What’s so special about Super 8mm?

Super 8mm and wedding films

You may have noticed recently a film effect that is starting to pop up on Instagram, in wedding films, and even in commercials and ads.

So, what’s the deal with super 8mm and why are we so passionate about it? Well, it’s not just super 8mm that we’re obsessed with but the affect it has on our films and the emotional response it produces. 

We are driven by nostalgia and authenticity. 

We feel that film, real film, triggers a true emotional response in a way that is not possible by film emulation. You can try, but it’s just not the same. Trust us, we tried. When we sat down and thought about what made us tick as people and how that could influence our films and our business, it became obvious to us. We’re obsessed with nostalgia, beautiful compositions, natural light, authentic love stories, and the imperfections of film. We could spend hours flipping through old family photos and watching home movies from our childhood. 

So what exactly is Super 8mm?

Super 8mm is a motion picture (video) film format that was mostly popular for filming home movies during the 1960s - 1970s, before being replaced by video tape. The film comes in a little 3” cartridge that is inserted into a super 8mm camera and contains 50ft of film which is only 3.5 minutes of footage! Although at one point there were some cameras and film stocks that recorded sound, that film stock is no longer produced and therefore there is no longer any super 8mm that records sound. Silent movies!

There are currently no super 8mm cameras in production but there are plenty floating around on the internet and throughout basements and tag sales. You can also purchase them refurbished which is what we do. We want to know our cameras are in top working order!

Super 8mm is soft, warm, and imperfect.

And that’s why we love it. In addition to the look of super 8mm, it’s also the experience. The experience of shooting it, and the experience of being shot on super 8mm is something special. The sound of the shutter clicking. Being selective and intentional with what and how we shoot, because we only get one chance. And not being able to see the footage until it is processed and scanned by a lab, usually not until a couple of weeks after the wedding. All of these things add to the experience of super 8mm. 

When we watch super 8mm film from a wedding back for the first time after it’s processed, we are always immediately flooded with emotions. Is one of those emotions relief because the exposures look good and there weren’t any issues in the processing? Most definitely. But mostly, we feel transported back to when we got to spend an entire day with an amazing couple on the best day of their lives. We throw some music on and watch it all back from start to finish, as we grin ear to ear. We think about the couple watching this footage for the first time and are so excited for them to see these special moments unfold on film. We think about all of their loved ones that will view their film one day, such as family, friends, children, and grandchildren. 

Wedding films become family heirlooms.

No matter what, your wedding video is going to be amazing and something incredibly special to watch. When you bring real film into the mix, it adds another dimension to the emotions you’ll feel when you watch it for the 1st or 100th time. It adds another layer of authenticity. 

So, if you were looking to just learn a bit more about super 8mm, I hope this answered some of your questions. If you’re on the fence and wondering if you should add super 8mm to your wedding day, I hope this expressed why we love it so much.

If you’re looking for an authentic wedding film that is as unique as you, we would love for you to consider American Rose Weddings.

Browse our wedding films,

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and if you think we could be a good fit for each other,

please get in touch with us via our Contact Page.

We’d love to learn more about you.