Night anniversary portraits in Sidney BC near Victoria

A double exposure 10th anniversary portrait of a couple at night in an alley in Sidney BC near Victoria shot on Kodak 35mm film.

With several rolls of film and my trusty coloured video lights in hand, I had the best time taking Mary & Matt’s photos at the Garden Court Alley in Sidney BC, just outside of Victoria (those who visit in the summer get to see this alleyway adorned with colourful umbrellas to celebrate pride). After several days of April rain showers, we hit the jackpot with a nice sky and we worked from twilight blue hour through to the deep dark of night. There were a few areas that had natural ambient lighting, but my video lights really did the trick to illuminate these two love birds who brought all the sexy for our session. If you’re an analog film aficionado, or simply curious, I’ve given a bit of extra information about how each photo was achieved along with a little comparative review of the film stocks I used. 🙂

And no, your eyes are not deceiving you… this is the same couple I photographed in March at Macaulay Point Park for their 10th anniversary session in Esquimalt (also on film). After our epic sunset shoot, I couldn’t resist inviting them back for some night portraits so I could experiment some more with different film stocks.

A double exposure with motion blur of night lights and a red video light illuminating a couple in an alley in Sidney BC near Victoria. This photo is shot on film.

Ektacolor Pro 800 35mm double exposure. The first click was of Mary and Matt who were lit with a red video light. The second click was a motion blur of ambient light in the alley.

A couple portrait during an anniversary shoot at night in Sidney BC with city lights and bokeh in the background. The couple are illuminated with a red video light.
A couple surrounded by background bokeh lights at night are cuddling in an alley way in Victoria BC taken on Kodak Ultramax 35mm film.
A couple surrounded by background bokeh lights at night are cuddling in an alley way in Victoria BC

The above three photos were created using Kodak Ultramax 400 35mm film. I needed a slower shutter speed so I had my camera on a tripod.

The next two photos are double exposures of Mary. I love creating images that are super funky that could go on someone’s wall as personal art. The first is Ultramax, the next few are Ektacolor Pro 800 35mm. Can you tell the difference between the two film stocks?

A creative double exposure work of art on 35mm film of a fashion model at night in an alley in Sidney near Victoria BC. Taken on Kodak Ultramax 400 35mm film.
A double exposure portrait taken with Ektacolor Pro 800 35mm film of a fashion model in an alley in Victoria BC at night.
A colourful photo of a couple being sexy in an alleyway in Sidney near Victoria BC. This is an anniversary shoot on Ektacolor Pro 800 35mm film.
A sexy anniversary portrait session during blue hour twilight at night in Victoria BC using Ektacolor Pro 800 35mm film.
Off camera flash creating a star effect between a couple kissing surrounded by bokeh city lights in Victoria BC at night during a 10th anniversary photo session. The film used was Kodak Ektacolor Pro 800, which was formerly called Portra 800.

I didn’t bring the off-camera flash out too much, but I liked the star filter effect in this one. This and the photo below are both Kodak Ektacolor Pro 800 35mm film.

A double exposure of a couple snuggling lit by coloured video lights. This is a night anniversary session on Cinestill 800T film using a Pentax 645nii camera by a film photographer in Sidney BC

And here is the same scene and technique, this time using my medium format Pentax 645nii and Cinestill 800T 120 film.

A medium format film double exposure on Cinestill 800T taken at night with ambient alleyway light and coloured video lights. The camera was a Pentax 645nii using 120 film. The couple is doubled while they look at each other during an anniversary portrait session.

Next you’ll see more from the Ultramax 35mm roll. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised at how well this consumer-level film held up with such a dark setting. Even with the ambient and video lights I needed to have a slow shutter to get enough light into the camera. I’ve done no skin retouching on any of these photos – the grain is exactly as it was scanned by my chosen film lab – the Canadian Film Lab in Hope BC.

An anniversary photo shoot at night using Kodak Ultramax 400 35mm film scanned and developed by the Canadian Film Lab. A red light illuminates the couple as they cuddle.
An anniversary photo shoot at night using Kodak Ultramax 400 35mm film scanned and developed by the Canadian Film Lab. A red light illuminates the couple as they cuddle.
A fashion model photo shoot at night using Kodak Ultramax 400 35mm film scanned and developed by the Canadian Film Lab. A red light illuminates the model
A fashion model photo shoot at night using Kodak Ultramax 400 35mm film scanned and developed by the Canadian Film Lab. A red light illuminates the model

The difference in grain between the Ultramax ISO 400 and the Ektacolor Pro ISO 800 films is subtle, but noticeable even though the Ektacolor is a professional portrait film.

A sexy, grainy image of a couple kissing lit with a red filtered video light with bokeh in the background from the city lights in Victoria BC. shot on Kodak Ektacolor Pro 800 35mm film.
Grainy portraits at night of a couple during an anniversary portrait session in Sidney BC near Victoria shot on Kodak Ektacolor Pro 800 35mm film.
A grainy creative portrait shot on Kodak Ektacolor Pro 800 35mm film in Victoria BC with a couple at night.
A creative portrait shot on Kodak Ektacolor Pro 800 35mm film in Victoria BC with a couple at night.

Did you know you can choose to have your couples, engagement portraits and anniversary sessions on either analog film, digital or a combination of both? A lot of couples love the romantic and grainy look of film and I love that I can create portraits that are natural with no retouching or photo editing. Everything that comes out of the camera is so soft and dreamy. Aren’t sure – don’t really care? Why not opt for a bit of digital and analog film for your next session?

What do you think? Are you ready for a dreamy anniversary session at night? I’d love to create portraits you’ll be proud to hang on your wall! Get in touch and I’ll tell you more!

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