Film is Classic
Why you should shoot with film again.
4/8/20256 min read
🎞️ Film Photography Will Always Be a Classic
There’s something magical about the click of a film camera shutter — that soft “ka-chick” sound that somehow feels more real than any digital beep or touch-screen tap. It’s a sound that says, “You just captured a moment that’s going to live forever.”
Film photography isn’t just an old-school hobby that’s making a comeback. It’s an experience — a slower, more mindful way of seeing the world. Sure, today’s phones can shoot crisp 4K video, add filters, and make us all look like influencers. But when you hold a film camera in your hand, you’re holding a little time machine. Every frame counts. Every shot means something.
And that, my friend, is why film will always be a classic.
📷 Why We Still Love Film
You’ve probably heard people say, “Film just hits different.” It’s true. Film has character. It has soul. It forces you to think, to slow down, and to be present. When you’re out shooting with a film camera, you’re not just taking pictures — you’re crafting memories.
You don’t get to see what you captured instantly. There’s no instant gratification, no “let’s take another one just in case.” You shoot, you wait, and you hope. And that waiting… that’s part of the thrill.
It’s a bit like fishing. You cast your line, wait patiently, and when you finally see what you got — it’s either a small catch or a masterpiece. But either way, the excitement never fades.
📸 35mm Film and Beyond
Welcome to the 35mm World. This film is the most common and iconic type of photographic film ever made. It’s called 35mm because the film strip itself is 35 millimeters wide. This format has been around for over a century and became the standard for both still photography and motion pictures. It is the sweet spot for most film photographers. It’s the classic format that defined the golden age of photography. Most of the iconic photos you’ve seen — from street photography to travel shots — were shot on 35mm film. Cameras like the Canon AE-1, Nikon FM2, or Pentax K1000 are legendary for a reason. They’re simple, sturdy, and timeless. With 35mm, you’ll start learning about film speed (ISO), aperture, and shutter speed. It’s not as complicated as it sounds. Think of it as learning to drive a manual car — once you get the feel, it becomes second nature. And the best part? You’ll understand photography in a way that no auto mode could ever teach you.
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📷 Medium Format — When You’re Ready for the Big Leagues
When you’ve gotten comfortable with 35mm and you’re craving even more detail, medium format is where the magic gets serious. Cameras like the Mamiya, Hasselblad, or Pentax 67 create images so rich and deep, they almost feel like paintings.
The negatives are much larger, which means your photos can be blown up huge without losing quality. It’s the format professional photographers used for album covers, fashion shoots, and landscapes long before the digital revolution. But don’t let that intimidate you — it’s still all about creativity.
Medium format slows you down even more. Every frame feels sacred. You start pre-visualizing your shots. You walk slower, breathe deeper, and look at light like it’s poetry. It’s not about quantity — it’s about the quality of your vision.
🌤️ The Beauty of Natural Light and Composition
Film photography is a beautiful dance between light and composition. Unlike digital sensors that can recover shadows or boost brightness later, film teaches you to read light — to feel it.
You start noticing how morning light is soft and dreamy, while the afternoon sun can be harsh but dramatic. You see how golden hour makes everything glow, and how overcast days bring out deep tones in black-and-white film.
And composition? It becomes instinctive. You stop centering everything and start playing with balance, texture, and storytelling. You learn to see beauty in imperfections — a little blur, a bit of grain, a splash of sunlight — they all add to the emotion.
Film reminds you that photography isn’t just about perfection. It’s about feeling.
🧘 Slowing Down in a Fast World
We live in an age of speed. Everything is instant — messages, photos, deliveries, even relationships. But film photography is a rebellion against that. It says, “Hold on. Take a breath.”
When you shoot film, you’re not blasting through 300 photos in one session. You’re choosing your moments. You’re focusing on why you’re taking that shot. That slow process reconnects you with the world around you.
There’s also something deeply satisfying about the waiting. Dropping off your roll, walking away, and letting time pass before you see the results. It’s like baking bread or watching a sunset — the joy comes from patience.
When those photos finally come back, whether printed or scanned, that anticipation pays off big time. You remember each shot: where you were, who you were with, what you were feeling. Every image tells a story that’s real — not filtered, not staged, but human.
💾 Film: The Ultimate Hard Drive
Here’s something digital can’t beat — film lasts.
Properly stored negatives can last for hundreds of years. That’s not an exaggeration. Your great-grandkids could hold the same film strips you shot today and still see your world through your eyes.
Now compare that to digital files. Hard drives fail. Memory cards get corrupted. Cloud storage disappears when you forget a password or when a company shuts down a service. A single click can erase thousands of memories.
Film is physical. You can hold it, touch it, store it. It’s your ultimate backup — your analog hard drive. And if you ever need digital versions, you can simply re-scan your negatives and bring those memories back to life again.
There’s something comforting about that permanence. In a disposable world, film feels eternal.
🧡 A Note from Us at Good Times Again
At Good Times Again, we get it — we started out as film photographers ourselves. We know the joy of loading a fresh roll, hearing the satisfying wind of the film advance, and that heartbeat of excitement as you click the shutter.
We’ve spent years learning the ins and outs of film — from choosing the right ISO for different lighting conditions, to understanding color chemistry and darkroom techniques. And because we love film so much, we built our own specialized lab right here in Dallas: Goodman Film Lab.
Danny Goodman (Goodman Film Lab) has been immersed in the world of film photography for over three decades. He originally started out working at Pro Photo Lab in Southern California, helping photographers from all walks of life — pros, hobbyists, students, travelers, and dreamers — develop their stories. Whether you’re shooting color or black-and-white, 35mm or medium format, we’ve got you covered. Our technicians treat every roll like a treasure because, honestly, that’s what it is.
Every photo you shoot is a piece of your history — and we want to help you preserve it beautifully.
🧩 Need Help? We’ve Got You
If you’re new to film and feel a little overwhelmed, don’t worry. Everyone starts somewhere. You don’t have to know everything at once — and that’s the beauty of it.
Have a question about film speed? Wondering which camera to buy? Confused about development options? We’re here for that. Shoot us an email, drop by our Dallas location, or message us online. Whether you need help with film types, exposure, developing color vs. black-and-white, or just want to geek out about cameras, we’re always happy to talk shop.
Because film photography isn’t just a process — it’s a community. And once you start, you’re part of that family.
🌈 Why Film Feels Like “Good Times Again”
At the end of the day, film isn’t just about photos. It’s about moments — the laughter, the road trips, the skate parks, the summer nights, the faces we’ll never forget. It’s about slowing down long enough to feel the good times instead of just scrolling past them.
That’s why we named our brand Good Times Again. Because when you shoot film, when you hold those prints in your hands, when you flip through old negatives — you’re reliving those moments. You’re bringing the good times back, one frame at a time.
So next time you see a disposable camera at a gas station or a thrift store, grab one. Take it on your next adventure. Capture your world the old-school way. Wait for the photos. Smile when you see them. And remember — some things never go out of style.
Film photography will always be one of them.
Keep Shooting. Keep Creating. Keep the Good Times Alive.
From all of us at Goodman Film Lab and Good Times Again,
thank you for keeping the spirit of film alive.
If you have any questions — about cameras, film speed, or development — send us a message anytime. We’ll be more than happy to help.
📩 Email: info@goodtimesagain.com
📍 Lab: Goodman Film Lab, Dallas, TX
🕰️ Turnaround: 8-10 business days (Rush 5-7 business days)
