41 of The Best Film Photography Quotes That Capture The Moment

Shot on Kodak Portra 800

Film photography is one of those special past times that can often be hard to put into words, and after all, a picture tends to tell the best story!

Whether you want to find the perfect way to justify the experience for a caption on Instagram, to journal your weekend shooting or just inspiring quotes to look at when you're looking for a little film boost, we've pulled together over 40 of the best film photography quotes, from the best!

41 of The Best Film Photography Quotes That Capture The Moment

1.“In photography, there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.”— Alfred Stieglitz

2.“Film forces you to be deliberate. There’s no spray and pray—just patience and presence.”— Nina Patel, film photographer

3.“The negative is the score, the print is the performance.”— Ansel Adams

4.“I like the mistakes. They're what make film human.”— Tom O’Hara, street shooter

5.“Digital is convenient, but film is emotional.”— Unknown

6.“Shooting film reminds me to slow down and actually see.”— Katie Hill, documentary photographer

7.“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”— Ansel Adams

8.“Every roll of film is a mystery until it’s revealed. That’s the magic.”— Chris J. Edwards

9.“There’s poetry in grain, and rhythm in the click of a shutter.”— Lucia Tran, analogue artist

10.“Film photography teaches you to trust your eye and embrace imperfection.”— Jordan Fields

11.“To shoot film is to believe that waiting makes things better.”— Rachel Cole

12.“Some people find peace in nature. I find mine in the darkroom.”— Elena Ruiz

13.“No edit can replicate the feeling of a well-exposed frame of Portra.”— Unknown

14.“Film doesn’t lie, but it does romanticise.”— Liam Grant, portrait photographer

15.“There’s no instant gratification in film photography—only lasting joy.”— Tina Rayburn

16.“I never know if I’ve got the shot until days later. That’s what makes it thrilling.”— Sam Yu

17.“Photography is the story I fail to put into words.”— Destin Sparks

18.“I don’t shoot film for perfection. I shoot it for the soul.”— Andrea Nguyen

19.“When you shoot film, every frame costs something—so it means something.”— Marcus Blake

20.“There’s a beautiful kind of surrender in pressing the shutter and letting go.”— Unknown

21.“My favourite filter is expired Kodak Gold.”— Jess Martin

22.“Film teaches you to appreciate the in-between moments.”— Claire Thomas

23.“Photography is more than a lens and light. It’s memory, mood, and moment.”— Vivian Maier

24.“The best photos aren’t always the sharpest—they’re the ones that feel.”— Leo Jacobs

25.“Film has a way of seeing that digital forgot.”— Unknown

26.“A roll of film is a time capsule waiting to be opened.”— Harper Lin

27.“You only get 36 shots—so every one better count. Or not. That’s the fun of it.”— Isaac Mendez

28.“Photography is the pause button of life.”— Ty Holland

29.“With film, I shoot less, but I remember more.”— Ava Stern

30.“Sometimes the out-of-focus shots are the ones I treasure most.”— Unknown

31.“Film is proof that the imperfect can still be beautiful.”— Noah Lane

32.“To shoot film is to trust the process—literally.”— Daniel Reyes, analogue educator

33.“I walk slower when I’m carrying a film camera. Everything becomes more interesting.”— Lena Cho

34.“You can’t delete a frame of film. You either make peace with it—or fall in love with it later.”— Freya Dawson

35.“Photography helps people to see.”— Berenice Abbott

36.“There’s no ‘burst mode’ in film—just instinct.”— Alex Warner

37.“Light leaks, dust, and grain—film wears its history proudly.”— Unknown

38.“You don’t just develop film. It develops you.”— Cameron Wells

39.“If digital is a sketch, film is a painting.”— Ezra Kane

40.“Film slows me down enough to notice things worth remembering.”— Isobel Greene

41.“The best part about film photography? You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til the roll comes back—and that never gets old.”— Unknown

Whether you’re loading your first roll of 35mm or 500th, these words serve as a reminder of why we love shooting film.

Got a favourite film photography quote of your own? Drop it in the comments, we’d love to add it to the list.