Best Films for Autumn Film Photography: Top Tips for Capturing The Season

Autumn is a truly magical time of year for photography. Whether you’re drawn to the cosy colours of the season - like warming reds and oranges - or even the unpredictable weather conditions that create beautifully atmospheric monochrome shots, shooting film in autumn can yield some incredible results. Analogue photography is particularly suited to capturing the textures, tones, and moods of the season, since it invites you to slow down and be more intentional. If you’re unsure where to start and need an inspiration boost to get your creative juices flowing, let us guide you through the best films for autumn film photography along with top tips for capturing the season and creating your most atmospheric shots yet!

Cover image (c) Helen Hooker.

Select a Suitable Film Stock

When it comes to the best films to use for autumn film photography, there’s no simple answer - with plenty of options available depending on your desired look, what you’re shooting, and in what conditions! By stripping it back with analogue, it’s easier to identify your personal style, whether that’s moody black and white scenes or highly-saturated, colour-rich frames. Autumn has a beautiful colour palette that we can bring to life with film. Use film stocks that compliment autumnal tones, such as the colour palette of falling leaves, or bright greens transitioning into warm reds, oranges, and yellows. On the flip side, autumn can also be a dark and dreary season, so you might want to capture the atmosphere using a black and white or de-saturated film. Here’s our recommendations for five films you should shoot this autumn:

Kodak Portra 800

Want to capture the true colours of autumn? Look no further than the highly-sought after Kodak Portra 800 - a clean and classic professional-grade film that adapts to changing weather. There’s no need to panic if you’ve been caught short by low light, dull conditions, and no flash, as this is where Portra 800 thrives. Loved by both 35mm and 120 shooters for its fine grain, wide exposure latitude, and natural colour reproduction, this film stock can be used for all kinds of film photography, day and night. With a lack of high ISO colour films on the market, Kodak Portra has earned its place as a go-to for low-light and fast-paced photography - with the ability to be pushed all the way to ISO 3200. Allow the colours to speak for themselves this season with the Portra range of films.

Commenting on its natural features, film shooter Matthew Calvert said: “Lovely natural colours and soft grain. Of all the film stocks I have used, this is probably the most realistic in terms of colour and contrast.” 

© Taken by Matthew Calvert on Kodak Portra 800 35mm film.

Harman Red

If you’re looking to enhance the bold colour palette of autumn, Harman Red is a film to try. Built on the original Harman Phoenix emulsion, Harman Red - available in 35mm and 120 - puts it in reverse to create a signature redscale effect, with a flexibility that allows you to control its output - from subtle yellow, to warm orange, and fiery red. While this film’s box speed is ISO 125, it can be pulled (64 ISO) or pushed (250 ISO) to enhance or reduce the red colouring. So if you’re a fan of this colour palette, Harman Red is a great option for transforming everyday scenes (of any shade!) into cinematic masterpieces.

After receiving two rolls of Harman Red as a present and giving them a go, customer Michelle W said: “The film certainly lived up to its marketing of dystopian and apocalyptic, so much so that I found some of the results a bit unnerving. Some of the shadows had purple in them, which I hadn't expected but was rather fun. The halation works well here too. Thanks to the AW lab team as always!”

© Taken by Michelle W on Harman Red 35mm film.

Ilford XP2

If you prefer black and white film photography and need a film that can adapt to the weather, the ever-flexible Ilford XP2 35mm and 120 film has got you covered. As a chromogenic B&W film, Ilford XP2 has a special super power with the ability to be processed in C-41 chemistry. Colour processing is more widely available, and is often cheaper - making XP2 a convenient choice for busy film shooters. While its C-41 processing capabilities is a unique perk, it can also be developed in black and white chemicals for a silver-based image with greater contrast and visible grain. Most labs - including our WonderLab - will process XP2 as C-41 as standard, which yields a finer grain, flatter look, and a wide latitude. So depending on what style of B&W film photography you prefer, Ilford XP2 can flex to meet your needs.

Shooting this film in the forest, reviewer Ross Deeley said: “A super good all rounder. Perfect for documenting the details in the forest. It’s great for picking up lots of contrast! The C-41 processing is convenient and it comes with the beautiful B&W look.” 

© Taken by Ross Deeley on Ilford XP2 35mm film.

