide angle shots with incredible detail. My Nikon FA is old and completely manual- a throwback! It gives all the good stuff- light leaks, vintage tones and bokeh. And My Nikon 8008s is my work horse, creating consistent and dependable portraits.
I favor Kodak Portra 160 & Kodak Portra 800 Film and the good people at Ball Camera Supply right here in Asheville do my developing.
Book Your Family Film Photography Session
What Does a Film Session Entail?
My family photography sessions are easy-breezy. I shoot in the evening when the light is rich. I’ll show up at your doorstep and take a quick glance around the home to find the light. Then, just follow my lead! My sessions are a mixture of candid and portraiture. I do pose and direct more when I’m shooting with film, because of the deliberation required when working with this old-fashioned medium.
After I’ve shot a few rolls, I drop them off at Ball Photo Supply where they are developed right here in Asheville. I will then send you your digital gallery of scanned images in high resolution, with complete downloading and print rights.
Fine art prints, albums and products are all available for sale after you view your gallery.