Whether you’re re-engaging with film photography or it’s your first time picking up a film roll, shooting on film can be a steep learning curve!
From the not knowing whether your film is loaded correctly to light leaks, it happens to us all. For any beginners, or those that want to freshen up their skills and make the most out of their film roll, we’re sharing all the common film photography mistakes we see in the lab, and how to avoid them!
Common Film Photography Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Blank Film
It is always disappointing when you’ve sent a roll of film off for processing, only to find that it came back unexposed / blank, but it happens!
Let’s look at the reasons as to why this might have happened.
- Probably the most common cause of unexposed films will be because the film may not be advancing within the camera. If using a manual 35mm camera a good indicator of checking that the film is advancing when the back door is closed, is to visually watch the rewind crank on your camera as you turn the advance wheel. The rewind crank should spin as you advance the film.
- Severe under exposure can also cause a film to be blank, because the images will be so feint that the scanner will not be able to pick up any detail. This can often be the case if taking indoor photos without using flash and there not being enough available light to expose the subject accurately.
- Another issue could of course be a camera shutter malfunction, when it does not open on taking the photo, therefore not exposing the film to light, most cameras make a nice click when the shutter opens so if you don’t hear this sound then this may be the cause and need to be checked by a camera repair specialist.
At FilmProcessing we do operate a partial refund policy for blank films charging only for the processing, we refund the difference for the services requested for the blank /unexposed film.
Underexposed Film
Underexposed film occurs when light exposes the negative for too short a time to record a well-defined image in film scans, meaning not enough light reaches the film on exposure.
Some reasons for too little light reaching the film can occur if the speed of the film was set too high on the camera, the shutter too fast or the aperture too small. Perhaps the flash did not fire when taking an indoor picture or taken at dusk when the light is low. Of course, there’s always a chance that the light meter being used either handheld or within the camera may not be working correctly, it’s always a good idea to check the batteries if you have consistent underexposure throughout the film.
As a result of under exposed negatives your scans will appear dark, faded, grainy, and have very low contrast. In fact, the negative film itself may appear faint and almost see-through. Have a look at our blog post on underexposed vs overexposed photos to see how these images visually look.
Overexposed Film
Overexposed negatives occur when light exposes the film for too long resulting in negatives that will look too dark.
Some reasons for too much light reaching the film could be that the film speed may have been set too low, shutter speed too slow, or the aperture too wide. Alternatively, it could be that the light meter being used either handheld or within the camera may not be working correctly, it’s always a good idea to check the batteries if you have consistent overexposure throughout the film. Another potential issue could be that the shutter is sticking open for longer than it should be and may need a camera repair specialist to check its accuracy.
For some photographers, minor amounts of overexposure can be an intentional stylistic decision that increases saturation and contrast. However, extreme overexposure will give you increased grain, low contrast, and dull, grey highlights.
Part Used Film
It is always disappointing if you send a film off for development, only to receive half the images back that you took.
Here are a few of the potential reasons that this may have occurred.
- The film was intentionally/ unintentionally rewound and removed before finishing the film.
- Improper loading of the camera, where the film fails to take up initially on the winding mechanism.
- Lens cap left on the lens in error on some exposures
- Mechanical Issue, the shutter fails to open when taking the photo, this may occur partway through the film or be intermittent.
- Extreme underexposure, which can occur when taking photos at night without flash, or incorrect exposure setting. See our section for underexposure
Light Leaks
Light leaks are a common film issue that show up as bright streaks, flares, or washed-out patches—often in red, orange, or yellow tones.
They happen when unwanted light enters the camera and exposes the film, usually through worn seals, gaps in the camera back, or accidentally opening the camera before the film is fully rewound. Older cameras are more prone to this as foam light seals can deteriorate over time.
While some photographers love the unpredictable, vintage look light leaks can create, they’re usually a sign that your camera may need new seals or a quick check before shooting again.
Colour Shifts / Incorrect White Balance
Sometimes film comes back with unusual colour casts (too green, blue, or magenta).
This can be due to expired film, scanning issues, or shooting under tricky lighting conditions like fluorescent or mixed light.
Expired Film
Film that’s past its expiry date can produce unpredictable results, colour shifts, increased grain, loss of contrast, or fogging.
It’s not always a bad thing, but results become less reliable, especially if it hasn’t been stored properly. Film can degrade rapidly overtime if it’s not being kept in a fridge/or a cool ambient location.
Take a look at our blog on shooting with expired film to see more about what you could potentially expect…
We hope you find this post useful, and do leave us a comment below if you have any other questions, or film queries!