Film Stories: Analog Wedding Photography Q&A, with Natasha Lozanoff
- TeamBay
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Some photographers find film, but for Natasha Lozanoff, wedding film photography has always been part of her story. Based in Santa Cruz, California, she photographs weddings and elopements with a hybrid approach - digital where precision matters, film where everything else does.
Natasha’s path into photography started at age eight with an Olympus Stylus her mom gave her, wound through years as an ecologist and outdoor guide, and was formalized at the University of Washington, where she studied both Ecology and Photography. That intersection - of the natural world, of presence, of things that are real and fleeting - runs through everything she creates.
Film has been part of her personal work long before it became a professional offering, and it’s baked into every wedding package she offers. To handle her processing and scanning, she’s worked closely with our Film Services - a relationship built on consistency, communication, and developing a processing profile tailored to her vision. We sat down with Natasha to talk about what draws her to film, how it shapes her approach to wedding work, and what she’d tell photographers who want to give it a try.
A Conversation with Natasha Lozanoff
Tell us a little about yourself and what inspires you to pick up your camera.
I’m a wedding, elopement, family, and portrait photographer based in Santa Cruz. My path into photography has always been deeply connected to nature, movement, and adventure. I remember receiving an Olympus Stylus from my mom when I was eight years old—that was the beginning of a lifelong interest in film.
Before I was shooting weddings full-time, I spent years as an ecologist and as a backpacking, climbing, and kayaking guide. I studied both Ecology and Photography at the University of Washington, and that blend of art and environment still shapes everything I create.
I’ve documented dance, climbing, and boxing on film - and I love how intentional you have to be. You’re always one step ahead of the action, anticipating the perfect frame and moment.
At the heart of my work is helping couples feel seen and giving them a record of their love that feels alive and uncontrived. I think of weddings not just as a celebration between two people, but as a document of all the most important people in their lives—the ones who helped get them to where they are today.
As someone who shoots both film and digital, what is it about film that draws you to it?
Film has a depth that feels timeless. The way it renders light, skin tones, and atmosphere is just a chef’s kiss. When I’m shooting medium or large format—or tintype, which I also do—the fidelity can be unmatched. But film can also be rough, playful, and raw. Its imperfections, like light leaks, can turn into some of the most remarkable images.
I also love the intentionality it requires. You slow down. You trust your eye. You stay present instead of chasing perfection through volume. Film is grounding in a way that feels more necessary the further into the digital world we all get.
What role does film play in your wedding photography business?
Film is a core part of my wedding work. I offer hybrid coverage because I love blending the reliability and flexibility of digital with the artistry of film. Film is included in all my packages—baked in from the start.
Many couples come to me because they want their images to feel timeless, not trendy. Film brings an editorial richness and emotional realness that elevates a gallery in a really special way. It shines especially in portraits, golden hour, and those quiet in-between moments.
It’s so much about narrative storytelling for me. Film images don’t just document a wedding—they become part of the story, a couple hands down.
Do you have any rituals or routines to get ready for shooting a big event?
Before a wedding, I always take time to ground myself. I load film, check my cameras, and slow down for a moment the night before. Loading film is its own kind of ritual - tactile, deliberate, a physical signal that tomorrow is important.
I also love rock climbing, boxing, and weight lifting, so I try to get a session in the day before a wedding. My mind and body just feel so much more ready when I do. Music depends on the mood - sometimes upbeat indie, sometimes folk country like Nick Shoulders, sometimes cinematic and calm. The goal is always the same: to feel energized, centered, and fully present for whatever unfolds.
What is your favorite part of the day when you’re shooting a wedding?
Golden hour is golden hour - it earns its reputation. But my favorite moments are often the in-between ones. First looks create space for something unguarded between the couple, before the ceremony energy kicks in. Weddings move quickly, and those small emotional pockets are where the real story lives.
That’s what I’m always watching for—the moments that feel unrepeatable.
Which film cameras do you use, and do you have any favorite film stocks?
I shoot weddings using both 35mm and medium format. Some of my favorites include the Contax G1, Canon AE-1, Holga, Pentax 67, Mamiya 645, Fuji 100, and a Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40 for instant moments.
The film stock I always find myself reaching for is Portra 800. It has such a richness, and it handles the wide range of light situations you’ll encounter across a wedding day. For black and white, I used to love the high contrast and grain of Ilford Delta 3200, but I’ve been won over by Kodak Tri-X 400.
One reason I love the Mamiya 645 is that you can swap film backs mid-roll, so I can have medium format in both color and black and white throughout the day without burning through an entire roll.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to experiment with shooting film for the first time?
Start simple and stay patient. Film is a slower process, and that’s part of what makes it so rewarding.
Shoot in good light, learn one camera, choose one film stock, and don’t overcomplicate it. Learn the basics of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Shooting manual is an amazing way to take full control of the light and create images you’ve always envisioned.
And find a lab you love. A good lab makes a huge difference in helping film shine. Working with Bay Photo has been a real learning space for me - everyone has been helpful, and over time we developed a processing profile that’s dialed in to how I want my film images to look.
Most of all, enjoy the process. Film is about presence.
Tell us more about one of your favorite images you’ve shot on film recently.
One of my favorite recent film images was taken during a Santa Cruz City Hall Elopement and Portrait Session at the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I love working with place and there are ample amazing nostalgic locations at the boardwalk that just scream for using film. This couple was so natural in front of the camera. They were playful and joyous as well as had such an editiorial vibe. It was really fun to use the midday winter sun to play with contrast and help illuminate the couple.
Film Holds. So Does Print.
Natasha’s work reflects what more couples are actively seeking: images with a physical presence, a tonal quality that holds up when printed large, and a feeling of permanence. Photographers who shoot hybrid are building galleries with that staying power, and the demand for it heading into wedding season is real.
Getting there starts with the right lab. Consistent development, quality scanning, and a team that takes the time to understand how you expose - those elements shape what a roll becomes. Natasha worked with Bay Photo to develop a custom processing profile, something that compounds over time: every roll processed with that profile is one step closer to a gallery that looks exactly how she intended.
Bay Photo’s Film Services are built for working photographers and fine artists: C-41, E-6, and B&W processing, high-resolution scanning, and the option to build a custom profile with our team, so your film looks like yours, roll after roll.
Special Thanks to Natasha!
Natasha is a Canadian born, Hawaiian raised, Washington educated photographer, nature guide, and adventure-seeker, now based in Santa Cruz, CA. She shoots locally as well as destination weddings. She is a hybrid film and digital wedding photographer, also specializing in maternity, engagements, headshots, commercial, and events.
To view more of Natasha's work, visit her website.
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