Street Candy Psychedelic Street

To encapsulate the cosy vibes of autumn, you might want to opt for a more understated, de-saturated film stock - much like Street Candy’s Psychedelic Street 400 35mm film. Contrary to the name, Psychedelic Street doesn’t produce bold or vibrant colours as such, but it does give your images a retro, sepia-looking 1970s vibe which works well for capturing autumnal scenes. Thanks to its medium-speed ISO of 400, it’ll work with you on duller occasions and creates that true film aesthetic with coarser grain (compared to other 400 speed films). If nostalgia is one of the many reasons you’re drawn to shooting film, Street Candy Psychedelic Street is one to try!

After testing out this film, our brand ambassador Anne Maningas shared: “Psychedelic Street 400 is for people looking for a desaturated, low-contrast vibe - shooting it in bright light or sunshine gives images a dreamy feel. Tones are muted, with a green and yellow cast gently coming through.”

© Taken by Anne Maningas on Street Candy Psychedelic Street 35mm film.

SantaColor 100

This one is on the list for personal reasons and I’d happily use it all-year round since it has created some of my favourite film photos ever. SantaColor’s warm-toned, green-focused colour palette makes it perfect for autumn film photography. While it's a slower film, SantaColor 100 is flexible with a wide exposure latitude and can withstand being pushed to 800 ISO if you’re in need of more light or being pulled back to 25 ISO for more subtle colours. I’ve pushed this film both +1 stop (ISO 200) and +2 stops (ISO 400) and had great results on both occasions - capturing a Turkish sunrise and a bright Easter Sunday in Devon. SantaColor has received many rave reviews among the film community for its beautiful colour rendering that fares especially well in autumn.

Unfortunately we’re out of stock at the moment, but will be getting more in the coming weeks. If you fancy trying a roll, sign up for stock notifications to receive an email when they’re available!

Pairing SantaColor with a fisheye camera, reviewer Anna G said: “Very orange/red toned and quite high contrast. Great for more urban, architectural photography or for emphasis on autumnal/fall colours. A nice & unique film but be prepared for the attack of the red tones!”

© Taken by Anna G on SantaColor 100 35mm film.

After you’ve chosen your film(s), it’s time for the most exciting part: planning your shoots and getting out there! If you’re in need of some inspiration to get you started, read on to discover our five top tips for shooting film this autumn.

Embrace the Weather & Plan for Unpredictability!

Weather not on your side? Think again! Fog, rain and overcast skies can still produce brilliant autumn images. They create soft light and moody conditions, perfect for creating an atmospheric film photo with plenty of character. In lower light, or if using slow films, bring a tripod to help adjust your exposure. Many films with a wide exposure latitude have the capacity to be pushed a stop or two, if you’re struggling for light and need to reduce your shutter speed. And if your scene is moody already, this will allow you to add even more drama with higher contrasts and grain enhanced by pushing the film. It’s a win win! Film doesn’t have to be limiting, you just need to familiarise yourself with the tools you have available - and what their super powers are! During these kinds of conditions, faster films - ISO 400 or 800 - can really work in your favour both in daylight and when the light fades.

When you’re heading out on your next shoot, pack wisely just in case the weather takes a turn. That applies to accessories, too - like a waterproof camera bag, rain jacket, and something to protect your camera and lens while on the move. Holding an umbrella and taking photos isn’t easy, but we want to keep our kit protected, so bring a friend to help. If you’ve got a vintage film camera or manual SLR with no light meter, it’s worth bringing one along as the days get shorter and the weather worsens. There’s plenty of free apps out there, but if you need it on a regular basis and need accuracy, we’d highly recommend the Keks light meter range (they have a compact flash, too!)

© Taken by Alistair Toogood on Ilford Pan F 120 film. Alistair used weather to his advantage to create a simple but striking black and white silhouetted portrait (and likely stayed dry while shooting after dipping into this doorway!)

Incorporate Seasonal Textures

All too often, when it comes to seasonal photography, we focus too much on capturing wide shots and landscapes of a beautiful scene - but there’s so much to play around with when we zoom in and put texture under the microscope (or lens!). This is the perfect opportunity to practice with a shallow depth of field and wider apertures, to really hone in on and isolate autumn’s intricacies. Or, you can go wide and include them as foreground elements to add depth and context to your scenes.

Think crunchy fallen leaves, rough tree bark, wooly jumpers, dew-laced spider webs and smooth surfaces of pumpkins. Enlighten your senses and experiment with it! Another artistic but non-photography related project that comes to mind here is making cyanotypes or air-dry clay featuring the imprint of autumnal leaves and flowers. So you really can go full circle and incorporate autumn across all your creative projects.

