Everything You've Been Wondering
You've done your research. Here are the honest answers to the questions that actually matter.
Film & Photography
What is Super 8mm film and why do you shoot on it?
Super 8mm is a motion picture film format introduced by Kodak in 1965. Each cartridge holds 50 feet of real celluloid, yielding roughly 3 minutes of footage captured on physical film, not a sensor, not a chip.
Digital video captures everything accurately. Super 8 captures something truer than accuracy: the grain, the warmth, the softness that matches how memory actually feels. It doesn't record audio natively, so every sound in a Super 8 film is intentionally synced in post. Nothing about the format is accidental. The result is cinematic in a way no digital filter can replicate, because it isn't a filter.
We shoot Super 8 on every wedding and elopement because this is the only day like it, and it deserves a medium built to last.
What is 35mm and medium format film photography?
Film captures light on physical emulsion. That means organic grain, naturally soft highlights, and color that feels warm and true rather than constructed. It looks the way you remember things looking, not the way a camera renders them.
The most visible difference is highlight rolloff. A digital sensor clips to pure white when it overexposes. Film rolls off gradually into brighter tones, the way your eyes actually see light in a bright window or during golden hour. We can also shoot for the shadows in the darkroom, pulling up the highlights without blowing out the detail, which gives us a dynamic range no digital raw file can fully replicate.
We shoot both 35mm and 120 medium format. Medium format produces a larger negative with richer tonality and finer grain, fewer frames per roll (14 to 15 images), but each one is exceptional. 35mm yields 30 or more frames per roll and still outperforms digital in warmth and character.
Everything is developed in-house. We control every step from the moment we load the camera to the final scan.
Do you develop your own film?
Yes. And it's not incidental.
Most film photographers send their rolls to a lab. That means handing off a critical part of the creative process to someone who wasn't at your wedding. Labs make interpretive decisions about color, exposure, and tone every time they scan a negative. That's someone else editing your images.
We develop everything in-house. We shoot knowing exactly how we'll develop, which lets us expose more aggressively for the shadows and recover the highlights in the darkroom. The result is a richer dynamic range and a final image that reflects a single, consistent creative vision. Ours. Start to finish.
What if a film roll doesn't turn out?
Film is an analog medium. There's no preview screen, no instant confirmation, and more variables than digital. That's part of what makes the results so alive.
We've shot Super 8, 35mm, and medium format extensively and have never lost or ruined a roll. We handle every step ourselves: careful loading, deliberate exposure, proper storage, and in-house development. We won't tell you there's zero risk with analog film, but we will tell you that the level of care we bring to this process is the closest thing to a guarantee the medium allows.
Will the film footage be delivered digitally?
Yes, everything is converted to digital and delivered through your Pic Time gallery, alongside your digital photos and video. One place for everything.
If you'd like to keep the physical film for projection, that requires shooting on color positive (reversal) film stock, a specialty format that needs to be discussed before your wedding day, since it affects what we load. Just bring it up early and we'll make it work.
How many rolls of film do you shoot?
For 35mm and medium format (120) photography, we shoot five rolls at the Full-Day (10-hour) level of coverage. 35mm yields 30+ images per roll. Medium format yields 14–15 images per roll, fewer frames, but a larger negative with richer detail and tonality.
For Super 8 video, each cartridge yields roughly 3 minutes of footage. We include one cartridge with the Half-Day and Full-Day packages, and two cartridges with the Multi-Day Experience. A second Super 8 cartridge is available as an add-on for the Full-Day, just let us know well in advance, as specialty film needs to be sourced ahead of time.
On Your Wedding Day
Will you make us pose?
We're comfortable guiding you if you need direction, but our instinct is always to let you be. Our goal is to capture who you actually are together, not a version of you performing for a camera. We keep portrait sessions light, fun, and natural so the camera fades into the background and you can just enjoy each other. If a genuine pose looks great, we'll use it, but we'll never manufacture emotion that isn't already there.
How do you handle low light situations?
Low light is something we navigate regularly and handle well.
For digital, our cameras perform exceptionally in low light. When we use flash, we approach it artistically, either a direct flash that looks cinematic and intentional, or a diffused light that mimics natural indoor lighting without making your reception feel like a photo studio.
For film photography in low light, we often switch to black and white, naturally more light-sensitive, with beautiful grain rather than noise. For Super 8 in dark venues, we add supplemental lighting or use a more sensitive film stock when available.
Are you Part 107 drone certified?
Yes. Part 107 is the FAA certification required to fly drones commercially, it covers airspace regulations, weather assessment, safety procedures, and flying over people and structures. When evaluating any photographer or videographer who offers drone footage, this is worth asking about. We take it seriously.
Will it always be Brandon and Aby shooting?
In most cases, yes. When we book across two weddings on the same date, we bring in associate shooters we've personally vetted and worked alongside. You'll know before you book. All editing and film development runs through us regardless, so the final work stays at the Motus standard. We'll never put you in a situation you didn't agree to.
What's your backup plan if equipment fails?
We carry backup everything: extra camera bodies, additional film, and multiple audio sources. If something fails mid-day, a replacement is already in the bag. Redundancy at this level isn't a selling point, it's a baseline. Our couples don't have to think about it because we already have.
Booking & Planning
How far in advance should we book?
Ideally three months or more, but we've booked weddings the day before. If your date is close, reach out. If we're available and can prepare properly, we'll make it work. We'd rather say yes than have you settle for someone who isn't the right fit.
Can we customize our package?
Yes. Our packages are designed to work well for most couples, but we're flexible. If you have something specific in mind, different hours, a different combination of services, or something you don't see listed, let's talk. We specialize in digital + Super 8 + film, but we can accommodate almost anything another company would offer.
Do you travel for destination weddings?
Anywhere in the US or internationally. Travel cost is simply what it costs to get there: flights, accommodation, car rental, and a small buffer. We don't pad it. If we book multiple couples in the same destination window, we split the travel cost, which often makes it more reasonable than people expect.
How many weddings do you take per year?
We cap at 20 to 25 weddings and events per year, on purpose. Every couple gets our full attention and a calendar that isn't stretched thin. That's not a policy, it's why the work looks the way it does.
Delivery & Gallery
How many photos will we receive?
It varies by package, longer coverage means more photos. But we don't deliver every frame we capture. We carefully cull through everything and deliver the best version of your day, the images you'll actually want to look at in 20 years, not thousands of near-identical frames that bury the ones that matter. More images isn't better; better images is better.
When will we receive our photos and film?
We aim for under two months. Our contract specifies 180 days as a buffer for peak season in Colorado, when we're moving through a high volume of weddings. If you have a tight timeline, expedited delivery is available. Just tell us early.
How is everything delivered to us?
Photos and video are delivered through Pic Time, a platform where you can view, share, download, and order prints directly from your gallery. Film enlargements are produced in our darkroom and mailed to you directly.
Raw footage ships on a physical drive, video files can run up to a terabyte, and we don't want you scrambling for storage.
Can we choose the music for our highlight film?
Yes. We license music through multiple platforms and have curated libraries with a real range of style and mood, so there's usually something that fits your day well.
Mainstream tracks are a different conversation. We'll never promise a popular song we can't legally use, but we do have access to select mainstream tracks through specific licensing agreements, and social media reels can be cut to popular songs already cleared within Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. We'll tell you honestly what's possible before we commit to anything.
Still Have Questions?
We'd rather talk it through than have you wonder.
Let's Connect
Start Your Story
Tell us a little about your day and we'll reach out within 24 hours to schedule a no-pressure call.