There’s no better feeling than a free weekend and a freshly loaded film camera, but what to shoot? If you’ve not got an exact location in mind, or perhaps you want to try something a little bit different, this post is for you!
We’ve pulled together a list of 15 different photography shooting ideas to inspire you, be it with 35mm or medium format. If you really fancy a spontaneous weekend, write these ideas down on paper and pull one out of a hat to spark your weekend plans!
15 Film Photography Ideas To Try This Weekend
1.Golden Hour Portraits
Head out just before sunset and capture soft, warm tones on skin. This is when the light is at its most forgiving, it’s lower in the sky, less harsh, and naturally diffused.
Position your subject so the sun is slightly behind or to the side of them to create a gentle glow and subtle highlights. If you’re shooting something like Kodak Portra, you’ll notice how beautifully it handles these warm tones, especially in skin.
Don’t rush it either. Light changes quickly during golden hour, so take your time, adjust your angles, and watch how the scene shifts from bright gold to softer, pastel hues. It’s one of the easiest ways to get consistently stunning results on film.
2. Shoot a Full Roll in One Location
Pick a location out, and shoot the full roll without leaving. This is a great opportunity to look at things from a different perspective, and try shooting a variety of things in the same location.
An easy way to do this is to join along with an organised photowalk with likeminded photographers, you get the chance to socialise, and it’s an ideal way to get through a full roll of film in an afternoon.
3. Try Double Exposures
Double exposures are one of the most creative things you can do with film, letting you layer two images onto the same frame. The result can feel surreal, abstract, or surprisingly well-balanced when done right.
Start simple by combining a strong silhouette (like a person or tree) with a textured scene such as foliage, clouds, or city lights. The key is contrast, one image should have clear, defined shapes, while the other fills in the detail.
Have a look at this incredible example captured by one of our walkers on our last photowalk in Cardiff!
4. Photograph Strangers (Politely)
Street portraits can lead to some of the most honest and character-filled images on film. There’s something about photographing someone you don’t know that adds a sense of story and spontaneity you can’t easily recreate.
If you’re approaching someone, keep it simple and respectful, a quick smile, a compliment, and a clear ask goes a long way. Most people are more open than you’d expect, especially if you show genuine interest rather than just pointing a camera.
We have a full blog post on building up your confidence with street photography, and also joining a photowalk is another great way to start getting more comfortable with doing this.
5. Explore Reflections
Reflections are an easy way to add depth and interest to your film photos without needing anything complicated. Look for windows, puddles, mirrors, or even shiny surfaces like cars, they can all turn an ordinary scene into something more layered.
Try shooting straight into the reflection or experiment with angles to blend what’s in front of you with what’s being reflected. This can create almost double-exposure-like results, especially in busy streets or during golden hour.
Rainy days are perfect for this. Wet ground naturally creates mirror-like surfaces, giving you the chance to capture city lights, people, and movement in a completely different way.
6. Try Expired Film
The beauty of expired film is, you really never know what you’re going to get! A lot of this comes down to the age of the film, and how well it has been stored.
Perhaps you’ve found one lying around at home, or picked one up from a charity shop, just give it a go and see what you get. We shot on a 20+ year old expired film in Miami and the results were so much fun!
7. Shoot Only One Colour
Limiting yourself to a single colour is a simple way to train your eye and make your photos feel more intentional. Pick a colour like red, blue, or green and spend the day only capturing scenes where it’s the dominant element.
This forces you to slow down and really look for details you’d normally miss, whether it’s a passing car, clothing, signage, or small accents in a scene. It turns even a casual walk into a bit of a visual hunt.
Film handles colour in a unique way too, so you’ll start to notice how different stocks render your chosen tone, some might lean warmer, others cooler or more muted.
8. Lean Into Nature
Nature is one of the most rewarding subjects to shoot on film. From soft landscapes to small details like leaves, bark, or flowers, film tends to render natural tones in a way that feels rich and organic.
You don’t need dramatic scenery either, a local park, woodland path, or even your garden can offer plenty to work with. Focus on light and texture: how it filters through trees, hits the ground, or brings out subtle colour variations.
9. Shoot In The Rain
Rain completely transforms a scene, making it one of the best times to shoot film. Wet surfaces reflect light, colours become richer, and everything takes on a more atmospheric, cinematic feel.
Look for puddles, streetlights, and reflections on pavements, especially in the evening when artificial light adds contrast and depth. Even during the day, overcast skies create soft, even lighting that film handles beautifully.
A short walk in light rain can give you a full roll of unique shots you wouldn’t get in dry conditions. Just be mindful of your gear, keep your camera covered when you can, and take an umbrella!
10. Recreate A Film Photo You Love
Recreating a film photo you admire is one of the fastest ways to improve your eye. Instead of just appreciating an image, you start to break it down, the lighting, composition, subject, and even the choice of film stock.
Pick a photo that feels achievable and try to match the key elements. Pay attention to where the light is coming from, how the subject is framed, and what makes the image work. It doesn’t need to be perfect, the process itself is what teaches you.
11. Close-Up Details
Close-up shots are a great way to slow things down and focus on the smaller details you’d usually overlook. Textures like peeling paint, fabric, skin, wood grain, or even food can make for really striking images on film.
You don’t need a dedicated macro lens either, just get as close as your lens allows and pay attention to focus. Film tends to render texture beautifully, especially when there’s good, directional light to bring out depth and contrast.
12. Photograph Architecture
Architecture is perfect for practising composition on film. Buildings naturally give you strong lines, symmetry, and structure, all things that translate really well into clean, striking images.
Look for leading lines, repeating patterns, and interesting shapes. Shooting straight-on can emphasise symmetry, while changing your angle slightly can create a more dynamic, abstract feel.
13. Focus on Shadows
Shadows can completely transform a simple scene into something far more graphic and interesting. Instead of focusing on the subject itself, look at how light creates shapes, contrast, and patterns around it.
Hard light works best for this, think midday sun or strong window light indoors. This creates defined, sharp shadows that add depth and structure to your frame. Look for things like railings, blinds, or people casting long, dramatic shapes.
14. Document Your Daily Routine
Some of the most meaningful film photos come from the everyday moments you’d normally overlook. Romanticise your life by photographing your daily routine, making coffee, commuting, working, relaxing, it can turn ordinary scenes into something personal and timeless.
The key is consistency. Carry your camera with you and capture small moments as they happen rather than staging anything. Over time, these frames build into a visual record of your life that feels honest and unfiltered.
15. Try a New Film Stock
Switching film stock is one of the easiest ways to change the look and feel of your photos without changing anything else. Different stocks handle colour, contrast, and grain in their own way, and that alone can completely shift your results.
If you usually shoot something like Portra, try a more contrasty option like Kodak Gold or a cinematic stock like CineStill. You’ll start to notice how each one reacts to light, skin tones, and different environments.
It’s also a great way to learn what suits your style. Some films are more forgiving, while others are less predictable but more distinctive.
Hopefully our list has given you some inspiration for when you hit a bit of creative block with film shooting, let us know in the comments below if you try any of these!