Reflecting on my own past projects, one of my favourite shoots was in a woodland on a misty day, in which I used the 5 picture story method (explained later on) to capture all angles of the environment. This included using a fish eye lens - as well as cropping in for a normal view - close ups of crunchy leaves, wide shots of the mist rising amongst the trees, reflections in puddles, creating movement with a zoom effect on the telephoto lens, and perspective shots of trees towering over the winding road. They were all different ways of putting autumnal textures and detail at the centre of the story. My only wish was that I’d shot it on film instead of digital! Here’s a recent one on film instead…

© Taken by me, Amy Farrer, on Lomography Colour Negative 800 35mm film. I used a wide aperture (likely f/2.8 or less) to create a shallow depth of field and highlight the detail in the centre of the frame.

Capture Movement & Change

Autumn is all about transition and transformation - imagine falling leaves, rising mist, or birds in migration. Capturing movement is a powerful storytelling tool. Seek out the extraordinary out of ordinary moments and add some dynamism to truly highlight the season in action. Use slower shutter speeds to create a dreamy blur-like effect of elements like water or people on the move. Don’t forget to pair this with a tripod or flat surface to nail these exposures - especially if you’re working with low ISO films. Try exposures as low as 1/15 to 1 second (if your camera allows it) to create soft trails and textures. Alternatively, take advantage of fast shutter speeds to freeze movement for more of a documentary style.

Or, for added complexity, consider capturing multiple exposures to layer movement and moments of stillness. This classic film technique can produce abstract, artistic frames with even more meaning and intentionality. Make sure you choose a flexible film stock that has fine grain and a good exposure latitude, so you don’t lose any detail in the highlights and shadows when the frames are combined.

Autumn can be a very unpredictable season, so don’t be afraid to go handheld! It’s better to react quickly and capture fleeting moments, rather than rely on a tripod setup at all times. Go with the flow, stay in the moment, and embrace the imperfections of analogue motion blur. Just some of the many reasons why we still love shooting film!

© Taken by Adam Savory on SilberSalz35 250D. Adam has used a slow shutter speed (and possibly a tripod) to create a soft effect on the flowing waterfall. This cinematic film stock adds a bit more atmosphere to the scene too!

Experiment With Different Focal Lengths & Composition

As a general rule for more intentional film photography, use your kit wisely - and with purpose! While a wide angle lens (such as 28mm) or a classic fixed lens (like a nifty 50mm, as we like to call it) would be best for capturing landscapes rich with detail, a short telephoto lens (such as 85mm or 105mm) compresses perspective to highlight details in nature. If you’re up for a challenge, a 70-200mm zoom lens would be ideal for capturing wildlife in their natural habitats. Anything more than that, like a mighty 300mm lens if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one, would really get you stuck in to far away action or distant views (Miles @ Expired Film Club, I’m thinking of you and your sports!)

In case you missed it, each week we’ve been dropping a load of vintage cameras and lenses - which might be worth a browse if you’re looking to diversify your current analogue setup!

What springs to mind when thinking about composition is the ‘5 picture story’ method, which I learned about and referred to a lot during my photojournalism course. For those of you who’ve come from a photography education background, you might be familiar with this one. It’s a useful reminder to consider all angles of a story when capturing a scene or subject. To tell your story effectively, don’t forget to include a: wide shot, medium shot, portrait shot, detail/close up shot, and an action shot. Does anyone else follow this format when project shooting?

© Taken by Jason Sung on Kodak UItraMax 35mm film. With the bright colours and dripping dew, you can almost feel and smell this image! Jason captures the details beautifully with this close up, featuring a shallow depth of field.

Whether you’re a colour-rich enthusiast or moody black and white fan, the season of autumn can play to every film photographer's strengths. As you capture your surroundings, don’t forget to use changing weather and light conditions to your advantage, think outside of the box with differing focal lengths, and truly embrace the transitional nature of autumn by honing in on the beautiful textural details. We’re very excited to see what you create and hope you’ll consider our film recommendations and take on board these tips to capture some truly beautiful autumn film photography images! For more autumn inspiration, check out our resources and shop here.

From your own experience, what film stocks or photography tips would you add to the list? We’d love to hear from you and enrich this experience for our wonderful community of film shooters, so please do drop a note in the comments!