icon of a film camera
Welcome to The

Film Musings Course

On this page, you’ll find the outline for the course with links to each post that has the transcript, links, and YouTube video. This course covers everything from the basics of film, shooting a wedding on film, and using film creatively. The entire course is free as I want everyone regardless of their financial situation to experience the amazingness of film photography!

If you have any questions or need to get in touch, fill out my contact form. To chill out with me online, check out my Instagram account.



01.

Information

02.

modules

03.

faqs

04.

contact
THE course

In this course, you’ll find a detailed and comprehensive deep dive into everything involving film photography so that you can create art and avoid common mistakes.

01. introduction

When I started the creation of this course, my goal was for you to be able to learn film photography in a way where you don’t have to make the same mistakes that I made. I want you to walk down the easiest path towards film and fall deeply in love with it as much as I have!

This course will help you feel more confident when it comes to shooting film. I can only assume that you stumbled upon this page because you love the look of film like so many others and I promise that through what I teach, you’ll create beautiful film images, learn how to incorporate film into your workflow as a business owner, learn to trust in your own artistic eye, and tap into your creative side as a photographer.

02. the fundamentals

In this first module, we will be covering all the basic information that you need to start your film journey. All the videos within this section will help you dive into shooting film without fear and give you the confidence to choose what equipment and type of film you want to work with.

We’ll discuss how to shoot film on a budget, especially as a beginner, as well as the professional equipment that I love so you can incorporate it into your business and provide high-quality art that your clients will swoon over.

03. weddings & portraits

Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals and you’ve become more acquainted with shooting film, it’s time to jump into shooting weddings and portraits. Bringing film into your workflow can be scary so I’m here to help layout all the tips and tricks that I’ve learned in my 7+ years of owning a photography business.

This module will also cover the business aspects of photographing weddings and portraits to create a seamless experience for you and the amazing clients you will work with.

04. personal work

One of the best aspects of shooting with film is being able to experiment and have fun with different film stocks and techniques. This section of the course will cover all the unique and experimental parts of film from instant cameras to film soup and developing and scanning film in your own home.

These tutorials will help you push the boundaries and get outside of the box so that you can make meaningful artwork that fulfills your creativity!

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.”

aaron siskind

course modules


module I

The Fundamentals


Film Cameras
(film cameras that are great for beginners and professionals as well as where to purchase them)

Ordering Film | Coming soon!
(the best places online and in-person to order and buy popular film stocks for personal and client work)

Using your Film Camera | Coming soon!
(the basics of photography and how to manually use and shoot your film camera)

Film Stocks | Coming soon!
(my favorite color and black and white film stocks that I use for professional and personal images)

Film Formats | Coming soon!
(discussing the good and bad of both 35mm and 120mm film formats and the best ways to shoot both)

Instant Cameras | Coming soon!
(all of my favorite instant cameras, film, and how I incorporate them into my workflow)

Lighting Situations & Metering | Coming soon!
(explanations and visual examples of how to shoot in various different lighting situations indoors and outdoors)

Pushing and Pulling Film | Coming soon!
(explanations and visual examples of how to shoot in various different lighting situations indoors and outdoors)

Film Labs & Shipping | Coming soon!
(my favorite film labs and a step by step instruction on how to package and ship your film out safely )

Editing Film Scans | Coming soon!
(a step by step tutorial on my post-process routine and how to edit your film scans in Lightroom)

module II

Weddings & Portraits


What’s in my Film Bag | Coming soon!
(all of the cameras, film stocks, and accessories that I carry in my camera bag when I shooting both client and personal work)

Shooting Hybrid | Coming soon!
(how to use both film cameras and a DSLR when photographing weddings and other client work)

What to Wear | Coming soon!
(what clothing and accessories are the best to wear and use when working at a wedding)

Authentic Poses & Reactions | Coming soon!
(tips to help you get real smiles and laughter in your images while allowing your subjects to feel comfortable)

Wedding Day Outline & Plan | Coming soon!
(showing an example outline of how a typical wedding day goes and how to plan this outline with your clients)

Flatlays & Props | Coming soon!
(details on how to photograph the wedding day details such as the invitation and boutonniere)

Details & Tablescapes | Coming soon!
(information on when during the wedding day and how you should document the tablescapes and other details)

Portrait Session Outline | Coming soon!
(showing an example of an outline of how a typical portrait session goes and how to plan this with your clients)

Communicating with Clients | Coming soon!
(details and examples of how to keep good communication and to create a great experience for your clients)

Working with Children | Coming soon!
(photographing kids on film can be tricky, especially as a beginner film shooter. these are some tips to make it easier)

module III

Personal Work


Traveling with Film | Coming soon!
(whether traveling by car or plane, this is how to prepare and pack your film properly for safe travels)

Travel & Landscapes | Coming soon!
(tutorial on what I use and how I photograph the landscape and detail images when traveling)

Finding Inspiration | Coming soon!
(how to spark creativity and prepare you before going into a session or when you’re stuck in a creative rut)

Experimenting with Film | Coming soon!
(fun and creative ways to experiment with film such as film soup, disposable cameras, and double exposures)

Developing Color Film at Home | Coming soon!
(information on what supplies you need and a step by step guide on how to develop color film in your home)

Developing Black & White Film at Home | Coming soon!
(all of the supplies that you need and a step by step tutorial on how to develop black and white film in your home)

Scanning Film NegativesComing soon!
(after your film negatives dry, this is a tutorial on what supplies you need and how to scan in your work)

Editing Film NegativesComing soon!
(a step by step tutorial on my post-process routine and how to edit your film scans in Lightroom)

Scanning & Editing Instant Film | Coming soon!
(the process and supplies that I use to scan in all my instant images and edit them for sharing on the web)

Archiving Film Negatives Coming soon!
(a tutorial on how to properly archive and store your negatives so they can be preserved for longevity)

frequently asked questions

My film course only costs the amount of your undying love and affection. As for a dollar amount, it’s free! I know how tough finances can be when you’re a small business owner and I wanted to be able to help others create art that they love without breaking the bank. Film photography is already a pricey endeavor and I don’t want to profit off of other’s pain.

Shooting film is something I am incredibly passionate about but when I was learning, I made a lot of very pricey mistakes that lead to frustration and feeling hopeless. I created this course to help others fall in love with film and to jump into shooting without fear or huge expenses. I want you to have confidence and excitement every time you pick up a film camera!

Absolutely, feel free to send me an email at sammi@splendidmusings.com or use the form on my contact page and I’ll do my best to help you out! Meanwhile, if you need any outside guidance, check out my resources page to see all my favorite creators.

Get in Touch