Something about the film, what it does and how they differ

Film speed is generally classified into 3 broad categories: slow, medium and fast.

Slow refers to film 64 ASA and below. These films generally offer very fine grain, strong colour saturation and very high image quality. The only drawback is that slow film speed would translate into slow shutter speeds and will be very sensitive to "camera shake". Tripods may be needed to have a sharp photo.

Medium speed normally refers to film speed of 100 and 200. This film group gives good colours and fine grain. Overall, it produces very good image quality.

Fast film refers to film of 400 ASA and above. The grain and the colours will not be as good when compared to the slower films. A fast film is more suitable for use when there isnt much available light like night-time photography.

Out of the available film, my personal preference would be for 200 ASA film for its versatility. It combines a good mix between the slow and the fast films. The speed is fast enough that you do not have to worry about having to use a tripod to take pictures during the day. At the same time, the colours will still turn out nice and the grain is fine enough that enlargements to 8Rs would still remain sharp.

Points to take note when buying film

Buy enough rolls of film for your honeymoon trip. Film is generally cheaper to buy locally than abroad.

When buying film, you should always check the expiry date. It is advisable to buy one with as long an expiry date as possible. At the point you buy the film, the film should be about one and a half-years time away from the expiry date. This is to ensure that you can keep the film even if you did not use it.

For the unused film, just store them into your refrigerator when you return home and it can even be used after its expiry date (normally about 1 month). Just take note that you have to wait for the film to reach room temperature before you load the film into the camera. If you load the film immediately after you take out from the fridge, the condensation will damage the lens and other parts of the camera.

Film developer

Most people have the idea that it doesnt make a difference which photo-lab they send their film for processing. Whilst it is generally true if youre just developing it onto negatives, big differences can be seen when it is printed. There are two main points to remember.

First point, only use the express half or one hour service if you really need the photos urgently. The printouts from the express service are normally not good, as the lab technicians have to rush to get the prints done. They will not have the time to do colour adjustment or balancing.

Secondly, find a colour lab that you like and try to stick with them. After some time, the people working there will know what type of prints you like, and adjust the colours accordingly.

The three main brands on paper that the photo-labs use are Kodak, Fuji and Konica. The types of paper used in developing the photos will affect the results of the photos. Experiment to find out which results you like best.

There is a fantastic article "Taking great pictures" found at Kodak's website. Read it if you want to know more. If you have questions, post it in the wedding forum and get it answered.