A beginner’s guide and ongoing support for photographers stepping into film
PDF
80 Pages
specifications
$67.00
Your Film Journey
*due to Your film journey's digital nature all sales are final
Your Film Journey is a comprehensive, beautifully curated educational guide created to help photographers confidently transition into film photography. Designed for beginners and digital shooters alike, this guide walks you through the fundamentals of shooting film with clarity, intention, and ease.
Inside, you’ll learn how to choose the right cameras, understand both 35mm and medium format systems, load and unload film correctly, select and rate film stocks, meter light with confidence, and build a strong relationship with your film lab. Every section is thoughtfully explained to remove overwhelm and replace guesswork with understanding.
This guide is ideal for photographers who want a reliable, always-accessible resource that covers both the how and the why of film. Whether you are just getting started or looking to deepen your knowledge, Your Film Journey offers the foundation, tools, and confidence needed to shoot film with purpose.
More than just technical instruction, Your Film Journey is rooted in the philosophy of film. It teaches patience, intentionality, and trust in the process, helping photographers slow down, refine their craft, and create work that feels honest and art-driven.
I highly recommend you get this and study it!
- BRAEDON FLYNN
FILM PHOTOGRAPHER AND FOUNDER OF FILM SUPPLY CLUB
If you are new to film or even if you have been shooting film for years, the Belle Lumiere guide ‘Your Film Journey’ will answer your questions and give you insight into the tools and options you can be using. It’s easy to pick something you know someone else uses but it’s a whole different ballgame to make choices knowing why you’re making those choices. From which film stock to use and why to which camera to use and why. I highly recommend you get this and study it!
This Guide Includes
THIS Guide IS FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO LEARN
The basics of both medium format and 35mm cameras
How to load and unload film as well as learn the parts of your camera
What the major film stocks are and what makes them unique
What ISO is and what you should be shooting in almost any situation
The basics of metering, what meter to use, and the parts of your meter
You and your Film Labs relationship, how to send film in, different types of scanners, and so much more
PURCHASE THE GUIDE
Let us know your thoughts! We <3 to hear from our students + want to see all the gorgeous film images you are going to be taking.
Creatives are visual learners. So I made sure to include step by step and detailed images for a lot of the education that is included in the guide.
Once purchased you will have instant
access to your online portal. Here you can download the guide and save it to refer back to over and over again.
How it Works
After reading the whole guide I had the confidence and knowledge I needed to shoot and send in my first roll!
- MARIAH GARRETT
Your Film Journey has helped me so much! I have always been really intimidated by film. I didn’t even know where to start. I have always shot digital but I received an EOS 3 as a gift for Christmas and I was dying to use it. I read this guide super fast and I liked that it explained everything from different camera types to dealing with different film labs. After reading the whole guide I had the confidence and knowledge I needed to shoot and send in my first roll!
What You’ll Learn Inside Your Film Journey
How film works and why it differs from digital
Choosing the right film camera for beginners
Differences between 35mm and medium format
How to use popular cameras like the Canon EOS 1-V and Pentax 645N
Parts and functions of both 35mm and medium format cameras
How to load and unload 35mm film correctly
How to load and unload medium format (120) film step by step
How to avoid common film loading mistakes
Understanding film stocks and when to use each one
Fuji 400, Portra 160, 400, 800, HP5, and Ilford 3200 explained
How ISO works and how it affects light, grain, and detail
How to choose the right ISO for different lighting situations
How and why to rate film differently than box speed
How to overexpose or underexpose film intentionally
A simple ISO reference guide for quick decision making
How to meter light accurately for film
How to use an external light meter step by step
How to meter for shadows and natural light
Understanding aperture, shutter speed, and exposure relationships
How to shoot double exposures
How to stop your camera from advancing for double exposures
How to buy film safely and responsibly
How to store film properly (fridge vs freezer)
How to protect film from heat and damage
How to choose a film lab
How to build a strong relationship with your lab
How to communicate scanning preferences effectively
How to fill out lab order forms correctly
How to package and ship film safely to a lab
What to do after receiving your first scans
How to troubleshoot results and improve future rolls
